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Class 1
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Introduction to Program
Planning / The Total Ag. Ed. Program
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Introduction
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Agricultural educators are responsible for
conducting a total agricultural education program which includes the
classroom, FFA and SAE components. Supervised Agricultural Experiences
(SAE) and the
National FFA Organization play an integral part with total agricultural
education experience. In this lesson we will focus on using SAE and FFA
as a teaching technique. We will also discuss your FFA chapter’s
Program of Activities (POA). With a combination of classroom
instruction, practical instruction (SAE) and integration of hands-on
FFA activities, students will receive a more “complete” agriculture
program.
It is also important to establish and maintain a successful
agricultural education program at the high school level by planning,
coordinating and integrating activities among the three components. In
this lesson we will introduce the function and purpose of each
component. We will also discuss why planning is so important to a
successful program and how the agricultural educator must take
responsibility for a total program. We will begin the program planning
process by examining national standards and program goals that should
guide an agricultural educator in program planning. Last but not least
we will then create a vision for a local agricultural education program
that can be used as a guide for establishing the goals and short/long
range objectives for a local agricultural education program.
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Learning Objectives
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I. Identify the components of a
total program.
II. Explain the rationale for program planning.
III. Describe the teacher's role in program
development and management.
IV. Examine national goals and standards for a quality program.
V. Create a vision and action plan for a local agricultural education
program.
VI. Explain what a program of activities is and
why it is important for the FFA chapter and develop
a plan for writing and implementing a program of activities for your
FFA chapter
VII. Incorporate Supervised Agricultural
Experiences and FFA activities into lesson plans as teaching techniques
for classroom instruction
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Instructional Activities
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I. Identify the components of a total program.
- Read a general description of agricultural education titled
"About
Agricultural Education" from The Council. Read the "opportunities"
section carefully and notice how this Agricultural Education "think
tank" specifically suggests agricultural education is delivered via
three components: the classroom, FFA and SAE.
II. Explain the rationale for program planning.
- Why is it important that agricultural education programs
balance and integrate all components of an agricultural education
program?
Read Bernie Staller's justification in NAAE News & Views
(2001) and pay close attention to the description of Figure 1 in the
class visuals section below and in the newsletter.
III. Describe the teacher's role in program
development and management.
- The agricultural teacher is the driving force behind the
success of any agricultural education program. All successful programs
have one common factor: a competent and motivated teacher. Examine
successful programs in your community and state and you will find they
all possess successful agricultral educators who plan and coordinate
total programs. The agricultural educator is ultimately responsible for
planning and conducting the program with the support of the school
administration and community. Contact your state administration to
identify agricultural education teacher position description and the twelve month rationale for employment such
as this one that specifically defines the teacher's role in program
development and management.
IV. Examine national goals and
standards for a quality program.
V. Create a vision and action plan for a local agricultural education
program.
- Good program planning is similar to taking a road trip. The
trip begins with creating a program "vision" which is the final
destination for the program. Once a vision has been created an
agricultural educator can use national or state standards of a quality
program to determine the strengths and weaknessess of a program. The
weaknessess identified can then be used to create a plan of action or
road map for the trip. The plan of action consists of goals to obtain
(previous weaknesses) and steps to be taken within the next three years
to meet each goals. Read teacher testimonials regarding this process in
Chapter
P of the Local Program Success manual created by the National FFA
to get a better understanding of this process.
VI.
Explain what a program of activities is and why it is important for the
FFA chapter and develop a plan for writing and
implementing a program of activities for your FFA chapter.
- National FFA Organization (2000) Chapter Planning and
Recognition Student Handbook (pp. 1-24). Chapters
1-5, pp. 1-24.
- View the PowerPoint on Program of Activities found under
the Class Visuals.
- View the sample Program of Activities provided from the
National FFA website (www.ffa.org): POA
1, POA
2, POA
3, POA
4: All of these links can be combined throughout the school year to
have a completed record of your Program of Activities.
- Complete the assignment on Developing a Program of
Activities found under the weekly assignments.
VII. Incorporate Supervised Agricultural
Experiences and FFA activities into lesson plans as teaching techniques
for classroom instruction.
- View the PowerPoint on SAE found under the class visuals.
- From the LPS
Guide, read Chapter 2 titled SAE (Work-based Learning):
Providing Hands-on Experience and Career Exploration.
- From the LPS
Guide, read Chapter 3 titled FFA (A Connecting Activity):
Bringing Learning to Life.
- Read Chapter 10 of the Agriculture Teachers Manual
- Complete the worksheet on SAE found under the weekly
assignments.
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Class Visuals
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Staller, Bernie (2001) "What in the World Does Integral Mean
Anyway? Is FFA Optional?" NAAE News & Views, The
National Association of Agricultural Educators, Alexandria, Virginia.
February/March. Volume XLIII, No.3.
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Assignments
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**Submitt assignment in WebCt Vista. Due
January 21st.
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Take the