bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhancing Understanding of Linear Programming Concepts Through Contextual Education
Authors: Mwambazi Chrispine Mulenga , Mbewe Simeon , Simui Francise
Published: January 2025

This paper’s primary goal is to investigate how Contextual Education can enhancing understanding of Linear Programming. This study was entirely qualitative in nature with 15 participants. The author argues that ccontextual education techniques enhance students’ comprehension of concepts in linear programming. Students generally find linear programming difficult, especially because it is abstract and necessitates sophisticated mathematical reasoning. It seeks to close the knowledge by placing learning in realistic, real-world contexts, which promotes greater comprehension and involvement. Interviews, and group discussions were applied to learn more about how students grasp linear programming ideas, in secondary schools. Thematic analysis of the data was done with an emphasis on the conceptual clarity, problem-solving abilities, and engagement levels of the students.

According to the study, it not only enhances comprehension but also boosts students’ motivation and interest, underscoring the significance of interactive and student-centered approaches in complicated mathematics topics. The study concludes by highlight the potential teaching approaches, particularly for improving comprehension of abstract ideas like linear programming. In addition to suggesting additional research to evaluate Contextual Teaching and Learning’s long-term effects on students’ mathematical competency, the study ends with suggestions for incorporating it into linear programming programs to promote deeper learning.
Assessment of Primary Teachers’ Self-Perceived Communicative Competence in English as a Medium of Instruction in Nyamasheke District, Rwanda
Authors: Aloys Hategekimana , Methode Harerimana , Innocent Dr Sibomana
Published: January 2025

Teachers’ communicative competence in English as a medium of instruction is crucial for effective teaching and learning and for the overall positive relationship between students and teachers in the classroom. This article aimed to assess primary teachers’ self-perceived communicative competence in English as a medium of instruction in two primary schools in Nyamasheke District, Rwanda. This article adopted a descriptive research design guided by Cummins’ (1979) Dimensions of Language Proficiency. It used quantitative data collected by a questionnaire. Teachers rated their perceived English language proficiency focusing on the four English language skills: speaking, listening, reading and writing. The results showed that teachers’ overall communicative competence was low in terms of conversational fluency and academic language skills, which teachers need for successful teaching. This study highlights the need for appropriate training, support and guidelines for the use of English in the teaching of school subjects. This research recommended that training resources should include reading materials, films for listening and interpreting content, and essay writing to develop all the four English language skills. In addition, the benefits of English language training for teachers should be maximized, and language learning outcomes should be monitored and tested for future teacher assessment in order to encourage and motivate teachers to learn and improve their English language skills.
Exploring the Impact of Absent Fathers on Children: Lived Experiences of Students in Two Secondary Schools in the Leri be District, Lesotho
Authors: Kurata Lehlohonolo , Selialia Mampota , Lipholo Reitumetse , Mareka Lineo
Published: January 2025

The absence of a father in the family is becoming a serious issue in many countries, often affecting students’ social, emotional, and academic development. This study uses Attachment Theory to explore the experiences of students in two secondary schools in the Leribe district, focusing on how father absence impacts their psychological, emotional, and economic well-being. Using a qualitative approach, the research involved interviews with ten students, gathering their thoughts and experiences about living without a father. The study found that father absence is linked to lower self-esteem. Students reported feelings of abandonment and emotional instability, but many developed coping strategies by seeking support from other sources. Socially, these students are more at risk of engaging in delinquent behaviours, with girls particularly struggling with unhealthy relationships and risky sexual activities. Economically, not having a father increases financial difficulties, leading to poverty and limited access to educational resources. Despite these challenges, many students show resilience by finding support in romantic relationships, hobbies, friendships, and community activities. These findings help us understand the important role fathers play in children’s development and highlight how students can adapt to their situations. They also emphasise the need for targeted support in schools and communities to help students facing the challenges of growing up without a father.
Global Trends in Vocational Training Education: A Bibliometric Analysis
Authors: Rajamanickam Selvi , Che’ Rus Ridzwan , Abdul Raji Mohd Nazri , Mina Hattori , Vebrianto Rian
Published: January 2025

