Presented By: Brianna Wardwell, Purdue University
Co-Authors: Elizabeth Karcher, Purdue University

There is an increasing need to produce college graduates interested in agricultural sciences, yet there are minimal educational resources focused on agriculture for teachers to implement in the K-12 space. This study examines how participation in the Poultry and Animal Virus Education (PAVE) program impacted 4^th and 5^th grade students' individual interest, situational interest, and knowledge about poultry science. The PAVE program consists of five online modules that use interactive activities, notebooks, and a class activity, to explore animal health, biosecurity, immunology, vaccination protocols, and careers and opportunities in the poultry industry. Thirteen classes (nine teachers) across Indiana and Michigan participated in this study during the Spring 2023 semester with a total of 199 students enrolled in the program. The program is designed to be completed over the course of 6 days. Data was collected before the start of the program (100% response rate), after the completion of the online modules (46% response rate), and following the class project (25% response rate). Students completed surveys that measured individual and situational interest, agricultural literacy, and their content knowledge. Results indicated that students' poultry and animal health content knowledge improved after the online modules (6.59 vs. 9.13 out of 15 points; P < 0.001). Additionally, students demonstrated an increase in their agricultural literacy when comparing their scores before the program and after the online modules (10.81 vs. 12.87 out of 22 points; P < 0.05). Students reported a moderate individual interest in poultry science at the beginning and the end of the program and thought that while the activities were somewhat exciting and enjoyable, they required a lot of attention and thinking on their part. More research is needed to learn how to optimize STEM-based online agriculture educational experiences for elementary students to ensure that the activities are both interesting and impactful.