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Improved Instructional Practices Improve Student Success on Certified Crop Adviser Exams

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Title: Improved Instructional Practices Improve Student Success on Certified Crop Adviser Exams
Language: English
Authors: Lindsey, Alexander J. (ORCID 0000-0002-3216-1496), Barker, David J.
Source: Natural Sciences Education. Jun 2023 52(1).
Availability: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 6
Publication Date: 2023
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Soil Science, Agronomy, Certification, Exit Examinations, Teaching Methods, Instructional Improvement, Test Preparation, Scores, State Universities, Agricultural Education, Critical Thinking, Pretesting, Problem Solving
Geographic Terms: Ohio
DOI: 10.1002/nse2.20102
ISSN: 2168-8273
2168-8281
Abstract: In spring 2016, a course at Ohio State University (OSU) was introduced to teach advanced agronomic concepts and included the option to prepare students for the Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) exams offered by the American Society of Agronomy. From 2019 to 2021, revisions in instructional methods were implemented that introduced the use of pretests (in addition to posttests given at the end of instructional periods) and focused problem-solving within a teaching unit towards the end of the semester. Improvement in course exam performance for each period was measured, and student performance (SP) on the CCA exams relative to the general population was determined. Student course exam scores increased marginally (3%) from 2019-2021 compared to 2016-2018, though gains were not significant (p > 0.5). SP from 2016 to 2018 (n = 27) was 1%-5% greater than the general population for the international CCA exam (n = 3978) but was equal to or 1.5% below the general population for the local CCA exam (n = 784). SP from 2019 to 2021 (n = 21) was 7.8%-16.4% greater for all categories for both the international (n = 2330) and local (n = 419) exam general populations. Student passing rates on the international exam went from 25.3% to 52.8% greater than the general population from 2016-2018 to 2019-2021, respectively, and student passing rate for the local exam increased from 55.7% less than the general population in 2016-2018 to 26.7% greater than the general population in 2019-2021. These results suggest the modification of course instruction coincided with SP gains and may have contributed to improved performance of the student population compared to the general population.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2023
Accession Number: EJ1381597
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: Improved Instructional Practices Improve Student Success on Certified Crop Adviser Exams
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lindsey%2C+Alexander+J%2E%22">Lindsey, Alexander J.</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3216-1496">0000-0002-3216-1496</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Barker%2C+David+J%2E%22">Barker, David J.</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Natural+Sciences+Education%22"><i>Natural Sciences Education</i></searchLink>. Jun 2023 52(1).
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  Data: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
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  Data: 6
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Soil+Science%22">Soil Science</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Agronomy%22">Agronomy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Certification%22">Certification</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Exit+Examinations%22">Exit Examinations</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teaching+Methods%22">Teaching Methods</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Instructional+Improvement%22">Instructional Improvement</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Test+Preparation%22">Test Preparation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Scores%22">Scores</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22State+Universities%22">State Universities</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Agricultural+Education%22">Agricultural Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Critical+Thinking%22">Critical Thinking</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Pretesting%22">Pretesting</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Problem+Solving%22">Problem Solving</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ohio%22">Ohio</searchLink>
– Name: DOI
  Label: DOI
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  Data: 10.1002/nse2.20102
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  Data: 2168-8273<br />2168-8281
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: In spring 2016, a course at Ohio State University (OSU) was introduced to teach advanced agronomic concepts and included the option to prepare students for the Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) exams offered by the American Society of Agronomy. From 2019 to 2021, revisions in instructional methods were implemented that introduced the use of pretests (in addition to posttests given at the end of instructional periods) and focused problem-solving within a teaching unit towards the end of the semester. Improvement in course exam performance for each period was measured, and student performance (SP) on the CCA exams relative to the general population was determined. Student course exam scores increased marginally (3%) from 2019-2021 compared to 2016-2018, though gains were not significant (p > 0.5). SP from 2016 to 2018 (n = 27) was 1%-5% greater than the general population for the international CCA exam (n = 3978) but was equal to or 1.5% below the general population for the local CCA exam (n = 784). SP from 2019 to 2021 (n = 21) was 7.8%-16.4% greater for all categories for both the international (n = 2330) and local (n = 419) exam general populations. Student passing rates on the international exam went from 25.3% to 52.8% greater than the general population from 2016-2018 to 2019-2021, respectively, and student passing rate for the local exam increased from 55.7% less than the general population in 2016-2018 to 26.7% greater than the general population in 2019-2021. These results suggest the modification of course instruction coincided with SP gains and may have contributed to improved performance of the student population compared to the general population.
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  Data: EJ1381597
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        Value: 10.1002/nse2.20102
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 6
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Soil Science
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Agronomy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Certification
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Exit Examinations
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Teaching Methods
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Instructional Improvement
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      – SubjectFull: Test Preparation
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      – SubjectFull: Scores
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      – SubjectFull: State Universities
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      – SubjectFull: Agricultural Education
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      – SubjectFull: Critical Thinking
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      – SubjectFull: Pretesting
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      – SubjectFull: Problem Solving
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      – SubjectFull: Ohio
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    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Improved Instructional Practices Improve Student Success on Certified Crop Adviser Exams
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