Week 6 - AEE 424

Take the Professionalism Pre-Test to see how much you know.

I. List and describe the professional organizations available to agricultural education teachers.

What does it mean to be a “professional”? Should a teacher belong to a professional organization to be considered a professional? What activities should a beginning teacher be involved in? What groups of people does an agricultural educator come in contact with in the local school? What groups of people does an agricultural educator come in contact with outside of the local school? Answers will vary. However, the purpose is to have students consider that the agricultural education teacher is more than just a classroom teacher and therefore comes into contact with many more individuals than just their own students.

Read what Monster Trak has to say about joining professional associations.

Here are some reasons specific to why teachers should join these organizations.

Please view the Powerpoint in the Class Visuals section for more information on professional organizations that are available to professionals in agriculture.

II. List the groups and agencies that agricultural educators must establish and maintain relationships with.

All agricultural educators should be considered professionals and be members of the National Association of Agricultural Educators, the state associations, and many others benefiting the profession. There are an immense amount of benefits involved in joining these professional organizations. These groups offer peer support, are politically active, provide professional development opportunities, recognition for outstanding members and programs, and even scholarships. These goals were taken straight from the North Carolina Agricultural Teachers Association homepage. Those who are not members will not be eligible for most of these benefits.

Please view the Powerpoint in the Class Visuals section.

III. Describe strategies that agricultural education teachers should use to establish and maintain positive relationships with school personnel.

Please view the Powerpoint in the Class Visuals section.

The following are resources in which you might find very helpful in planning events:

~ This website comes directly from the FFA website. It includes hints that pertain to FFA event planning. View it here: FFA Event Planning.

~This website pertains to Virginia Agriculture; however, all of the activities can occur in North Carolina. It discusses how to plan a successful Agriculture Day with activities that are fun for everyone. Also, note some of the side items. There are songs that you can teach to the young kids, and many more neat activities. Check it out: Agriculture Event Planning.

~ How many of you have ever planned an event and accidentally forgotten to do something? This website is in a checklist format so that you can easily make sure you have everything in place from budgets to publicity. Great website for any event: Checklist.

~ Alumni of agricultural programs are very important to the continuation of agricultural education. The following website pertains to greek organizations, but can be used in planning an Alumni event at your school. Included on this website are deadlines in which certain things need to be done. Before planning an alumni event give this website a look: Alumni Event.

Class 6	Professionalism

Introduction	Professionalism is just as important to the teaching profession as any other career. It is very important for all agriculture teachers to be in the professional organizations that are available like the NAAE (National Association of Agricultural Educators, ACTE (Association for Career and Technical Educators, and the state association for agricultural educators. This helps to establish ties between you and other agricultural educators. There are also many groups and agencies that agricultural educators must have relationships with to enable a more successful agricultural program. For example, there should be great relationships with school personnel, parents, community organizations, other agricultural teachers, and many more. It should be a goal of the teacher that as many people are involved in the program as possible. These people may be able to provide future jobs for students, money for the program, scholarships, recruitment opportunities, or even supplies for Career Development Event contests!

Learning Objectives	I. List and describe the professional organizations available to agricultural education teachers. II. List the groups and agencies that agricultural educators must establish and maintain relationships with. III. Describe strategies that agricultural education teachers should use to establish and maintain positive relationships with school personnel.

Instructional Activities	Take the Professionalism Pre-Test to see how much you know. I. List and describe the professional organizations available to agricultural education teachers. What does it mean to be a “professional”? Should a teacher belong to a professional organization to be considered a professional? What activities should a beginning teacher be involved in? What groups of people does an agricultural educator come in contact with in the local school? What groups of people does an agricultural educator come in contact with outside of the local school? Answers will vary. However, the purpose is to have students consider that the agricultural education teacher is more than just a classroom teacher and therefore comes into contact with many more individuals than just their own students. Read what Monster Trak has to say about joining professional associations. Here are some reasons specific to why teachers should join these organizations. Please view the Powerpoint in the Class Visuals section for more information on professional organizations that are available to professionals in agriculture. II. List the groups and agencies that agricultural educators must establish and maintain relationships with. All agricultural educators should be considered professionals and be members of the National Association of Agricultural Educators, the state associations, and many others benefiting the profession. There are an immense amount of benefits involved in joining these professional organizations. These groups offer peer support, are politically active, provide professional development opportunities, recognition for outstanding members and programs, and even scholarships. These goals were taken straight from the North Carolina Agricultural Teachers Association homepage. Those who are not members will not be eligible for most of these benefits. Please view the Powerpoint in the Class Visuals section. III. Describe strategies that agricultural education teachers should use to establish and maintain positive relationships with school personnel. Please view the Powerpoint in the Class Visuals section. The following are resources in which you might find very helpful in planning events: ~ This website comes directly from the FFA website. It includes hints that pertain to FFA event planning. View it here: FFA Event Planning. ~This website pertains to Virginia Agriculture; however, all of the activities can occur in North Carolina. It discusses how to plan a successful Agriculture Day with activities that are fun for everyone. Also, note some of the side items. There are songs that you can teach to the young kids, and many more neat activities. Check it out: Agriculture Event Planning. ~ How many of you have ever planned an event and accidentally forgotten to do something? This website is in a checklist format so that you can easily make sure you have everything in place from budgets to publicity. Great website for any event: Checklist. ~ Alumni of agricultural programs are very important to the continuation of agricultural education. The following website pertains to greek organizations, but can be used in planning an Alumni event at your school. Included on this website are deadlines in which certain things need to be done. Before planning an alumni event give this website a look: Alumni Event.

Class Visuals	View a PowerPoint presentation on Professionalism or Download slides and the transcript.

Assignments	<> The purpose of this assignment is to help you become aware of professional organizations and learn what you can expect from a community of like-minded professionals. <>Research five professional organizations from the PowerPoint or different ones on your own in which you are interested. For each organization selected please answer the questions at the end of the assignment. Questions to be completed: 1.What is the cost of becoming a member of the organization? (initial fee, yearly dues) 2. What is the main goal(s) of the organization? 3. Describe three opportunities for professional development provided by this organization? 4. What are some current issues under discussion within the organization? 5. What are the benefits of membership? 6. When and where is the national meeting? **Submit to WebCt Vista. Due on February 25th.