High School Students' Competency Development in Ecological Soil Conservation through Mentoring Program
Main Article Content
Keywords
Competency development, ecological soil conservation, mentoring program
Abstract
Addressing soil degradation, this research examined the development process of undergraduate student mentors and their learning management process in ecological soil conservation. From purposive sampling, the study involved 65 participants, including mentors, mentees, a lecturer, teachers, and school administrators in Thailand. Data from the knowledge test, skill assessments, and reflection were analyzed using a dependent t-test, descriptive statistics, and content analysis. Based on the results, the mentors' pedagogical content knowledge had developed through reflections. The program significantly enhanced mentees' knowledge (x̄ = 6.89, S.D. = 0.75 for the school with an agricultural major available; x̄=5.52, S.D. = 0.77 for the school with a home economics class available) at p < .05, including a high level of skills and bridging generational gaps. Globally, this mentoring program provides educators with a context-responsive strategy for implementing education for sustainable development among youth across Asia and other developing regions.
References
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Yilmaz, M. M., Bekirler, A., & Sigirtmac, A. D. (2024). Inspiring an early passion for science: The impact of hands-on activities on children's motivation. ECNU Review of Education, 7(4), 1033-1053. https://doi.org/10.1177/20965311241265413
Zhang, Y., Ye, C., Su, Y., Peng, W., Lu, R., Liu, Y., Huang, H., He, X., Yang, M., & Zhu, S. (2022). Soil acidification caused by excessive application of nitrogen fertilizer aggravates soil-borne diseases: Evidence from literature review and field trials. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 340, 108176. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2022.108176
Alyokhin, A., Nault, B., & Brown, B. (2020). Soil conservation practices for insect pest management in highly disturbed agroecosystems – A review. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata, 168(1), 7-27. https://doi.org/10.1111/eea.12863
Carroll, S., Hampton, D., & Stefaniak, K. (2024). Building confidence in giving and receiving constructive nursing peer feedback. Nursing management, 55(6), 14-23. https://doi.org/10.1097/nmg.0000000000000131
Costley, J., Fanguy, M., Lange, C., & Baldwin, M. (2021). The effects of video lecture viewing strategies on cognitive load.
Journal of Computing in Higher Education, 33(1), 19-38. http://doi.org/10.1007/s12528-020-09254-y
Dehghanzadeh, H., Farrokhnia, M., Dehghanzadeh, H., Taghipour, K., & Noroozi, O. (2024). Using gamification to support learning in K 12 education: A systematic literature review. British Journal of Educational Technology, 55, 34–70. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjet.13335
Demirhan, E., & Sahin, F. (2021). The effects of different kinds of hands-on modeling activities on the academic achievement, problem-solving skills, and scientific creativity of prospective science teachers. Research in Science Education, 51(2), 1015-1033. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11165-019-09874-0
Dewey, J. (1938). Experience and education. Macmillan. El-Beltagi, H. S., Basit, A., Mohamed, H. I., Ali, I., Ullah, S., Kamel, E. A. R., Shalaby, T. A., Ramadan, K. M. A., Alkhateeb, A. A., & Ghazzawy, H. S. (2022). Mulching as a sustainable water and soil saving practice in agriculture: A review. Agronomy, 12(8), 1881. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12081881
Gliessman, S. R. (2014). Agroecology: The ecology of sustainable food systems. (3rd ed.). CRC Press.
