Education Commons^™

Autism In Agricultural Education: A Case Study Of An Adolescent With Autism Spectrum Disorder And Their Parent On Career And Technical Education, Grace Miller

Theses and Dissertations--Community & Leadership Development

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a unique and often misunderstood diagnosis. Little is known about the experiences of adolescents with ASD. As students with ASD graduate high school, many are under- and unemployed. Career and technical education (CTE) in U.S. schools is intended to prepare all students for careers post-secondary. Agricultural education is one of the predominate career clusters within CTE. This qualitative single case study sought to create a platform for both a student and their parent to share their experiences in agricultural education and CTE. Participants were an adolescent with ASD who had taken at least one year …

Exploring The Individual Impact An Appalachian Higher Education Institution Had On Fostering Solidarity, Capacity, And Agency Of Female Appalachian Students Seeking To Improve The Quality Of Life For Themselves And Their Appalachian Communities., Analiese Mitchell

Theses and Dissertations--Community & Leadership Development

Appalachian women navigating higher education encounter multifaceted challenges, often confronting marginalization and a lack of representation within academic spaces. This study investigates the experiences of female Appalachian students at Mountain University in Kentucky, aiming to shed light on their journey and the university's impact on their lives and communities. Drawing on qualitative data from interviews, the research explores themes of solidarity, capacity, agency, and Quality of Life. Findings reveal a robust sense of solidarity among Appalachian peers and faculty, fostering a supportive environment conducive to personal and academic growth. Participants express opportunities to engage with their communities positively, contributing to …

An Intersectional Queer Case Study Of Two Youth Organizations In A Rural Kentucky High School, Eric Michael Moser

Theses and Dissertations--Community & Leadership Development

Secondary schools in the United States are hostile environments for students in the queer community. Schools in rural communities often pose greater challenges for queer students with less access to affirming and accepting educators. Rural schools often offer school-based agricultural education (SBAE) and the National FFA Organization as opportunities for students. Both programs have been found as unwelcoming environments for underrepresented groups, with little known about the experiences of queer students. To address hostility toward queer youth, schools have implemented Genders and Sexualities Alliances (GSAs) as an opportunity to discuss queer topics and create safe spaces. This qualitative case study …

Safety In The Woods: Studying The Effectiveness Of The Kentucky Master Logger Program, Austin Winn Leake

Theses and Dissertations--Community & Leadership Development

Logging is a dangerous field; in this study the researcher looks to see the knowledge both before and after professional loggers participate in the Kentucky Master Logger Program. This information was used to see the overall effectiveness of the Kentucky Master Logger Program. The researcher found an overall improvement in logging professionals’ perceptions and understanding of logging safety. The researcher recommends creating an emphasis on a safe work culture through safety incentives and a greater focus on less used personal protective equipment such as insecticide

Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind: An Evaluation Of Secondary Agricultural Textbooks, Tara Elizabeth Rojas

Theses and Dissertations--Community & Leadership Development

Students are impacted by representation present within their lives in the media they consume, organizations in which they participate, and school interactions. Among school interactions with primarily White school staff, students interact with textbooks to learn about industry norms and concepts. Missing representation can harm students’ sense of belonging which can lead to feelings like solo-status or isolation. Using both critical race theory and social semiotics, this work explores the representation present within secondary agricultural textbooks. The first study utilizes photos and case studies, observing both gender and race as mutually exclusive variables and compares data to the current public-school …

The Resiliency And Thriving Of Underrepresented Agricultural Educators: A National Mixed Methods Study, Caleb Michael Hickman

Theses and Dissertations--Community & Leadership Development

Gay men in agricultural education do not have comprehensive support within the agricultural education profession. When gay men decide to become agriculture educators, they often keep their identity private. This national mixed methods study aims to seek if gay agriculture educators are resilient and thrive in rural communities. The thriving elements of spiritual influence, personal competence, peer support, and family cohesion were surveyed and analyzed using a resiliency lens. Findings include gay male agricultural educators thriving in a heteronormative profession. Recommendations include ensuring LGBTQIA+ teachers have a voice in agricultural education.

