Developing Model-Eliciting Activities for Middle School Level Using Agricultural Life Sciences Contexts

• In Event: Investigating Young Adolescents' Academic Achievement and STEM Education

Abstract

This study describes the development of model-eliciting activities (MEAs) that use agricultural life sciences (AgLS) contexts. Compared to traditional MEAs, AgLS MEAs have the potential to ease learning STEM due to agriculture’s experiential and interdisciplinary nature, familiarity with students, and connection to STEM. AgLS have primarily been underexplored as contexts for MEAs, especially where real-world engineering-based problem-solving tasks are concerned, and AgLS have strong potential to connect students to cultural and environmental relevance. The significance of real-world problems to one’s sociocultural environment encompasses critical factors that contribute to success and interest among students. Preliminary results suggest that cultural and environmental components of the MEA must be developed in tandem with those who understand the objective of the task development.

Authors

• Quintana M. Clark, University of Wisconsin - Madison

• Levon T. Esters, Purdue University

• Neil A. Knobloch, Purdue University