Date of Award
8-2026
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education (EdD)
Department
Education Systems Improvement Science
Committee Chair/Advisor
Dr. Carlos Sandoval Jr.
Committee Member
Dr. Philip Grant Jr.
Committee Member
Dr. Edwin Bonney
Committee Member
Dr. Catherine DiBenedetto
Abstract
Agricultural education is rooted in active learning, where students develop skills and learning opportunities through hands-on experiences on classroom farms, greenhouses, and even school-based grooming salons. Recent policy and funding revisions have shifted the measures of success in agricultural education programs towards the number of students earning industry-based certifications. This shift has led to the adoption of a test-focused curriculum, often provided by the company offering the certification exam. While the certification-aligned curriculum provides strong content for veterinary knowledge, the problem is that it is often at the expense of hands-on learning. Balancing active learning while also preparing the students for the certification exam is essential for ensuring the students are both knowledgeable and career ready. The purpose of this study was to evaluate student engagement in a high school agricultural education class when piloting a series of hands-on veterinary science lessons that also aligns with the industry-based certification curriculum. Students engaged in 10 hands-on learning lessons and evaluated each lesson based on a level of enjoyment, interest, and engagement with the content through an exit ticket. Data indicated there was not enough significant data to determine if there was an improvement. However, based on visual observation of the data, there was a large increase in engagement from the baseline lesson to the active learning lesson.
Recommended Citation
Rita, Cary, "Use Of Active Learning In The Teaching Of The Veterinary Science Course" (2026). All Dissertations. 4340.
https://open.clemson.edu/all_dissertations/4340