A Scoping Review on the Impact of Educational Technology in Agricultural Education

Xu, Zhihong; Adeyemi, Anjorin Ezekiel; Landaverde, Rafael; Kogut, Ashlynn; Baker, Matt

doi:10.3390/educsci13090910

Cited by 4 publications

(6 citation statements)

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“…These findings differ from a similar review conducted on the use of ET in agricultural education by Xu et al [ 61 ] Among the 83 included studies in their review, they found that the most used ET was online/distance education, followed by simulation/digital games and then, multimedia and traditional technology. This stark contrast may be attributable to the different contexts or settings in which agricultural education and agricultural extension are practiced.…”

Section: Resultscontrasting

confidence: 97%

A scoping review on technology applications in agricultural extension

Xu,

Adeyemi,

Catalan

et al. 2023

PLoS ONE

Self Cite

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Agricultural extension plays a crucial role in disseminating knowledge, empowering farmers, and advancing agricultural development. The effectiveness of these roles can be greatly improved by integrating technology. These technologies, often grouped into two categories–agricultural technology and educational technology–work together to yield the best outcomes. While several studies have been conducted using technologies in agricultural extension programs, no previous reviews have solely examined the impact of these technologies in agricultural extension, and this leaves a significant knowledge gap especially for professionals in this field. For this scoping review, we searched the five most relevant, reliable, and comprehensive databases (CAB Abstracts (Ovid), AGRICOLA (EBSCO), ERIC (EBSCO), Education Source (EBSCO), and Web of Science Core Collection) for articles focused on the use of technology for training farmers in agricultural extension settings. Fifty-four studies published between 2000 and 2022 on the use of technology in agricultural extension programs were included in this review. Our findings show that: (1) most studies were conducted in the last seven years (2016–2022) in the field of agronomy, with India being the most frequent country and Africa being the most notable region for the studies; (2) the quantitative research method was the most employed, while most of the included studies used more than one data collection approach; (3) multimedia was the most widely used educational technology, while most of the studies combined more than one agricultural technology such as pest and disease control, crop cultivation and harvesting practices; (4) the impacts of technology in agricultural extension were mostly mixed, while only the educational technology type had a statistically significant effect or impact of the intervention outcome. From an analysis of the results, we identified potential limitations in included studies’ methodology and reporting that should be considered in the future like the need to further analyze the specific interactions between the two technology types and their impacts of some aspects of agricultural extension. We also looked at the characteristics of interventions, the impact of technology on agricultural extension programs, and current and future trends. We emphasized the gaps in the literature that need to be addressed.

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Section: Resultscontrasting

confidence: 97%

A scoping review on technology applications in agricultural extension

Xu,

Adeyemi,

Catalan

et al. 2023

PLoS ONE

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…To serve more efficiently and inclusively, agricultural extensionists continue experimenting and researching new instruction forms that reach a broader audience [64]. Virtual reality is an educational innovation that has been used frequently and successfully in agricultural science education in formal training settings, where it has been shown to positively impact the development of critical and creative thinking in learners [5,65]. However, the use of VR in non-formal education programs such as those offered by extension services in the United States has been investigated and reported in the literature much less frequently.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…VR technologies use computer-based equipment and software to simulate an object or environment three-dimensionally [1]. VR has demonstrated the potential to provide learners with experiences that would not be attained without this technology [4][5][6]. Even though VR's potential to improve user experience in gaming and entertainment is well-known, its potential for other sectors has been most recently documented and reported [7,8].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Virtual reality has shown learning and teaching benefits in students participating in programs with agricultural themes, and it adds other elements and ideas to classroom settings and controlled environments [5]. Unfortunately, there are limited studies on using this technology or records of training programs in or using VR in programs offered by non-formal education programs designed and promoted by extension services [21][22][23].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, time, cost of travel, and cross-contamination are prohibiting barriers when it comes to site visits for extension services. VR video could bypass these physical barriers by developing and applying appropriate, interactive information mechanisms whenever/wherever our farmers, ranchers, and other agriculture stakeholders need, as this immersive technology allows participants to observe and revisit the site remotely [5,6].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Virtual Reality Videos for Delivery of Extension Educational Materials on Manure and Mortality Management: A Pilot-Study

