Abstract:
Graduates of higher education institutions increasingly function in globalized contexts, especially students of agricultural and life sciences. Faculty who undertake experiences abroad can internationalize their curricula to present students with global perspectives. However, preflection prior to travel is important to identify pre-existing perceptions, attitudes and beliefs to enhance the international experience. This study explored the preflection of current and future agricultural teaching faculty engaging in study abroad to Belize. Seven faculty and doctoral student pairs (n = 14) completed a questionnaire describing (1) attitudes/beliefs about visiting Belize and (2) attitudes/beliefs about Belizean culture. Emergent themes were identified using the constant comparative method. Themes from question one included general excitement, travel expectations and environmental expectations. Themes from question two were cultural, socio-political and environment and resource-based attitudes/beliefs. Overall, preflection showed biases or knowledge gaps, which allows trip planners to improve the participants’ experiences. Replication or follow-up investigation during the international experience can enhance this research.
Key Words:
Belize, preflection, environmental expectations
 16. Moore NACTA Special Issue Sept 2013.pdf | [ ] | 494 kB |