Kind, V. (2009). Pedagogical content knowledge in science education: Perspectives and potential for progress. Studies in Science Education, 45(2), 169-204. http://doi.org/10.1080/03057260903142285
Kram, K. E. (1983). Phases of the mentor relationship. The Academy of Management Journal, 26(4), 608-625. https://www.jstor.org/stable/255910?seq=1
Li, Q., Wang, L., Fu, Y., Lin, D., Hou, M., Li, X., Hu, D., & Wang, Z. (2023). Transformation of soil organic matter subjected to environmental disturbance and preservation of organic matter bound to soil minerals: a review. Journal of Soils and Sediments, 23(3), 1485-1500. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-022-03381-y
Li, Y., Chen, Y., Li, J., Sun, Q., Li, J., Xu, J., Liu, B., Lang, Q., & Qiao, Y. (2021). Organic management practices enhance soil food web biomass and complexity under greenhouse conditions. Applied Soil Ecology, 167, 104010. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2021.104010
Lim, S., Xin Min, L., Chan, C. J. W., Dong, Y., Mikkonen, K., & Zhou, W. (2022). Peer mentoring programs for nursing students: A mixed methods systematic review. Nurse Education Today, 119, 105577. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2022.105577
Liu, L., Zheng, X., Wei, X., Kai, Z., & Xu, Y. (2021). Excessive application of chemical fertilizer and organophosphorus pesticides induced
total phosphorus loss from planting causing surface water eutrophication. Scientific Reports, 11, 23015. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-02521-7
Lu, Q.-q., Song, Y.-f., Pan, K.-q., Li, Y., Tang, M.-x., Zhong, G.-h., & Liu, J. (2022). Improved crop protection and biodiversity of the agroecosystem by reduced tillage in rice paddy fields in southern China. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 21(8), 2345-2356. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2095-3119(21)63802-9
Mahmood, M. Z., Bibi, S., Shahzad, M., Fakhar, A., Rafique, M., & Qayyum, A. (2021). Mechanisms of microbes to combat salinity in soil by producing secondary metabolites. Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 15(1), 45. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-021-09371-7
Menegat, S., Ledo, A. & Tirado, R. (2022). Greenhouse gas emissions from global production and use of nitrogen synthetic fertilizers in agriculture. Scientific Reports, 12, 14490. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-18773-w
Nikoçeviq-Kurti, E., & Saqipi, B. (2022). Toward developing a qualitative mentoring program for pre-service teachers: Kosovo's experience. Issues in Educational Research, 32(2), 634-658. https://www.iier.org.au/iier32/nikoceviq-kurti.pdf
Qin, G., Niu, Z., Yu, J., Li, Z., Ma, J., & Xiang, P. (2021). Soil heavy metal pollution and food safety in China: Effects, sources and removing technology. Chemosphere, 267, 129205. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.129205
Rockinson-Szapkiw, A., & Wendt, J. L. (2021). The benefits and challenges of a blended peer mentoring program for women peer mentors in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). International Journal of Mentoring and Coaching in Education, 10(1), 1-16. http://doi.org/10.1108/IJMCE-03-2020-0011.
Tagkas, C. F., Rizos, E. C., Markozannes, G., Karalexi, M. A., Wairegi, L., & Ntzani, E. E. (2024). Fertilizers and human health—A systematic
review of the epidemiological evidence. Toxics, 12(10), 694. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics12100694
United Nations. (2015). Transforming our world: The 2030 agenda for sustainable development. https://sdgs.un.org
Yilmaz, M. M., Bekirler, A., & Sigirtmac, A. D. (2024). Inspiring an early passion for science: The impact of hands-on activities on children's motivation. ECNU Review of Education, 7(4), 1033-1053. https://doi.org/10.1177/20965311241265413
Zhang, Y., Ye, C., Su, Y., Peng, W., Lu, R., Liu, Y., Huang, H., He, X., Yang, M., & Zhu, S. (2022). Soil acidification caused by excessive application of nitrogen fertilizer aggravates soil-borne diseases: Evidence from literature review and field trials. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 340, 108176. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2022.108176
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Published
Jun 18, 2026
Article Details
How to Cite
Klahan, P., Tanpichai, P., & Modthong, K. (2026). High School Students’ Competency Development in Ecological Soil Conservation through Mentoring Program . AsTEN Journal of Teacher Education, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.56278/asten.v10i1.4047
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Section 1: Research Articles and Research Briefs
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