Gunawardana,

Wang,

Mahdaviarab

et al. 2023

Preprint

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This study presents virtual reality (VR) videos as an effective technique for delivering extension educational materials on manure and mortality management. Virtual reality is a technology that can enable immersive distance learning. Using VR tours can enable the public to learn manure and mortality management technologies without in-person farm visits, thus saving traveling time and money and avoiding exposure to pathogens and noxious odors in farms. As the first part of this project, 360° VR tours were created on multiple aspects of manure management, including composting, anaerobic digestion, and preliminary wastewater treatment. These videos were presented to a diverse audience of agricultural producers, extension specialists, and researchers through in-person and online extension events and the Texas Manure YouTube channel. The effectiveness of videos was evaluated using surveys, which measured the audience's awareness of the topics before and after watching VR videos. Statistical analysis revealed that the increase in awareness after watching the videos was statistically significant, with a p-value of less than 0.0001. Statistical analysis also revealed that job classification and professional experience significantly impacted the change in awareness. Researchers, extension specialists/agents, and participants with less experience in manure and mortality management experienced a greater change in awareness than agricultural producers and participants with more experience. Interest and impression of the audience on the VR videos was also evaluated. According to survey data, the majority of the audience rated these videos as an effective technique for educating the public about manure and mortality management, found the VR videos interesting, were willing to learn more content through VR videos, and were likely to recommend them to their colleagues. A statistically significant correlation could be observed between the awareness change and the effectiveness rating given to the videos by the participant.

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Engaging secondary school students in sustainability assessments through farm nutrient mass balances

Olivo,

Godber,

Perry

et al. 2024

Natural Sciences Education

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Decision‐support tools (DSTs) are increasingly used to collect, manage, and/or analyze growing amounts of data generated on farms. The whole‐farm nutrient mass balance (NMB) is an assessment with an associated DST (the Cornell NMB calculator) that measures farm nutrient management efficiency. Our main objectives were to (1) develop and implement a secondary school curriculum on NMB assessments; (2) evaluate its impact on student knowledge and perceptions of agricultural sustainability, nutrient management, careers in agriculture, awareness about data collection and use of DSTs, and analytical and quantitative skills; and (3) assess teacher experiences delivering the materials. The curriculum was implemented across 21 New York classrooms. Students completed one pre‐ and one post‐curriculum implementation questionnaire (n = 134). Teachers completed a post‐curriculum implementation questionnaire (n = 19). Results showed that the curriculum enhanced student knowledge of nutrient management and effectively conveyed the fundamentals of the NMB metrics. It also impacted student perceptions of the utilization of DSTs and need for mathematical skills and data management knowledge in agriculture. The curriculum did not influence student interest in pursuing agricultural careers but exposed them to aspects of farming that they were not previously familiar with. The math‐focused lessons were identified as challenging by many students and teachers. Teachers found the curriculum applicable to the real world, exposing students to new aspects of farming. We conclude that real‐world case‐study examples, carefully planned math‐focused lessons, appropriate support materials including widely installable and user‐friendly software, and training opportunities for teachers can help effective teaching of DST use and agriculture sustainability concepts.

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A Scoping Review on the Impact of Educational Technology in Agricultural Education

Cited by 4 publications

References 89 publications

A scoping review on technology applications in agricultural extension

A scoping review on technology applications in agricultural extension

Virtual Reality Videos for Delivery of Extension Educational Materials on Manure and Mortality Management: A Pilot-Study

Engaging secondary school students in sustainability assessments through farm nutrient mass balances

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