In an era of rapid technological advancements and shifting economic landscapes, vocational training education is crucial for preparing individuals to meet global workforce demands. This study examines global trends in vocational training technologies through a comprehensive bibliometric analysis. It explores the temporal evolution of research trends, identifies seminal contributions, highlights emerging topics, and traces the dissemination of knowledge in vocational training education, providing essential insights for educators, policymakers, and stakeholders. Bibliometric analysis offers a systematic and quantitative method to examine scholarly output, citation patterns, and collaborative dynamics across vocational training research. An initial search yielded 1,388 articles, refined to 465 by excluding non-English articles and reviews, with 366 articles selected for bibliometric analysis from the Scopus database (2020-2024). VOSviewer software was used for clustering and mapping bibliometric data, utilizing keyword co-occurrence analysis, citation analysis, and co-citation analysis to explore novel technologies, pedagogical approaches, and policy frameworks. The study reveals consistent research activity with stable publication numbers from 2020 to 2021, a surge in 2022 and 2023, and a decline in 2024. Key trends include the integration of digital tools, policy and governance studies, industry collaboration, inclusivity, and green skills. Collaborative networks highlight global interconnectedness and knowledge exchange dynamics. Bibliometric coupling analysis uncovers intellectual connections and interdisciplinary intersections fostering innovation and impact. This study provides strategic insights for policymakers and educators, aiding informed decision-making and policy alignment. It identifies research gaps, emerging topics, and enhances collaboration and networking, supporting effective knowledge exchange and resource allocation by funding agencies.
Discourse Analysis of Leadership in Prophetic Teachings: Meta-Functional Analysis from Hadiths Narrated by Aishah R.A
Authors: Abdullah Ariza , Sarudin Anida , Muhamad Romli Taj Rijal
Published: January 2025

This study aims to critically analyze the hadith discourse to uncover the social ‎communication process of the leadership of Prophet Mohammad SAW in his household through a ‎textual analysis and the practice of the narrator’s discourse. The study of the hadith texts used ‎Fairclough’s (1995) Three-dimensional methodology of Critical Discourse Analysis ‎which analyzed the practice of discourse through textual dimensions, discourse practices, and ‎social processes simultaneously. Data were taken from the corpus of hadith relating to the event of ‎slander which contained 102 segments, narrated by his wife, Aisyah r.a., from the source of the authentic book of Sahih ‎al-Bukhari (2008). The discussion in this study focuses on the analysis of meta-function ‎modes specifically to identify the genre of discourse delivery through the style of language ‎used. This analysis brings a new dimension in the study of the language style of the Prophet SAW. The results of the study found that there are inter-discursive ‎meta-function modes covering statement (MP), performative (MF), and conditional performative (MFK) modes. ‎Statement mode (MP) includes positive, negative, and assertive statements. Whilst, performative mode (MF) includes various request speech forces, ‎including imperative, prohibition, interrogation, question, optative or hope, interjection, and ‎interpersonal characteristics (FINT). The implications of this study can contribute to ‎communication strategies based on meta-function modes as an element of ‎household leadership. It offers practical strategies for modern household leadership, addressing conflict resolution, emotional connection, and contemporary challenges like dual-career families and digital communication, providing a holistic approach to applying his leadership as a timeless model.
Legislating Sustainability for Renewable Energy in Malaysia and Iceland
Authors: Azzarina Azhari Annis Radhiah , Batrisyia Shukry Putry Balqis , Zamrus Kasih Sofea , Abdul Rani Mohd Haris
Published: January 2025

The global society has relied on fossil fuels as a lifestyle due to the support and development of technologies and economies that promoted their usage. Due to this, a total reliance towards that lifestyle has been established. This dependence has deeply permeated various facets of life, posing significant challenges in transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. During the transition process, there are some substantial obstacles, namely the inefficiency of policies, limited enforcement capacity, and lack of sufficient financial incentives. This research focuses on conducting a comprehensive comparative analysis of the efficiency and sustainability of implementing renewable energy initiatives in Malaysia and Iceland. Specifically, this research critically examines the correlation between the effectiveness of legal frameworks and policies, particularly in Iceland, and their impact on fostering renewable energy production. This investigation yields valuable insights into refining Malaysia’s renewable energy implementation, enhancing its efficiency and sustainability, and driving the transition towards cleaner energy alternatives.
Stakeholders’ Perceptions about the Competences of Open and Distance Learning Graduates
Authors: Semwenda Joyceline A. , Kira Ernest S. , Nyangas James A. , Msangya Benedicto W. , Athumani Jamal J.
Published: January 2025

