Enhancing high school students' interest, motivation, and knowledge through poultry science workshops

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Animal Science
• Poultry Science Education

Background:

• Undergraduate interest in poultry careers is low.
• Secondary school outreach can improve awareness and understanding of the poultry industry.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of short-term poultry science workshops.
• To assess changes in high school students' situational interest, motivation, and knowledge regarding the poultry industry.

Main Methods:

• 45 high school students attended 90-minute workshops with four poultry science and animal health stations.
• Pre- and post-assessments measured interest, motivation, and knowledge.

Main Results:

• Student content knowledge significantly increased after workshop participation.
• Participants demonstrated high intrinsic motivation and identified regulation.
• Students with 4-H experience showed lower amotivation compared to those without.

Conclusions:

• Short-term workshops are effective in enhancing poultry science knowledge and motivation.
• Adapting agricultural education to diverse student backgrounds is crucial for engagement.
• Focusing on relevance can maximize learning outcomes and foster interest in poultry careers.