The Youth - Adult Partnership Between Secondary Agriculture Educators And Native American Youth: A Qualitative Case Study, Hunter Anne Julian

Theses and Dissertations--Community & Leadership Development

This case study examines the connection made between secondary agriculture educators through Youth-Adult Partnerships (YAP). This study provides insight into the elements of YAP and contributes to the limited body of research surrounding Youth-Adult Partnership in secondary agriculture education and in the Native American community. Data was collected through qualitative interviews of six agriculture educators teaching on Native American reservations. The findings of this study indicate that YAP is present in secondary agriculture education programs and offers insight into how agriculture educators form connections with the Native American communities they teach in.

The “Case” For Assessments: An Evaluation Of Case End Of Course Assessments And Teacher Motivation, Andrew Lawrence Hauser

Theses and Dissertations--Community & Leadership Development

Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education (CASE) End of Course (EoC) assessments are summative assessments used to evaluate the CASE curriculum. This quantitative study explored the effects teacher motivation has on student performance on CASE EoC assessments. CASE teachers (n= 55) who participated in the study responded to the 28-item CASE End of Course Assessment Teacher Motivation Questionnaire on a 5-point Likert-type scale. The researcher conducted a Pearson r Correlation test to determine a relationship between questionnaire mean values and secondary student assessment data. Results from the study outline frequency of responses, perceived value and expectancy mean values, and correlations …

"Playing The Game": A Case Study Of Latinx Leaders In An Agricultural Youth Organization, Graciela Barajas

Theses and Dissertations--Community & Leadership Development

Latinx members of the FFA Organization are disproportionately underrepresented in leadership positions. When they do get elected to leadership offices, they oftentimes have to accept behaviors that erase their cultural identity. This study aims to find what aspects of their identity they feel they have to give up in order to be seen as a potential state or national FFA candidate. Findings include the participation of the state-officer game, joining cliques that fit the white mold, and overall, assimilation on an individual and group scale. Recommendations include systemic change for state and national FFA staff, agricultural education, and the agricultural …

Living As An Impostor: An Exploration Of The Lived Experiences Among Multiracial Youth In Secondary Agricultural Education, Juliana Danielle Markham

Theses and Dissertations--Community & Leadership Development

The racial demographic of the United States is ever changing, and the increase of multiracial children is substantial. This multiple-case study examined the lived experiences of multiracial youth in secondary agricultural education. This study finds evidence of Impostor Phenomenon among these multiracial students in regard to their races. This study provides insight to advise other educational institutions and organizations on how these multiracial students perceive and are perceived, within agricultural education, how it affects them, and gives recommendations to improve the future experiences of multiracial students within agricultural education.

An Examination Of Single-Sex Secondary Agricultural Education Classrooms: The Effects Of Teacher Expectancy, Brett Morris Wasden

Theses and Dissertations--Community & Leadership Development

The effectiveness of single-sex classrooms in the United States remains unclear. To address this issue, the purpose of this quasi-experiment was to examine single-sex classrooms in secondary agricultural education classrooms in Kentucky. Data were collected through quantitative pretests and posttests from student participants (n = 168) and teacher participants (n = 8). The findings indicated that student participants in single-sex classrooms had higher academic performance, better attendance, and an increased gain in interest in the agriculture, food, and natural resources career pathway. Students participants in coeducational classrooms had less discipline referrals. Teacher participants’ expectation were related to student …

Deaffa: An Exploration Of Agricultural Education In Schools For The Deaf And Hard Of Hearing, Sarah Danielle Warren

Theses and Dissertations--Community & Leadership Development

The Kentucky School for the Deaf agriculture program and FFA chapter is the second Deaf FFA chapter in the nation and has proven itself to be unique, successful, and worthy of investigation. This exploratory, collective/intrinsic Case Study examines the historical evidence of agriculture on the school’s campus, collects observations and interviews regarding agricultural education at the school, and provides insight to advise other educational institutions and organizations on the nature of agricultural education in a school for deaf and hard of hearing students.