Education plays a vital role in individual and national development. Open and Distance Learning (ODL) is an educational approach that enables learners to study independently within their own environments without attending conventional classes. In ODL, the learning is facilitated through provided course outlines or modules. This quantitative study investigates the perceptions of key stakeholders, including ODL learners, employers, and the head of a nearby school, regarding the skills, values, and competencies of ODL graduates, as well as their ability to perform assigned tasks. The study was conducted at the Institute of Adult Education learning centres found in Dar es Salaam, Mbeya, and Ruvuma, with a total of 622 respondents. The data was collected through closed-ended questionnaires and analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23. Descriptive statistics, including tables, frequencies, and percentages, were used to present the data, while inferential analysis employed the Pearson Chi-square test to determine relationships between variables. The results indicate that stakeholders, including employers and ODL learners, expressed confidence in the innovative skills developed by ODL graduates. The heads of the nearby schools were particularly confident with graduates' communication skills. Employers showed the highest confidence in the graduates’ ability to effectively manage assigned tasks. Similarly, the heads of the nearby schools were confident in the ODL program for equipping graduates with quality and sustainable skills to serve their communities. They also recognized the graduates' ability to demonstrate a high level of competence when taking on responsibilities. ODL learners consistently expressed confidence in nearly all aspects of the program’s outcomes. The study recommends that ODL institutions partner with employers to understand the skills ODL graduates should possess to succeed in the workplace. Additionally, ODL institutions should ensure that their programs are of high quality so that all graduates meet consistent standards of professional readiness in the labour market.
A IMPORTÂNCIA DA PADRONIZAÇÃO DOS COMPUTADORES UTILIZADOS PELA POLÍCIA MILITAR DO PARANÁ SOB O OLHAR DA SEGURANÇA DA INFORMAÇÃO
Authors: Ferreira Pinheiro Fabrício
Published: January 2025

O presente artigo tem como finalidade apresentar e analisar a importância na padronização dos computadores em uso pela Polícia Militar do Paraná sob a ótica da “Segurança da Informação”, visando estimular e delimitar esta prática na corporação, tanto no processo da aquisição de novos equipamentos, quanto do recebimento destes dispositivos de outras formas de repasse como, por exemplo, através de doação de outros órgãos. Esta proposta tem como objetivo ainda, disseminar conceitos relacionados à Segurança da Informação na corporação, que se apresentam pouco discutidos entre os militares estaduais. Partindo desta discussão, a padronização de computadores se apresenta como um fator preponderante para se evitar exposições de dados relacionados à segurança pública, os quais, são de extrema importância para as atividades da Polícia Militar e dos cidadãos por ela atendidos. A metodologia utilizada se alicerçou em levantamentos da literatura, documentação, legislação e dados quantitativos, os quais validam a necessidade de discussão do tema em todas as atividades da corporação. Defronte, desta análise concluiu-se que é primordial colocar em discussão o tema e sugerir melhorias para que a atividade de padronização atenda próximo aos 100% dos computadores utilizados pela Polícia Militar do Paraná.
Commitment Competency and Growth of Aquaculture-Based Small Enterprises in Kenya
Authors: Thuku Virginia Mwara , Senelwa Anaya , Naikuru Susan
Published: January 2025

Purpose: This study evaluated the influence of commitment competency on growth of small enterprises in Kenya.
Methodology: The study adopted descriptive research design using mixed methods approach. The target population was 600 fish farmers in Nyeri County, Kenya. The study utilized purposive sampling to select fish farmers within Nyeri County, then cluster sampling to identify fish farmers in their various sub-counties. Simple random sampling was then utilized to select respondents for the study. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from the respondents. A pilot study was conducted to test validity and reliability of the questionnaire. Data analysis was done using Statistical package for Social Scientists (SPSS). Regression analysis and chi-square were used to test for significant associations between the dependent and independent variables. The findings were presented in frequency tables, pie charts, bar graphs and scatter diagrams in the final report.
Findings: The findings indicated that commitment competency and growth had weak inverse linear statistical relationship. The study concluded that fish farmers are already aware of the many hurdles involved in fish farming but they remain resilient in doing what it takes to achieve the goals set for their fish farms. It is not the lack of commitment on their part that contributes to the stagnating or declining of their businesses. Instead, other challenges such as lack of crucial inputs such as reliable and quality feeds, quality fingerlings, adequate water, lack of business management knowledge, lack of market accessibility and capital contribute to the dismal performance of their businesses.
Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The government and NGOs should provide subsidized inputs and promote cottage industries to enhance aquaculture value chains. In addition, extension officers should be equipped with resources like water testing kits, and water harvesting should be encouraged in water-scarce areas.
A Descriptive Study on Interconnection Networks for Parallel Computing and Algorithm Models in Parallel Computing
Authors: Er. Rajbhan Singh  , Dr. Govind Narayan Singh
Published: January 2025

In parallel computing, Interconnection networks are very crucial for efficient communication among all processors within a similar system.
Parallel computing has become a crucial topic in the concern of computer science and also it is revealed to be critical when researching in high performance. The evolution of computer architectures towards an improved number of nodes, where parallelism could be the approach to option for speeding up an algorithm within the last few decades.
Efficient data transfer between processors is an essential component in any large scale parallel computation. Motivated by the growing interest in parallel computers, a significant amount of theoretical research has been devoted to the area of interconnection networks for parallel computers, most of it to the packet routing (or store-and-forward) model of communication. We survey some of the major developments in this field, and discuss several new alternative models of communication, In many large scale applications, communication time dominates the execution time of the whole parallel computation. Thus, the performance of a large scale parallel computer is highly correlated with the efficiency of its network and communication algorithm.
The combination of processing units build a model of computation (circuits) has gained an essential place in the area of high performance computing (HPC) due to its configuration and considerable processing supremacy that is parallel, series, etc. The aim of the Presenting this paper is study on the idea of parallel computing and its programming models and also explore some theoretical and technical concepts which can be often needed to understand the Interconnection network. In particular, we show how this technology is new in assisting the field of computational physics, especially when the issue is data parallel.
In the real-life example of parallel computing, there are two queues to get a ticket of anything; if two cashiers are giving tickets to 2 persons simultaneously, it helps to save time as well as reduce complexity
Effects of Novelty on Project-Based Methods when Integrating Physics into Agriculture Courses
Authors: McKibben Jason , Hancock Garrett , Clemons Christopher , Murphy Timothy
Published: January 2025

