A Retrospective Pre-Post Evaluation Measures Intervention’s Impact on Undergraduate Smart Agriculture Knowledge and Career Awareness

The GetAgSmart: Building Capacity in Smart Agricultural Technologies for Underserved Communities project aims to increase the knowledge of smart agriculture technologies and improve agriculture career awareness among underserved youth and college students. The findings shared in this abstract are from the qualitative component of a retrospective pre-post survey focused on 44 undergraduate female Latinx student outcomes. Four interventions, each with the same objective, focused on smart water-related agricultural tools. The data were thematically organized to assess perceived learning gains while minimizing response shift and recall biases. Participants reflected on their knowledge before and after the engagement, providing insights into how smart agriculture education influenced their academic and career aspirations. Student testimonials highlight the potential for smart agriculture workforce development and career enhancement, with transformational learning experiences aligned with Mezirow’s 10 phases, as students recognized water shortages in Texas communities, actively learned, critically reflected, and redefined career opportunities in smart agriculture.

Ali Fares, PhD – Reagents Professor, Water Security, Texas A&M University, PV; Rabi Mohtar, phD – professor & department Head, Viological and Agricultural engineering, Texas A&M University