Empowering Hidden Voices: A Photo Narration Of Community Food Needs By Two Cross-Town Middle Schools In Kentucky, Tori E. Summey

Theses and Dissertations--Community & Leadership Development

Children are among those most directly affected by food insecurity, a condition in which households lack access to adequate food because of money or other resources (Gundersen & Ziliak, 2015). According to the latest United States Department of Agriculture (2016) reporting, 1 in 5 children experiences hunger on a daily basis. That ratio increases for African American and Latino children whom experience 1 in 3 ratios. While many programs exist to address this growing problem among youth and impoverished families, the efficacy of those programs is yet to be determined and the problem of hunger in America persists. This qualitative …

Factors Contributing To Job Satisfaction, Retention, And Attrition Of Agricultural Educators: A Synthesis Of Research, Lee Nolan Thomsen

Theses and Dissertations--Community & Leadership Development

In recent years, School-Based Agricultural Education has been facing a shortage of secondary teachers, due in part to low retention rates of these valuable educators. In light of this shortage, a multitude of research has been conducted throughout the country on challenges faced by agricultural educators, some as indicators of intent to leave the profession. This thesis sought to synthesize the research conducted on job satisfaction, retention, and attrition of School-Based Agricultural Educators order to identify prevalent problems facing these teachers which may contribute to the decision to leave the classroom. From the research, seven themes emerged as job-related factors …

Evaluating Homophily And Inclusion In Kentucky Secondary Agriculture Classrooms Through Social Distance Scales, Ashley C. Austin

Theses and Dissertations--Community & Leadership Development

This quantitative study considers homophily and inclusion in the secondary agriculture classroom. This study uses social identity and homophily theories to examine classroom culture and how homophily and inclusion impact it. The study aims to use demographic questions and homophily scales to determine whether homophily is occurring in the secondary agriculture classroom and to what extent. This study also uses social distance scales to determine the breaking point or how willing seniors in an agriculture class are to include new students based on the bi-variables of Race, Sexuality, and Social subgroup. The results indicate that homophily and in-group mentality is …

Examining Cultural Proficiency Among Secondary Agricultural Education Youth Through Intercultural Effectiveness And Global Experiences, Courtney A. Turley

Theses and Dissertations--Community & Leadership Development

This work seeks to examine the relationship between intercultural effectiveness and the number of global experiences among secondary agricultural education youth in Kentucky. The study utilizes Mere Exposure Theory and considers the importance of global experiences in increasing their levels of global competence and their performance on the Intercultural Effectiveness Scale (IES). The results indicate that students with a higher number of global experiences and exposures are more open to other cultures and score higher on the IES. In addition, these students are more likely to be self-aware and interested in exploring new cultures and making connections with individuals who …

The Role Of The Community Capital Framework And Christian Faith-Based Community Development Organizations In Kentucky, Samson S. Tarpeh

Theses and Dissertations--Community & Leadership Development

The purpose of this study is to investigate the work of Christian faith-based organizations (FBO) doing community development work in Kentucky and to learn about how they might be using community development concepts and system approaches as articulated in the Community Capitals Framework (CCF) and to critically examine those findings. The CCF is comprised of seven capitals including Natural, Cultural, Human, Social, Political, Financial, and Built. Emery and Flora (2006) assert that the “CCF offers a way to analyze community and economic development efforts from a systems perspective by identifying the assets in each capital (stock), the types of capital …

Perception, Opportunity, Empowerment, And Policy: Women's Influence In Kentucky Agriculture, Courtney Lacy Jenkins