Researchers have reported that participation in agricultural education reinforces STEM concepts. The use of projects in instruction is common in agricultural education. However, the foundational understanding of certain tenets of this method of instruction is not clear. A quasi-experimental study was conducted to test how real and/or authentic projects need to be to affect learning. AFNR students (N = 219) were sampled and assigned as a cohort group to one of four treatments. Treatments were project types designed to vary in their degree of project authenticity while learning about electricity. During analysis, it was apparent that the intended project variable of authenticity had less effect on the outcomes then other factors. An analysis of covariance was used to test the effects of perceived novelty on change scores in a pre-post quasi-experimental design. A test of project type groups, which varied on novelty, yielded statistically significant results (p < .05) with small effect size (ω2 = .04). A Pearson Chi Square analysis was run to determine if a relationship between novelty and project type existed and determined to be significant, X2 (12, N=152) = 22.35, p = .034. A pairwise comparison was calculated to compare levels of novelty to determine where the variation exists within the variable reported novelty levels. Students with novelty level 4 had statistically different change scores than those at novelty level 2 (p =.006) and students with novelty level 4 were different from those with a novelty level 5 (p = .012).
Assessing the Effects of Virtual Cue Implementation in Virtual Reality Welding Training
Authors: Heibel Brittney , Anderson Ryan , Swafford Marshall , Borges Bradley
Published: January 2025

Incorporating virtual reality (VR) technology into training environments has proven effective because it allows training to remain safe, efficient, and meaningful. Welding training is no exception, with research exhibiting benefits such as decreased welder anxiety, increased cost- and time-efficiency, reduction in material usage, and advanced levels of skill acquisition. Our research aims to provide meaningful and experiential learning to beginner welders, equipping them with entry-level welding skills while identifying their professional development needs by employing various parameter cues using the Lincoln Electric VRTEX 360 Welding Simulator. This four-week study was completed at [STATE] University and replicated three times. Undergraduate (N=108) students enrolled in Introduction to Agricultural Engineering, randomized into one of three sequence training groups, served as our participants. All participants performed single-pass 2F welds using the Gas Metal Arc Welding process. On average, results indicate the most difficult parameter to master was Travel Speed, while the most straightforward parameter was Contact-to-Workpiece-Distance. Assessing the three sequence training groups individually, we find that the Travel Speed parameter is consistently the most difficult to master, however, as participant welding experience increased, so did their welding parameter scores.
Assessing the Scientific Literacy in Agriculture of Secondary Agricultural Education Students – An Exploratory Study
Authors: Eck Christopher , Baker Marshall
Published: January 2025

This descriptive study explored the science literacy of secondary agricultural education students in the context of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO). Forty-nine students from [State] were asked of their opinion of GMO products and were then asked to provide a description of how genetic modification occurred. The interviews were recorded and then observed in order to determine students’ dimension of scientific literacy as defined by Bybee (1997). A criterion-referenced exam was also administered to assess student’s knowledge of GMOs. It was found that students had very little knowledge in both the agriculture and science of GMOs. The overwhelming majority expressed they would consume GMO products, but had an invalid, or no, theory to support that decision. These results are alarming when viewed in relation to the multitude of research indicating that agriculture, as the context for science, leads to critical thinking and depth of understanding. It was recommended that teachers of both science and agriculture focus more on the application of key concepts to develop critical thinking and scientific literacy.
Validation of Preservice School-Based Agricultural Education Teacher Dispositions
Authors: Eck Christopher , Thiel Brooke , Claflin Kellie
Published: January 2025

