EVALUATION OF THE INCUBATORS IN THE CLASSROOM PROGRAM: DOES IT INCREASE FOURTH GRADE STUDENTS’ KNOWLEDGE OF AGRICULTURERELATED SCIENCE CONCEPTS?

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of agricultural literacy materials designed for the Incubators in the Classroom program used in Indiana fourth grade classrooms. The objectives were to determine the impact of these materials on the agriculture-related science concepts knowledge level of fourth grade students and the impact of these materials on the agriculture-related science concepts knowledge level of fourth grade teachers. Effectiveness of the educational materials was measured using a pretest-posttest research design with Indiana fourth grade school children (n=736) and their respective teachers (n=39). The sample of students and teachers was divided into experimental and control groups, then stratified based on community population size (less than 5,000, between 5,000-15,000, greater than 15,000). Quantitative data were collected through questionnaires. The data indicated the educational materials developed and assessed for this study were effective in increasing knowledge about agriculture-related science concepts among both the experimental students and teachers.