PS7-13. Impact of Educational Videos on Milk Production Knowledge Among Public Schools Students in Puerto Rico.

Abstract The United States Department of Agriculture Distance Education Grants Program (DEG) supports initiatives that strengthen agricultural education in insular regions through accessible educational resources and innovative distance-learning tools. In Puerto Rico, this effort was implemented through the Puerto Rico Goat and Sheep Educational Initiative Program (PR-GOSHEPI) within the Department of Animal Science at the University of Puerto Rico Mayagüez Campus to promote knowledge of livestock production through educational videos and outreach activities. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of PR-GOSHEPI educational videos as an Extension tool to increase students’ knowledge of milk production. Four educational videos were presented to public school students at the elementary (n = 42), middle (n = 53), and high school levels (n = 75) in the municipalities of Guayanilla, Yauco, Adjuntas, and Isabela, Puerto Rico. Elementary students viewed a video on dairy goats, whereas middle and high school students viewed three videos addressing dairy cows and fresh milk, milk as a primary food, and milk synthesis and mammary gland anatomy. A 10-question questionnaire was administered before (pre-test) and after (post-test) each video presentation to assess knowledge acquisition. Correct responses among elementary students increased from 27% in the pre-test to 86% in the post-test. In middle schools, correct responses increased from 24% to 82%, whereas high school students improved from 45% to 69%. Overall, students across the three educational levels showed an average increase of 47% in knowledge related to milk production, with gains of + 59%, +58%, and +24% in elementary, middle, and high school students, respectively. These results indicate that educational videos developed through PR-GOSHEPI are effective Extension tools for improving student understanding of dairy production systems. The integration of audiovisual resources and distance education strategies can enhance agricultural literacy and promote interest in animal agriculture among future generations in Puerto Rico.