Theses and Dissertations--Community & Leadership Development

The number of women farmers in the United States is increasing at a substantial rate. Women are fulfilling various roles on the farm and stepping into formal leadership positions in the agricultural community. This study surveys the perception of women reputational leaders in Kentucky agriculture among traditional agricultural leaders, the opportunities available to women in agriculture, the sources empowering women to serve in leadership capacities in agriculture, and how women reputational leaders influence agriculture and agricultural policy in Kentucky. The research revealed that the dynamic of Kentucky agriculture is shifting. Women have made significant strides in agriculture as farmers and …

Against The Odds: A Study Of Low Socioeconomic Status Students’ Enrollment In Higher Education, Andrea T. Kirby

Theses and Dissertations--Community & Leadership Development

For generations, researchers have been examining attributes that make low socioeconomic status students resilient. Attributes that help one become resilient are known as protective factors. The purpose of this study was to describe the protective factor(s) that contributed to the first-generation, low socioeconomic status students’ enrollment at The University of Kentucky. The population for this study consists of the University of Kentucky First Scholars participants during the 2015 – 2016 academic year. The researcher examines the existing literature on low socioeconomic status effects on post-secondary education. Recommendations were made for the University of Kentucky’s First Scholars Program on how to …

Change In Perceived Teacher Self-Efficacy Of Agricultural Educators After A Greenhouse Management Workshop, Shari R. Dutton

Theses and Dissertations--Community & Leadership Development

Agricultural educators encounter unique teaching challenges as they teach applications of plant production in the greenhouse classroom. The teacher self-efficacy construct has been used broadly to link student learning outcomes to teachers' beliefs in their ability to attain certain instructional goals in the classroom. Few studies have used this construct to examine teacher-efficacy in the greenhouse classroom. This study uses the teacher self-efficacy construct within the agricultural educator domain. It seeks to measure change in agricultural educator self-efficacy beliefs using established self-efficacy scales to determine if a professional development experience in greenhouse operation and management effects educator beliefs in their …

An Evaluation Of The Techniques And Strategies For Recruiting African-Americans By 1862 Land-Grant Universities, Rashawn P. Franklin

Theses and Dissertations--Community & Leadership Development

As post-secondary education becomes more important for the American citizen to generate wealth, universities are struggling to retain and graduate African-Americans, the third-most represented demographic in the country, especially at predominately white colleges and universities. The Colleges of Agriculture at these particular institutions are struggling to even get Black students to apply, let alone graduate. One of the major issues is the disconnect between the African-American community and the idea of post-secondary education in the agricultural field. One way that disconnect can be combatted is new techniques and strategies in recruiting African-Americans. This study identifies three themes based on interviews …

Perceptions Of Secondary Agricultural Education Programs, The National Ffa Organization, And Agricultural Careers Of Students Not Enrolled In A High School Agricultural Course, Rebecca A. Russell

Theses and Dissertations--Community & Leadership Development

Secondary agricultural education programs provide students an opportunity to gain a wide variety of knowledge about agriculture, as well as, the career opportunities within agriculture. The National FFA Organization is available for all youth enrolled in a secondary agricultural education program with a mission to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success. In order to continue to have youth interested in agricultural colleges and the potential for pursuing agricultural careers, students must be educated about those program areas. Student perceptions of these program areas can greatly …

Comprehensive Sexuality Education In Kentucky, Luciana D. Hockersmith

Theses and Dissertations--Community & Leadership Development

Discussions of sex education of any kind can be controversial in a given setting. Traditional approaches to sex education prompt debate regarding effectiveness. Key indicators central to the effectiveness of sex education continue to be rates of teen pregnancy and transmission of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). With discontentment surrounding the effectiveness of “traditional approaches,” a more wide-ranging method is worthy of being explored. The curriculum approach of Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) includes six key concepts, and subsequent sub-concepts, intended to provide a broad and even all-inclusive range of topics for a similarly broad and even all-inclusive range of ages of …

