Outcome Framework for School Garden Program Development and Evaluation: A Delphi Approach

Abstract

School gardens programs and garden-based education are positioned to become fixtures in educational institutions given recent trends and the national interest in gardens at school sites. Agricultural education professionals have integrated school gardens into core science, social studies, math, and language arts courses as well as agricultural education programs for elementary, middle, and high school curriculum. The literature shows that while there are specific curriculum links being made, school garden programs elicit a multitude of benefits in addition to enhancing student performance. Although the literature outlines an extensive set of impacts that may result from a school garden program, they are grounded in a specific case or intervention. Those who are planning for and evaluating school garden programs are left to make connections based on case study results or intervention trials, which leaves plenty of room for error. We utilized the Delphi approach with a panel of 74 experts to identify consensus on 38 outcomes that should be used to inform program development and evaluation efforts. Agricultural education professionals and other stakeholders connected to school gardens can use the results of this study to provide a solid foundation for an outcome-driven school garden program.

Entry-Level Workplace Competencies Needed by Graduates of a Community College Agriculture Program: A Midwest Case Study Using the Delphi Technique

“…A modified Delphi technique was selected as the best research method to address the objective of this study. Delphi approaches have been used previously to establish programmatic objectives (Diaz et al, 2018;Long & Morgan, 2010), to revise educational curriculum (Lundy et al, 2017), and to identify essential professional competencies needed in agricultural settings (Edgar et al, 2012;Conner et al, 2013;Ramsey & Edwards, 2011;Sapp et al, 2019). Stewart (2001) suggested that a modified Delphi can be used to gather a consensus of knowledge from experts when distant communication is convenient over traditional face-to-face settings.…”

Potential Mentoring Impacts on Oklahoma Induction-Year School-Based Agricultural Education Teachers: A Modified Delphi Study

“…How does the absence of a structured mentoring program impact a first-year agricultural education teacher? Responses were narrowed to unique statements and grouped into like themes (Diaz et al, 2018). Responses from 25 panel members were collected in this round for a response rate of 59.52%.…”

Perceived Factors that Influence the Success of Vertical Transfer Students in Agricultural Education: A Delphi Study

“…The number of iterations is dependent on the level of consensus that is desired (Hsu & Sandford, 2007). Advisory panel design (Diaz, Warner, & Webb, 2018) was used to review the initial questionnaire statements for content validity. A review panel of four participants was convened to evaluate and revise the instrument for content validity purposes.…”