Vol. 55 No. 01 (2005)

The manuscripts in Volume 55, Issue 1 (2005) of the Journal of Southern Agricultural Education Research (JSAER) address strengthening agricultural education programs through improved teacher preparation, technology integration, Extension effectiveness, and a more equitable understanding of who participates in and benefits from agricultural programs.

Teacher Preparation and Student Teaching

• Profile of Cooperating Teachers and Centers in Oklahoma: A quantitative survey of 64 Oklahoma cooperating teachers and 55 student teaching centers finds that 33 of 34 student teaching elements are rated as highly important, with the cooperating teacher–student teacher relationship accounting for seven of the ten highest-rated elements, recommending greater diversity in cooperating centers and targeted professional development for cooperating teachers.
• Teacher Preparation and In-Service Needs in Georgia: A Borich needs assessment of 212 Georgia agriculture teachers finds that all non-instructional program management competencies are viewed as important, with advising students about post-secondary education in agriculture, preparing FFA proficiency award applications, and developing public relations programs identified as the highest in-service and preservice training priorities.

Technology Integration and Student Achievement

• Technology Integration and Student Achievement in Texas Agriscience: A quantitative study of 150 Texas agriscience teachers finds a low positive correlation between instructional technology integration and student math achievement on the TAAS, with negligible correlations for reading and writing, suggesting that technology use alone is not sufficient to drive measurable academic gains.
• Multimedia Cues and Student Cognition in Electronic Instruction: A quasi-experimental study of 105 high school agriculture students testing three CD-ROM delivery treatments finds that students exposed to audio/video components scored significantly higher on post-tests than those receiving text-only instruction, recommending that curriculum developers incorporate audio/video components into electronically delivered instructional materials.

Standardized Testing and Academic Achievement

• Agricultural Education Students and Kentucky CATS Scores: A quantitative comparison of Commonwealth Accountability Testing System scores finds that Kentucky high school agricultural education and career and technical education students' performance can be assessed against state standards to evaluate whether agriculture programs are contributing to academic achievement, recommending that states use existing standardized assessments more strategically to evaluate curriculum alignment.

Extension Education, Job Satisfaction, and Diversity

• Extension Agents' Job Characteristics and Satisfaction: A quantitative study of 143 Mississippi Extension agents using the Job Diagnostic Survey finds that skill variety and task significance are the most perceived job characteristics, while agents are least satisfied with general satisfaction and pay, recommending that administrators use these findings to design inservice programs that address specific dissatisfiers.
• Demographic Factors and Extension Agent Job Satisfaction: A companion correlational study finds that gender and race are significantly related to job satisfaction constructs among Mississippi Extension agents, and that significant differences exist between area agents and 4-H agents in satisfaction with co-worker relations, recommending that administrators account for these demographic differences in workforce planning and program design.
• Hispanic Participation in Texas Extension Programs: A correlational study finds that demographic factors including education, income, and language are significant predictors of Hispanic participation in Texas Extension programs, recommending that Extension reduce institutional barriers, hire more diverse faculty, and develop culturally appropriate programming to better serve rapidly growing Hispanic audiences.
• Characteristics of Creative County Extension Programs in Texas: A mixed-methods study comparing administrator perceptions to observations of 17 identified creative county Extension programs finds that reaching new audiences, addressing relevant issues, using activity-based and multi-session delivery methods, and grassroots planning are hallmarks of creative programming, providing Extension administrators a practical model for fostering innovation in county programs.

Leadership, Youth Programs, and Agricultural Literacy

• Socioeconomic Status and Leadership Potential in an Agricultural Leadership Program: A quantitative study using factor analysis finds that education and income remain significantly related to community commitment among graduates of a Midwestern agricultural leadership program, recommending that program directors actively address the cost barriers of tuition and travel expenses to recruit participants from a broader range of socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Student Demographics and Safety Education at the Houston Livestock Show Agricultural Mechanics Project Show: A descriptive survey of participants at the nation's largest agricultural mechanics project show finds that participants are predominantly white males, that over one-third participate in no extracurricular activity other than FFA, and that while most received safety instruction in several areas, more than two in five were not required to wear eye protection in the lab, recommending strengthened and more consistently enforced safety education practices.
• Space Agriculture in the Classroom Curriculum Outcomes: A follow-up evaluation of the USDA-NASA Space Agriculture in the Classroom curriculum piloted in four states finds that 84% of teachers who received materials used them, that 38% of participating students were from minority groups, and that teachers reported positive student interest in space and agriculture topics, providing early evidence that the curriculum is meeting its goals of expanding agricultural literacy and career interest among urban and minority students.