Using a Social News and Discussion Forum to Engage Students in Agricultural Economics and Marketing

Xiaowei Cai, Lindsey Higgins and Marianne McGarry Wolf

No 149987, 2013 Annual Meeting, August 4-6, 2013, Washington, D.C. from Agricultural and Applied Economics Association

Abstract: The purpose of this research is to examine if there are differences in the ability of a tool like ValuePulse to engage students depending on the subject being studied. Specifically, are there differences in the applicability of a news and discussion sharing platform in agricultural economics classes relative to classes that are focused on agricultural marketing? A total of 232 agribusiness agricultural economics and marketing students using the social news and discussion forum were surveyed between January 2013 and May 2013. The email survey was conducted when the courses were approximately 80% completed. Our results show there was no significant differences in student engagement and enhanced learning. Students in both fields feel, through the social news and discussion forum, that they are more engaged and interested in the course topics, they learned more from their peers’ comments, they could better understand theoretical principals by applying them to current content, they know more about their field of work and their critical thinking skills have improved. Therefore, using relevant current course content in a social media platform can engage students and enhance learning through student conversations about the relevant course content.

Keywords: Agribusiness; Teaching/Communication/Extension/Profession (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 2
Date: 2013-05-31
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ags:aaea13:149987

DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.149987

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