Teacher Efficacy and Professional Development Needs of Mid-Career Agriculture Educators Integrating the Next Generation Science Standards and Other Content Areas

The purpose of this case study was to examine the phenomenon regarding agriculture education teacher's efficacy by integrating the Next Gen Science Standards and other content areas into their classroom teaching. This was a single case study with two units of analysis consisting of two agriculture education programs in the Eastern United States who resided and worked in a state that provided input and resources on the design and writing of the NGSS for future implementation. Monthly-recorded audio interviews using a semi-structured interview revealed that efficacy was a major factor in the teachers' ability to incorporate other subject matter in class and professional development needs to be tailored to their needs as mid-career professionals. The researchers recommend that ongoing professional development from the school and professional development organization be more deliberate and the integration of more science is necessary to keep agriculture education programs competitive as a valuable curriculum within the pre-k-12 system.