Effective teaching encapsulates professional, interpersonal, and intrapersonal knowledge. Likewise, dispositions influence educators’ understanding of when and how to utilize knowledge and skills, especially in the context of their particular classrooms. While dispositions are a crucial piece of educator preparation program accreditation, neither InTASC nor CAEP provides a guide on which dispositions should be assessed. Without a valid and reliable instrument for SBAE educator preparation programs and limited research, further investigation is needed to provide teacher educators with tools to measure and implement dispositions to increase the growth of preservice agriculture teachers. This study was informed by the human capital theory, allowing the researchers to validate a list of preservice SBAE teacher dispositions through a principal component analysis (PCA). The PCA fit to five components which resulted in 18 of the 28 items loading above a 0.6, accounting for 59.6% of the explained variance and resulted in an overall Cronbach’s alpha of 0.98. The resulting components included Empathetic and Considerate, Directed, Engaged and Attentive, Personal Integrity, and Emotional Maturity. To accomplish the essential human capital growth during the teacher preparation program and clinical teaching experience, modeling the components is pivotal in furthering the professional dispositions of SBAE teacher aspirants.
To those concerned with teacher retention: A collective thought experiment
Authors: Haddad Becky , McKim Aaron , Traini Haley , Goodwin Catlin , Gama-Romo Brytany
Published: January 2025

This unique thought experiment invites the field of agricultural education to a critical dialogue on issues related to making teaching a career. Leveraging elicitation techniques, we introduce a series of nine letters on agriculture teacher retention. Written by agriculture teacher education faculty with expertise in teacher retention, these letters orient readers to the collective thought experiment by introducing the complex reality of engaging in the field via multifaceted viewpoints representative of perspectives we have encountered within the profession. Representing the broad range of perspectives on teacher retention, readers can expect to initially agree with components of some letters and disagree with others; however, readers should refrain from dismissing perspectives as this opposes the need to collectively understand the depth and diversity of perspectives on teacher retention in agricultural education. Understanding these diverse perspectives is critical to creating innovative, adoptable solutions to address the explicit and implicit challenges and opportunities embedded within these letters. To support engagement in the thought experiment, we provided resources for reviewing the letters and contributing to the dialogue as appendices, with specific opportunities for individuals and groups to engage with intentionality. Readers are, therefore, encouraged to explore the appendices prior to reading the letters.
The Experiences of Mentors and Mentees with Mentorship in the Agricultural Education Discipline
Authors: Settle Quisto , Wampler Amy , Cline Lauren , Quinlan Lauren
Published: January 2025

While mentorship is valued and studied across disciplines, it is not well known within the broadly defined discipline of agricultural education. This study consisted of interviews with mentors and mentees in the discipline to understand why they engaged in the mentorship process and what affected their mentoring relationships. There were 12 participants in the project, equally split between mentors and mentees. There were two themes for why participants engaged in mentorship: Mentorship is an opportunity to learn and people seek out mentorship for guidance. There were five themes for what affected participants’ mentoring relationships: Personal experiences and values drive mentorship, compatibility influences mentorship, mentorship is a personal relationship, communication preferences vary, and comparisons of formal and informal mentorship. For mentees, it was recommended that they take ownership of their mentoring experiences, including cultivating multiple mentors to meet various needs. For mentors, it was recommended to focus on mentees’ needs and fostering connections between their mentees and other potential mentors. While they were not preferred by participants, formal mentorship programs are still recommended to help ensure all junior faculty are served in the discipline. To ensure their success, efforts need to be made to ensure a good fit between mentors and mentees. Programs also need a clear structure, training for mentors, and ongoing evaluation to adapt to participants’ needs. Future research is needed to assess more aspects of mentorship in the discipline, including graduate students and tenured faculty members mentorship needs.
Internationally Located Supervised Agricultural Experience Programs: An Exploration of Teaching Methods and Supervision
Authors: Bird Taylor , Rubenstein Eric , Rice Amber
Published: January 2025

School-based agricultural education (SBAE) teachers near an international border face unique challenges and opportunities in overseeing Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) programs where students travel internationally to complete the requirements of SAE. Utilizing Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory within a developmental multicultural context offered a nuanced lens to explore the factors influencing teachers and students in this context. This qualitative case study of two teachers observes teachers’ philosophies and strategies for international SAE supervision and the impact of culture and generational shifts on student engagement within agriculture. Findings reveal a lack of significant initiatives accommodating diverse student populations engaging in SAE programs in [International Country]. Participants emphasized the importance of fostering connections with students and acknowledging the gap regarding agriculture among newer generations of students. Participants also highlight unique challenges in supervising international SAE programs, proposing alternative methods of supervision and community involvement. The importance of addressing language barriers and fostering a culture of inclusion is emphasized. Recommendations include promoting inclusivity, assessing comfort levels for on-site SAE visits in international countries, and ongoing teacher development for diverse cultural settings. Future research is urged to expand the literature based on SAE in diverse settings, contributing to a comprehensive understanding of its usage today.
Covering Climate Change: How Three American Agricultural Magazines Covered Climate Change Over 20 Years
Authors: Orton Ginger , Courtney Meyers  , Laura Fischer  , David Doerfert
Published: January 2025

