transforming agricultural education for a changing world

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Transforming Agricultural Transforming Agricultural Education for a Changing Education for a Changing World World Contents of this Presentation Previously Prepared by: Adam P. Fagen, Ph.D. Study Director Senior Program Officer Board on Life Sciences Levon T. Esters, Ph.D. Neil A. Knobloch, Ph.D. Department of Youth Development and Agricultural Education March 1, 2010

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Transforming Agricultural Education for a Changing World. Levon T. Esters, Ph.D. Neil A. Knobloch, Ph.D. Department of Youth Development and Agricultural Education March 1, 2010. Contents of this Presentation Previously Prepared by: Adam P. Fagen, Ph.D. Study Director - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Page 1: Transforming Agricultural Education for a Changing World

Transforming Agricultural Transforming Agricultural Education for a Changing WorldEducation for a Changing World

Contents of this Presentation Previously Prepared by:

Adam P. Fagen, Ph.D.

Study Director

Senior Program Officer

Board on Life Sciences

Levon T. Esters, Ph.D.

Neil A. Knobloch, Ph.D.

Department of Youth Development and Agricultural Education

March 1, 2010

Page 2: Transforming Agricultural Education for a Changing World

Motivation for studyMotivation for study

Although there are many, examples of excellent, up-to-date programs, the report was motivated by several concerns about agricultural education nationwide:

Need for agricultural expertise in solving global challenges

Agricultural education not keeping up with the changing nature of agriculture

Agriculture often isolated from other disciplines

Academic institutions often isolated from other sectors and employers

Changing student demographics fewer from rural backgrounds, mismatch between population and agricultural disciplines

Students are not aware of the opportunities in food and agriculture careers

Employers are looking for skills, competences, and abilities not always found in agriculture graduates

Research on how people learn and research-based pedagogies not used to inform classroom practice

Page 3: Transforming Agricultural Education for a Changing World

Genesis of studyGenesis of study

Encouraged to pursue study by the Academic Programs Section of the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU), formerly the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges (NASULGC)

Page 4: Transforming Agricultural Education for a Changing World

Genesis of studyGenesis of study

Follow up to previous National Academies reports on agricultural education

and on undergraduate education

1992 1988 1996 1995 1998

2000 2003 1999 2003 2003 2005

Page 5: Transforming Agricultural Education for a Changing World

Statement of TaskStatement of Task

2-day summit of educators, employers, and others

Improve the undergraduate learning experience for students in agriculture, environmental and life sciences, and related disciplines

Innovations in teaching, learning, and the curriculum

Adaptive to differences in student backgrounds and career paths

Produce a flexible, well-prepared workforce that is appropriately skilled, socially responsive, and technically proficient

Page 6: Transforming Agricultural Education for a Changing World

Study CommitteeStudy Committee

James L. Oblinger (Chair), Chancellor, North Carolina State Univ.

John M. Bonner, Executive VP, Council for Ag. Sci. & Tech.

Peter J. Bruns, VP for Grants, Howard Hughes Medical Inst.

Vernon B. Cardwell, Distinguished Teaching Prof., U. of Minnesota

Karen Gayton Comeau, Past President, Haskell Indian Nations U.

Kyle Jane Coulter, Past Deputy Administrator, USDA/CSREES

Susan J. Crockett, VP and Sr. Tech. Officer, General Mills, Inc.

Theodore M. Crosbie, VP for Global Plant Breeding, Monsanto Co.

Levon T. Esters, Asst. Prof. of Ag. Education & Youth Dev., Purdue U.

A. Charles Fischer, Past President & CEO, Dow AgroSciences LLC

Janet A. Guyden, Assoc. VP & Graduate Dean, Grambling State U.

Michael W. Hamm, Mott Prof. of Sustainable Ag., Michigan State U.

Michael V. Martin, Chancellor, Louisiana State Univ.

Susan Singer, Gould Prof. of Natural Sciences, Carleton College

Larry Vanderhoef, Chancellor, Univ. of California, Davis

Patricia Verduin, VP, Global R&D, Colgate-Palmolive Co.

