Megan Lopez | University of South Florida (original) (raw)

Papers by Megan Lopez

Research paper thumbnail of Challenges and Solutions to Higher Education Institutions in Africa

The purpose of this study was to explore ways that higher education institutes (HEI's) that offer... more The purpose of this study was to explore ways that higher education institutes (HEI's) that offered agriculture education and training (AET) in their curriculum could change the behavior to improve the quality of education offered to students. Faculty at a regional conference in Africa participated in a daylong focus group workshop aimed at addressing these needs and offering solutions that could be implemented immediately. Using the theory of planned behavior as a guide, participants discussed the challenges and solutions they saw at their institutions and the amount of time it would take to implement changes. A qualitative analysis was conducted using a codebook to analyze various pieces of data that included video clips and artifacts created by the participants at the workshop. Results from the analysis were split in two main themes, challenges or solutions. The main challenges included access to higher education and lack of preparation at the primary and secondary level of school. The main solutions proposed were to restructure the leadership and offer more training to faculty through mentoring programs. These results can guide higher education initiatives for agriculture education and training as well as other discipline areas in higher education.

Research paper thumbnail of Interest-Driven Learning Among Middle School Youth in an Out-of-School STEM Studio

The concept of connected learning proposes that youth leverage individual interest and social med... more The concept of connected learning proposes that youth leverage individual interest and social media to drive learning with an academic focus. To illustrate, we present in-depth case studies of Ryan and Sam, two middle-school-age youth, to document an out-of-school intervention intended to direct toward intentional learning in STEM that taps interest and motivation. The investigation focused on how Ryan and Sam interacted with the designed elements of Studio STEM and whether they became more engaged to gain deeper learning about science concepts related to energy sustainability. The investigation focused on the roles of the engineering design process, peer interaction, and social media to influence youth interest and motivation. Research questions were based on principles of connected learning (e.g., self-expression, lower barriers to expertise, socio-technical supports) with data analyzed within a framework suggested by
discursive psychology. Analyzing videotaped excerpts of
interactions in the studio, field notes, interview responses,
and artifacts created during the program resulted in the following findings: problem solving, new media, and peer interaction as designed features of Studio STEM elicited evidence of stimulating interest in STEM for deeper learning. Further research could investigate individual interest driven niches that are formed inside the larger educational setting, identifying areas of informal learning practice that could be adopted in formal settings. Moreover, aspects of youth’s STEM literacy that could promote environmental sustainability through ideation, invention, and creativity should be pursued.

Research paper thumbnail of 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 teac... more 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.

Research paper thumbnail of Challenges and Solutions to Higher Education Institutions in Africa

The purpose of this study was to explore ways that higher education institutes (HEI's) that offer... more The purpose of this study was to explore ways that higher education institutes (HEI's) that offered agriculture education and training (AET) in their curriculum could change the behavior to improve the quality of education offered to students. Faculty at a regional conference in Africa participated in a daylong focus group workshop aimed at addressing these needs and offering solutions that could be implemented immediately. Using the theory of planned behavior as a guide, participants discussed the challenges and solutions they saw at their institutions and the amount of time it would take to implement changes. A qualitative analysis was conducted using a codebook to analyze various pieces of data that included video clips and artifacts created by the participants at the workshop. Results from the analysis were split in two main themes, challenges or solutions. The main challenges included access to higher education and lack of preparation at the primary and secondary level of school. The main solutions proposed were to restructure the leadership and offer more training to faculty through mentoring programs. These results can guide higher education initiatives for agriculture education and training as well as other discipline areas in higher education.

Research paper thumbnail of Interest-Driven Learning Among Middle School Youth in an Out-of-School STEM Studio

The concept of connected learning proposes that youth leverage individual interest and social med... more The concept of connected learning proposes that youth leverage individual interest and social media to drive learning with an academic focus. To illustrate, we present in-depth case studies of Ryan and Sam, two middle-school-age youth, to document an out-of-school intervention intended to direct toward intentional learning in STEM that taps interest and motivation. The investigation focused on how Ryan and Sam interacted with the designed elements of Studio STEM and whether they became more engaged to gain deeper learning about science concepts related to energy sustainability. The investigation focused on the roles of the engineering design process, peer interaction, and social media to influence youth interest and motivation. Research questions were based on principles of connected learning (e.g., self-expression, lower barriers to expertise, socio-technical supports) with data analyzed within a framework suggested by
discursive psychology. Analyzing videotaped excerpts of
interactions in the studio, field notes, interview responses,
and artifacts created during the program resulted in the following findings: problem solving, new media, and peer interaction as designed features of Studio STEM elicited evidence of stimulating interest in STEM for deeper learning. Further research could investigate individual interest driven niches that are formed inside the larger educational setting, identifying areas of informal learning practice that could be adopted in formal settings. Moreover, aspects of youth’s STEM literacy that could promote environmental sustainability through ideation, invention, and creativity should be pursued.

Research paper thumbnail of 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 teac... more 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.