Investigating the Effects of a Math-Enhanced Agricultural Teaching Methods Course

Abstract

Numerous calls have been made for agricultural education to support core academic subject matter including mathematics. Previous research has shown that the incorporation of mathematics content into a teaching methods course had a positive effect on preservice teachers’ mathematics content knowledge. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a math-enhanced agricultural education teaching methods course on preservice agricultural education teachers’ mathematics ability, personal mathematics efficacy, mathematics teaching efficacy, and personal teaching efficacy. Results indicated that preservice teachers’ mathematics ability increased after the math-enhanced teaching methods course. Interestingly, personal mathematics efficacy decreased while mathematics teaching efficacy and personal teaching efficacy increased slightly after the math-enhanced teaching methods course. Based on the results of this study, peer-teaching that utilizes the seven components of a math-enhanced lesson may be an appropriate means to improve the mathematics ability of preservice agricultural education teachers.