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Article
Previous Experience Not Required: Contextualizing the Choice to Teach School-Based Agricultural Education
Journal of Agricultural Education
  • Adam A. Marx, North Dakota State University
  • Amy R. Smith, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
  • Scott W. Smalley, Iowa State University
  • Courtney Miller, North Dakota State University
Document Type
Article
Publication Version
Published Version
Publication Date
1-1-2017
DOI
10.5032/jae.2017.04126
Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify key career choice items which lead students without previous experience in school-based agricultural education (SBAE) to pursuing agricultural education. The Ag Ed FIT-Choice® model adapted by Lawver (2009) and developed by Richardson and Watt (2006) provided the investigative framework to design this study. Findings were organized around categories of the Ag Ed Fit-Choice Model (Lawver, 2009) with the exception of one additional category, believed unique to this group. Two focus groups were assembled to include ten participants. A myriad of experiences led participants to consider SBAE as a career. Certainly, it can be concluded that a passion for agricultural education does not solely stem from prior SBAE experiences. The intrigue toward the varied content associated with agriculture played a substantial role in participants’ choice to teach agriculture. Participants’ reflections revealed a distinct interconnectedness of domains within the Ag Ed Fit-Choice® model and the way in which this group of future teachers reflects upon career decision. Further, participants engaged in near constant value-checking and introspective career evaluation resulting through field experiences. The present study generated additional questions on the most effective ways to recruit future SBAE teachers who are non-traditional SBAE students.

Comments

This article is published as Marx, A. A., Smith, A. R., Smalley, S. W. & Miller, C. (2017). Previous experience not required: Contextualizing the choice to teach school-based agricultural education. Journal of Agricultural Education, 58(4) 126-142. doi: 10.5032/jae.2017.04126. Posted with permission.

Copyright Owner
American Association for Agricultural Education
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Citation Information
Adam A. Marx, Amy R. Smith, Scott W. Smalley and Courtney Miller. "Previous Experience Not Required: Contextualizing the Choice to Teach School-Based Agricultural Education" Journal of Agricultural Education Vol. 58 Iss. 4 (2017) p. 126 - 142
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/scott-smalley/10/