A Case Study of Flow Theory in Pre-Service Undergraduate Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources Education Students

摘要

This case study sought to descriptively explore pre-service undergraduate Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources Education (AFNRE) students' feelings, interest, mood and flow during their daily lives as college students. The purpose of this study wasto validate flow theory in pre-service AFNRE students. Experiences of five pre-service undergraduates were assessed with a series of online surveys administered at Michigan State University. Sampling techniques involved a modified signal-contingent Experience Sampling Method using six measurement intervals randomly selected each day. Data were analyzed at the individual interval level (n = 114). Positive relationships between flow experiences and respondents' satisfaction suggest that learning in the context of experiential activities was important to the overall perceived experience by students. There was support that pre-service undergraduate AFNRE students had a significantly higher percentage of flow experiences while participating in an FFA Career Development Event (CDE) activity. Perceived anxiety was a significant proportion of all channels measured (54%). This research implies that AFNRE undergraduates may have positive experiences during experiential activities working with secondary students in instances even when challenge and abilities are exceeded by activities that are taking place during the course of an undergraduates' Land-Grant University experience.