Impacts of a Faculty Abroad Experience on Teaching Style and Technology Use in a College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Abstract

Faculty abroad programs are becoming a popular method to provide faculty in colleges of agriculture with international experiences so they may internationalize their curricula. These programs also serve to provide experiential faculty development opportunities. Eight faculty members from Texas A&M University participated in a faculty abroad experience in Trinidad and Tobago and developed instructional materials using technology. Pre-reflective and reflective interview responses were qualitatively analyzed to determine the impact of this experience on participants' teaching style and technology usage. The comparison of the pre-reflective and reflective data sets indicated participants perceived impact on teaching style, specifically in relation to their curriculum content and use of global connections as it pertained to their discipline and global relationships with native counterparts. Many participants were already using technology in the classroom prior to the international experience. As a result of the experience, the level of their technology usage increased as they incorporated media, such as audio and video, to communicate their experiences and create context for their lessons. It was concluded that teaching style, technology usage, and excitement for teaching were renewed as a result of an international experience. Future studies should be conducted to compare these findings with similar faculty abroad experiences.

Perceived changes among second-stage agriculture teachers following a professional development experience in Ecuador

“…One way is through global professional development opportunities. Despite few opportunities for teachers to travel internationally (Hurst et al, 2015;Thuemmel & Welton, 1983), studies show international experiences can reinvigorate teachers in their career, augment their cultural awareness, and increase their confidence and autonomy (Sandlin et al, 2013;Stephens & Little, 2008).…”

An Examination of Pre-service Agricultural Science Teachers’ Interest and Participation in International Experiences: Motivations and Barriers

“…Studies regarding international experiences in the context of agriculture have included research focused on the impact of these experiences on faculty (Dooley, Dooley, & Carranza, 2008;Harder et al, 2012;Sandlin, Murphrey, Lindner, & Dooley, 2013), Extension educators (McClure, Danjean, Bunch, Machtmes, & Kotrlik, 2014), and students (Anderson, et al, 2006;Farrell & Suvedi, 2003;Foster, Rice, Foster, & Barrick, 2014;Hains, Ricketts, & Tubbs, 2012;Zhai & Scheer, 2004). We were particularly interested in the impact related to college students.…”