Climate change will have an increasing impact on agriculture through both on-farm weather events and climate-related initiatives. However, many farmers, while perceiving the climate as changing, do not believe in climate change’s anthropogenic (i.e., human-caused) nature which could prevent farmer buy-in for climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies. Because agricultural magazines have been established as a widely utilized source of information for farmers and media coverage has been shown to relate to perceptions through the agenda setting process, this study investigated the nature of the coverage of climate change articles from three agricultural magazines from 2000-2020 (N = 271). Through a quantitative content analysis, we determined the articles’ frames, sources, proposed economic impact of climate change, recommended action or proposed solution, determined cause of climate change, and logic (convinced or skeptical). This analysis revealed the dominant frame of the articles were scientific certainty, followed by political, conflict, and scientific uncertainty. The most frequently used sources were university scientists/Extension, followed by government officials and government research organizations. Articles were most likely to not mention the cause or economic impact of climate change. Articles tended to mention carbon sequestration more than other potential behaviors. The articles mostly portrayed a convinced logic about climate change. This study serves as a cultural artifact of the nature of climate change coverage in agricultural magazines and contributes to the burgeoning research efforts to best communicate this contentious topic to agriculturalists and encourage adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices.
Investigating Teacher Margin and Creativity in Michigan
Authors: Marzolino Tiffany , McKim Aaron
Published: January 2025

Teacher creativity is essential to developing and delivering innovative learning opportunities, including hands-on experiences which are at the heart of school-based agricultural education (SBAE). A teacher’s ability to develop and deliver innovative learning experiences may, however, be influenced by their margin. Teacher margin is defined as the difference between what a teacher has the capacity to do (i.e., power) and what they are tasked with doing (i.e., load) in their personal and professional roles. The potential relationship between creativity and margin is particularly salient in SBAE as consistent research has found agricultural educators experience a burdensome workload and reduced margin. As such, the current study employed a survey methodology to explore teacher creativity, margin, and the relationship between the two variables. Results from the study indicate agriculture teachers in [State] perceived low levels of margin, indicating their required workload is near or exceeding their capabilities. Data also revealed agriculture teachers in [State] perceive moderate levels of creativity. Furthermore, no statistically significant relationship was identified between margin and creativity. These findings suggest teachers maintain stable levels of creativity regardless of differences in margin. Findings are discussed using the Theory of Margin with recommendations for research and practice explored.
Investigating the Effects of Cognitive Style on the Motivation of Students Enrolled in a Team-Based Learning Formatted Agricultural Mechanics Course at Louisiana State University
Authors: Figland-Cook Whitney L. , Roberts Richie , Blackburn J. Joey
Published: January 2025

Educators have a plethora of teaching methods that allow them to tailor the learning environment to meet students’ needs. One novel instructional approach that has grown in popularity in U.S. higher education has been the flipped classroom approach, which has become a popular way to embrace a student-centered learning environment. Of the various types of flipped classrooms, team-based learning allows students to learn content outside of classroom time and spend more time doing hands-on activities as a team in a laboratory environment. This study aimed to describe the effect of cognitive style on the motivation of undergraduate students enrolled in an introductory agricultural mechanics course at Louisiana State University. Descriptive statistics, including means, frequencies, and standard deviations, were utilized to test the hypothesis and gain a holistic understanding of the data. We also conducted a Mann-Whitney U test to determine if a statistically significant difference existed between motivation and cognitive style. No statistically significant differences were found between cognitive style and motivation. However, the more innovative students in this investigation had higher motivation scores than those identified as more adaptive.
Professional Rededication to SAE: Describing SAE Implementation in the United States
Authors: Norris William , Hanagriff Roger , Edgar Don , Swortzel Kirk
Published: January 2025

The ‘home project’ concept, now known as a Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE), has been a cornerstone of School-Based Agricultural Education (SBAE) for 100+ years. This experiential element of SBAE provides students with authentic and relevant experiences to enhance the learning process. While agricultural educators throughout the U.S. agree that SAE is an essential aspect of agricultural education, many educators claim they are not confident in implementing SAE into professional practice. This lack of confidence from educators has caused SAE to decline to the point of professional concern. This study aimed to describe SAE implementation nationally. Data utilized in this study was collected from the Agricultural Experience Tracker (AET) through student and teacher entries. Data represents entries from 619,077 students in 4,820 SBAE programs in 45 states. It was determined that the states utilizing the AET for record-keeping the most were Oklahoma (94%), Montana (94%), and Colorado (92%). Additionally, data suggested that 52.3% of SBAE students have an SAE, and the most common SAE types are within the Animal Science, Plant Science, and Power, Structural, and Technical Systems pathways. Furthermore, an estimated 865,245 SAEs nationally account for approximately $558 million in income and $857 million in investments. Overall, this suggests that the average SAE is unprofitable, which is not uncommon for new agricultural enterprises. The vast scope of SAE should be shared with agricultural education stakeholders, including educators, state staff, political leaders, educational administrators, etc., to communicate the impact of work-based learning and SAE in SBAE.
Implementation of Agriscience Fair by Middle School Agricultural Education Teachers
Authors: Ford Jillian , Dossett Jason , Lambert Misty , Easterly III Ralph
Published: January 2025