Work Life Balance For Agricultural Educators In Kentucky, Kendra Horn Rowland

Theses and Dissertations--Community & Leadership Development

Research indicates that Kentucky agricultural educators are overworked and experience job related stress. Balancing work and home can be a struggle and stress induces burnout and teacher attrition. Shortages in the agriculture classroom could result in loss of agricultural education programs and negatively affect the profession. The purpose of this study was to 1) describe the demographics of Kentucky high school agricultural educators; 2) describe the work and home life balance for Kentucky agricultural educators; 3) determine the level of job satisfaction among Kentucky agricultural educators; 4) determine the perceived busiest time of the school year for Kentucky agricultural educators. …

Expectancy-Value In The Enrollment Factor Of Agricultural Education Youth, Morgan Schafbuch

Theses and Dissertations--Community & Leadership Development

This quantitative study considers the motivating factors for enrollment in secondary agricultural education courses from students whose home background is not from a farm. This study utilizes expectancy-value theory, and looks at students (n=211) from different agricultural backgrounds and the impact on their ability beliefs, expectancies for success, and usefulness, importance, and interest for enrollment in agricultural education courses. The results indicate that students who have no affiliation to a farm have the highest ability beliefs and expectancies for success towards agricultural education in relation to students who are from traditional agricultural backgrounds.

Conceptualizing University Education Abroad Programs Using A Mutualistic Process: A Community Perspective, Tara A. Mcclintic

Theses and Dissertations--Community & Leadership Development

In the growing trend of education abroad, students in higher education are expected to become global citizens. While the literature supports the notion that students can positively benefit from the process of international education, yet little research exists in determining the community’s roles and perspectives and to evaluate mutually beneficial outcomes. This study identifies the three phases of international education, pre-immersion, immersion and post-immersion and overlays the biological concepts of symbiosis to capture the community voice to create mutualistic programs in education abroad. The results indicate that not only is there a role for communities, but that communities need to …

The Role Of Culture In Agricultural Education: A Synthesis Of Research, Jonathan A. Tubbs

Theses and Dissertations--Community & Leadership Development

Culture is studied across many different disciplines and is viewed as a topic of great and valuable interest within research. Agricultural education has come to recognize the value of embracing a multicultural attitude and the need for recruitment of culturally diverse individuals. While definitions of culture can vary from individual to individual, understanding the degree which a topic has been researched within a discipline is necessary in order to know what direction future research should take. Therefore, this study presents the findings of research on culture within the Journal of Agricultural Education from 1960-2015. This study’s findings indicate that culture, …

Family Influences On The Educational Aspirations Of Female Youth In Appalachia, Leah K. Vance

Theses and Dissertations--Community & Leadership Development

Family support, both financial and social, can impact the educational aspirations of youth. Studies have shown gender also plays a role in those educational aspirations. While there has been some research done on the educational aspirations of youth in Appalachia, the research on female youth Appalachia is less explored.

This study looks at the educational aspirations of female youth in Appalachia by surveying a group of young women who belong to the Robinson Scholars at the University of Kentucky. Participants completed a brief, one time survey answering questions about the types of social support received and the providers of that …

The Process Of Learner Centered Instruction In Adult Clientele, Shannon W. Farrell

Theses and Dissertations--Community & Leadership Development

Using learner centered instruction (LCI), a group of beef farmers were guided to design a farm in a layout that would most effectively offer continual learning opportunities for the beef practitioners themselves. Learner centered instruction was used as the primary teaching method for the project's completion. When using LCI, coupled with the correct facilitation of programs, student empowerment, and subject interest, positive experiences are more likely to result.

Identifying Risk And Protective Factors Of Preparatory And Non-Preparatory Students In Agricultural Education Programs Of A Rural Kentucky High School, Randy J. Adams

Theses and Dissertations--Community & Leadership Development

Today there is an increased demand for secondary agriculture education programs to prepare students to be college and career ready through a program of study. The purpose of this study was to identify risk and protective factors of preparatory and non-preparatory students within an agriculture education program at Anderson County High School in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. The results of this study did not determine that there was a difference in risk and protective factors between preparatory and non-preparatory students within agriculture education courses. The study concluded that students among both categories were equally exposed to risks such as family conflict and …