Global Awareness and Understanding of Governor School Scholars: A Four-Year Study

Abstract

Literature suggests that there is limited awareness and understanding of international concepts among high school and college students. This study assessed global awareness and understanding of 252 high school juniors and seniors who participated in the Pennsylvania Governor School for Agricultural Sciences (PGSAS) program during the years 1995, 1996, 1997, and 1998. A survey on international concepts relative to agricultural policies and products, people and culture, world geography, and world organizations was developed. The survey was administered during a regular class period. Findings from this four-year study suggest that governor school scholars possess limited awareness and understanding about international concepts. However, scholars scored over 70 percent of the questions correct in the world geography section. In addition, scholars= scores on the survey for the four years did not show any marked difference. Overall, scholars answered only a little over one-half of the total questions correct. The results of this study have provided ample justification to hasten curricular changes relative to international education in our schools, colleges and universities.

Students’ Knowledge and Attitudes about International Agricultural Issues

“…Students agreed less with the statements: U.S. agricultural products are superior in quality to products from other countries and I should know more about the cultures of other countries. The results show mixed evidence on students' attitudes toward international agricultural issues, but they were similar to what has been found in previous studies (Elliot & Yanik, 2002;Radhakrishna & Dominguez, 1999;Redmann, Schupp, & Richardson, 1998;Harbstreit & Welton, 1992). It is possible that respondents did not make critical connections between media coverage of global events and their topics of discussion in the classes assessed in this study.…”

“…Previous studies showed that high school students had relatively low attitude and belief scores, indicating they did not value learning about international agricultural issues, and had limited awareness of international agricultural concepts (Elliot & Yanik, 2002;Radhakrishna & Dominguez, 1999;Harbstreit & Welton, 1992). College students demonstrated a similar lack of knowledge and understanding about international agricultural issues (Redmann, Schupp, & Richardson, 1998).…”

“…The research instrument was developed using modified versions of instruments from previous studies (Elliot & Yanik, 2002;Radhakrishna & Dominguez, 1999 Minor editing (wording) changes were made to the final version of the research instrument. Data were collected in the last week of course work (December, 2002).…”

“…An argument can be made that each of these earlier studies (Radhakrishna & Dominguez, 1999;Redmann, Schupp, & Richardson, 1998;Harbstreit & Welton, 1992) was completed when relative peaceful times in the U.S. insulated most students from thinking about international issues. Have global events and media coverage of those events over the past two years affected college students' knowledge and attitudes about international agricultural issues?…”

“…Bickson's (1996) study of corporate and college administrators confirms NAFSA's claim. In Bickson's study, corporate administrators noted that almost all future jobs will either require or benefit from global awareness and understanding (as cited in Radhakrishna & Dominguez, 1999). Nehrt (1993) concluded that "the United States has entered a global era and it is the responsibility of education to prepare people for the world in which they will be living" (p. 81).…”