One of the tools middle school SBAE teachers can use to deliver the total program is research-based SAEs, for which students can receive recognition through the FFA Agriscience Fair. This study examined why middle school SBAE teachers implemented the FFA Agriscience Fair into their programs. This study built on previous literature in this area, but with a specific focus on middle school programs. Using a qualitative case study, seven teachers that had various levels of use with Agriscience Fair were interviewed. Teachers were categorized into their levels of use for this innovation and spanned across multiple levels. Major themes from the interviews emerged that found the Agriscience Fair award area was a tool that teachers used to help strengthen their program by enriching the program offering and providing hands-on learning for students. Themes of teachers learning to figure out the complex rules of the competition to be successful as well as using relationships to help students be successful emerged. Recommendations were made to make the award area more intuitive, especially for teachers who are newer to the implementation including providing examples of manuscripts and presentation materials, providing lesson planning resources, and professional development.
Efektivitas Terapi Kelompok Terapeutik Dalam Meningkatkan Pengetahuan Siswa SMA Tentang Pencegahan Bullying
Authors: Fepyani Thresna Feoh  , Nenohaifeto Derry Bernad , Maryati A. Barimbing
Published: January 2025

Banyak kasus bullying terjadi namun tidak terlaporkan. Korban bullying merasa takut untuk melaporkan perilaku bullying yang diterima dan pada akhirnya berdampak negatif bagi korban. Bullying banyak terjadi di lingkungan sekolah. Hal ini terjadi karena kurangnya pengetahuan siswa tentang pencegahan bullying . Salah satu upaya untuk meningkatkan pengetahuan siswa tentang bullying adalah terapi kelompok terapeutik (TKT). Tujuan penelitian ini untuk mengetahui keefektifan terapi kelompok terapeutik dalam meningkatkan pengetahuan siswa SMA tentang pencegahan bullying. Penelitian kuantitatif dengan Pra-eksperimental design ini menggunakan bentuk One Group Pretest-Posttest Design. Responden penelitian merupakan siswa  SMA Negeri 7 Kota Kupang berjumlah 65 orang yang dipilih menggunakan teknik purposive sampling. Hasil penelitian membuktikan bahwa sebelum diberikan TKT, 81.5% reponden memiliki pengetahuan yang baik tentang pencegahan bullying dan meningkat menjadi 95.4% responden setelah diberikan TKT. Hasil uji wilcoxon diperoleh nilai p-value=0,013 (p < 0,05) yang berarti bahwa TKT efektif dalam meningkatkan pengetahuan siswa SMA tentang pencegahan bullying
La Serenissima in Context: Women Artists in Venice and Beyond
Authors: Bohn Babette
Published: January 2025

Many women artists are recorded in early modern Venice (at least twenty-nine in the Seicento alone), but few before the eighteenth century are known today. This essay will explore their accomplishments, reputations, and number of extant works compared with women artists in other Italian cities, as well as women’s public and legal status, artistic training, and artistic specializations. A key factor in this exploration is the approach of early Venetian biographers, who generally provided little information about specific artworks, in contrast to the detailed information provided in some other cities. This inattention to detail has contributed to the paucity of identifiable works, although early documents and inscriptions on drawings sometimes provide significant insights.
The Taiapiera in Fourteenth-Century Venice: What’s in a Name?
Authors: Bourdua Louise
Published: January 2025

The chance discovery in the Venetian state archive of the testament of Christina taiapiera, widow of magister Francesco and daughter of magister Lando (dated November 11, 1510) presents us with an opportunity to consider the contribution of women to the stonecarving industry in Venice. This essay will move back from the sixteenth century to the fourteenth where the patronym “tagliapietra” (stonecarver) could be adopted as a “professional attribute” referring to the occupation or to a family name. Although difficult to trace, we can nonetheless find women holding key roles in the business including that of the prominent sculptor Andriolo de’ Santi. Such documentary evidence will be placed alongside visual data to exercise our ability to “see” and to identify.
The “Vite” of Women Artists in Venice (Sixteenth to Eighteenth Century)
Authors: Digalakis Antonis
Published: January 2025

Important steps have been taken, especially in recent years, in the research and systematic study of the work of women artists in Italy. However, a lack of extant “Vite” of these artists by their contemporaries hampers our study, especially in the case of Venice. This essay will explore the function of existing “Vite” as a historiographical source for women artists and how they were filtered through the “eyes” of male writers and art critics. The study of the biographies of women artists who lived and worked in Venice during the long period between the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries is the aim of this research, to identify literary stereotypes and biographical patterns. An appendix of Venetian and Venetan women artists and sources is provided.
Chiara Varotari (1584/1585-after 1663)
Authors: Gisolfi Diana
Published: January 2025