Adam P. Fagen, Study Director

Page 7: Transforming Agricultural Education for a Changing World

Leadership SummitLeadership Summit

300+ participants, including:

University presidents, chancellors, and provosts

Academic program deans, associate and assistant deans, and department chairs

Faculty

Students

Scientific society representatives

Employers from business/industry, government, and non-government organizations

Page 8: Transforming Agricultural Education for a Changing World

ReportReport

Describes the need for change

Reinforces the continuing promise of agriculture and land-grant institutions

Incorporates basic and applied, laboratory and field

Focuses on outcomes and results

Integrates biological, physical, and social sciences—and other fields

Tradition of outreach and extension

Intertwined with many issues of contemporary concern (e.g., environmental stewardship, nutrition, energy)

Agriculture should take its place among the otherscience disciplines: from STEM to STEAM

Science

Technology

Engineering Agriculture

Mathematics

Page 9: Transforming Agricultural Education for a Changing World

Recommendation 1Recommendation 1

Engage in strategic planning

Involve stakeholders within and beyond the institutionFaculty in and outside of agricultureCurrent and former studentsEmployersDisciplinary societiesCommodity groupsLocal and community organizationsFarmersRepresentatives of the public

Plan implemented within 2 years

Revisit every 3-5 years

Page 10: Transforming Agricultural Education for a Changing World

Recommendation 2Recommendation 2

Broaden agriculture within the overall curriculum

Develop and teach joint introductory courses with other departments

Incorporate agricultural examples and topics into other courses

Page 11: Transforming Agricultural Education for a Changing World

Recommendation 3Recommendation 3

Broaden the student experience

All students should develop transferable skills(e.g., Communication, Teamwork, Management)

Participate in undergraduate research

Participate in outreach and extension

Participate in internships and other programs beyond the institution

Expose to international perspectives through learning-abroad programs and international perspectives in existing courses

Students should have extensive participation in one of these elements

Page 12: Transforming Agricultural Education for a Changing World

Recommendation 4Recommendation 4

Prepare faculty to teach effectively

Promote and support ongoing faculty-development activities at institutional, local, regional, and national levels

Particular attention to future faculty (graduate students and postdocs)

Responsibility of departments of colleges, not only individuals

Devote necessary resourcesFaculty release timeTeaching assistants and other instructional staffParticipation in education-focused meetingsDevelopment and use of education materials and technologies

Role for academic institutions, professional societies, funding agencies

Page 13: Transforming Agricultural Education for a Changing World

Recommendation 5Recommendation 5

Reward exemplary teaching

Enhanced institutional rewards for teaching, curriculum development, mentoring, etc.Rigorous consideration in hiring, tenure, and promotionTenure-track faculty appointments emphasizing teaching and education research

Funding agency support and reward for teaching excellence in education and research grantsConsider using “broader-impacts criterion” for awarding grants and contracts

Professional societies raise profile of teaching in the disciplineEducation sessions and speakers at society meetingsEducation-focused articles in society publicationsDevelopment and dissemination of teaching materials

Page 14: Transforming Agricultural Education for a Changing World

Recommendation 6Recommendation 6

Build connections between institutions

Support and develop new opportunities and student pathways

Articulation agreements and transfer partnerships

Establish and support joint programs and coursesLeverage resources and provide access to students from multiple institutions

Particular focus on community colleges and 1890 and 1994 land-grant institutions

Page 15: Transforming Agricultural Education for a Changing World

Recommendation 7Recommendation 7

Start early

Reach out to K-12 students and teachersExpose students to agricultural topicsGenerate early interest in agricultural careers

Opportunities for formal programs(e.g., agriculture-focused high schools, urban agricultural programs, Governor’s Schools and other summer programs)

Partner with other youth-focused programs(e.g., 4-H, National FFA, scouting programs)

Page 16: Transforming Agricultural Education for a Changing World

Recommendation 8Recommendation 8

Build strategic partnerships

Bring employer voices to the academyRepresentatives of employers on visiting committees and advisory boardsEnable professionals to teach and engage students at academic institutions

Bring academic voices to employersInvite faculty to serve on advisory committeesEnable faculty to spend sabbaticals outside of the academy

Expose students to non-academic settingsGreatly expand internships, cooperative education programs, career programs, etc.

Page 17: Transforming Agricultural Education for a Changing World

Recommendation 9Recommendation 9

Focus reviews of undergraduate programs and departments

Questions to guide the review of undergraduate food and agriculture programs

Curriculum and student experience

Institutional commitment to teaching and learning

Outreach and organizational structure

Applies to a variety of organizations and individualsAccrediting bodiesProgram and departmental reviews and visiting committeesGrant reviewersInstitutional self-studiesDevelopment of professional societies standards and priorities

Page 18: Transforming Agricultural Education for a Changing World

The start of a dialogueThe start of a dialogue

Final report released fall 2009

Series of dissemination activities planned and underway

Discussions with representatives of federal agencies

Presentations at professional society meetings

Briefings on Capitol Hill with agricultural, education, and other communities

Additional ideas for audiences and venues are welcome

Page 19: Transforming Agricultural Education for a Changing World

U.S. Department of Agriculture CSREES

W.K. Kellogg Foundation

National Science Foundation

Farm Foundation

American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture

SponsorsSponsors

Page 20: Transforming Agricultural Education for a Changing World

For more information

http://www.nationalacademies.org/ag_education

Adam P. Fagen, [email protected]–334–1374