Mississippi Career and Technical Education Teachers’ Perception Toward Implementing a Food Science Toolkit Designed to Increase Food Science Curriculum Use in Mississippi

Abstract

A pilot test implementing a food science toolkit designed to increase student awareness, interest, and knowledge of food science academic and career pathways in Mississippi Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses was conducted to determine teachers’ perceptions of the food science education resources. After implementing the food science toolkit in their CTE course, four teachers individually participated in a semi-structured interview to capture each teacher’s detailed experience implementing the food science toolkit. The results of this study revealed that teachers are interested in teaching food science at the secondary education level to increase student knowledge of food science and enhance student performance at the FFA food science career development event. Teachers also revealed their positive experience implementing the food science toolkit and their intentions to continue to use the food science toolkit in their CTE courses to further increase their exposure to food science competencies. Teachers perceived that the food science toolkit increased student exposure to, engagement in, and interest in food science academic and career pathways, which encourages students to select and pursue a career in food science.