2018 ASHS Annual Conference

In the 2016 spring and fall semesters, students enrolled in Crop Science at Stephen F. Austin State University (SFA) were given an assignment where they were instructed to use Google Sheets to assess diversity of traits in a seed catalog. Students were assessed before and after the assignment on their experience level with agriculture, gardening, and seed catalogs, their comfort level with Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel, collecting and analyzing data, and their opinion on the effectiveness in using multiple people to collect data and using Google Sheets. In total, 102 students assessed 1056 cultivars in Google sheets. Overall, students were able to use Google Sheets to compile data from multiple people to gain insight on which traits occur most often in seed catalogs. All students, agriculture students, female students, and fall semester students showed a higher level of comfort using Google Sheets/ Microsoft Excel after the assignment. The results also showed that students had a better grasp of what a trait was after completing the assignment. Additionally, students created more robust definitions for a trait and a cultivar post-assignment. From the comments provided on the survey, it was evident that students learned about agriculture and gardening, traits and cultivars, how to interpret seed catalogs, how to use technology, and collaboration. This activity could be useful for agriculture educators.