Paolo Veronese, unlike his colleague Jacopo Tintoretto, did not himself produce a painter daughter. Among Paolo’s pupils, however, we do find female artistic progeny. One of Paolo’s well-known pupils is Dario Varotari (1542-1596), whose daughter and pupil, Chiara Varotari (1584/1585-post 1663), had a long, successful career as a portraitist. She was praised by Carlo Ridolfi and two of her female pupils received praise from Marco Boschini. Her fame is based on elegant portraits, often of women with skillfully depicted luxurious costumes. This essay considers Chiara Varotari as a female painter in the republic of Venice in the context of Paolo’s technical legacy and of the considerable presence of women in the arti in the republic.
Giovanna Garzoni and Venetian Witchcraft: Still Lifes as Natural Enchantments
Authors: Barker Sheila
Published: January 2025

One of the greatest seventeenth-century innovators in the still-life genre was a woman artist with important ties to Venice: Giovanna Garzoni (Ascoli Piceno [?] ca. 1600-Rome 1670). This essay focuses on Garzoni’s conections to Venice, where she lived from about 1610 until 1630. It will be argued that the city not only furnished her with artistic, musical, and calligraphic training, but also exposed her to notions of natural magic such as the animistic beliefs behind stregamenti, charmed objects composed of ordinary natural material. These influences, as much as her artistic training in Venice, had a lasting impact on her approach to the representation of natural subject matter, which she made appear not only true to life, but also imbued with an anima (soul).
The Future of Cultural Analysis
Authors: Aydemir Murat , Kuryel Aylin , Roei Noa
Published: January 2025

Across the humanities and the social sciences, “cultural analysis” is a vibrant research practice. Since its introduction in the 1990s, its main principles have remained largely the same: interdisciplinarity, political urgency, a heuristic use of concepts, the detailed analysis of objects of culture, and an awareness of the scholar’s situatedness in the present. But is the practice still suited to the spiraling of social, political, and environmental crises that mark our time? Drawing on experiences in research, teaching, activism, and the creative arts, contributors explore what cultural analysis was back then, what it is now, and what it may be by 2034. In a shifting conjuncture, contributors strike notes of discomfort, defiance, and irony—as well as a renewed sense of urgency and care.
Cultural Analysis: Critical Encounters in Time, Space, and Thought
Authors: Bal Mieke
Published: January 2025

Through a Colombian novel, I lay out the five principles for cultural analysis that are most important to distinguish the approach from “cultural studies” and from any of the participating disciplines. The two most crucial ones are interdisciplinarity and a temporality explained through the metaphor of the octopus, with tentacles going in all directions, rather than the orthodox linear chronology. Another key difference is the close analysis of the cultural artifacts we study. An anchoring in the sociocultural environment from which the cultural objects emerged, but in which they function in the present, is also important—as is a theoretical framing where theory is not a bossy master discourse but an interlocutor in the conversation between object, analyst, and theory.
Notes toward a Decolonial Praxis of Cultural Analysis: Exemplarity and Listening as Other
Authors: Nadkarni Divya , Thinius Alex
Published: January 2025

In this essay we interrogate the object–frame–analyst relation¬ship in cultural analysis from a decolonial perspective. Inspired by Gayatri Spivak and the modernity/coloniality school of decolonial thought, we critically examine several Eurocentric legacies inherent in the conceptual foundations of cultural analysis. However, instead of rejecting these inheritances, we explore ways to work with them with a decolonial intent. The essay calls for acknowledging the provinciality of cultural analysis’s current perspective, making room for alternative engagements between analyst and object, other perspectives on the object’s role as a case study, and additional ways of understanding alterity. We propose two directions for developing alternative conceptual frameworks: (1) underscoring the analyst’s own otherness to the object and (2) rethinking exemplarity in the object.
Objects in the Making: Cutting through Analysis in Art Education
Authors: Sturm Jules
Published: January 2025

In higher art education, theoretical concepts are easily embraced and cherished, albeit often uncritically and superficially. Objects, in contrast, are simultaneously of more and less concern: they are taken for granted as material artifacts, while their analytical relevance and their discursive effects remain often uncared for. In this contribution, I ask how cultural analysis can be rethought from an art educational viewpoint. I focus on Lygia Clark’s Trailing Objects to foreground artistic objects’ emergent and performative characteristics, through which they orient us toward the more aesthetic, rather than epistemological, implications of object-driven methodology. By trailing the objects’ “travel,” I invite them to participate in a transformative (re)making of (artistic) cultural analysis for art students and researchers.