AgrowKnowledge February E-News

National Postsecondary Agricultural Student Organization and AgrowKnowledge to Partner

Beginning July 1, 2010 the management and staffing services provided to the National Postsecondary Agricultural Students Organization (PAS) will be transferred from the National FFA Organization to the AgrowKnowledge National Resource Center for Agriscience and Technology Education. Until the official switch occurs, the current PAS staff at the National FFA and the staff at AgrowKnowledge are working to make the transition as smooth as possible for PAS members, advisors, and supporters.

AgrowKnowledge's purpose is to grow educational and business partnerships that strengthen math, science and technology skills of college agriculture students by delivering high quality professional development workshops and curriculum to secondary and postsecondary educators that incorporate new and emerging technologies into agriculture, food, and natural resources programs and to be responsive to agriculture industry employment opportunities. Aligning PAS with AgrowKnowledge provides a very direct connection to students enrolled in agriculture, food, and natural resources programs across the country -- something AgrowKnowledge values as programs change to meet the needs of new and changing career opportunities.

This shift also provides PAS many opportunities and advantages to provide greater values to its members and supporters and to grow PAS nationwide as a postsecondary student organization. Upon the transfer of management, Mel Dewsnup will assume the Executive Director position with the help on an office assistant and all the other AgrowKnowledge staff. Mel Dewsnup is a retired PAS Advisor and eager to bring his passion for PAS in this new leadership role.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is more than a partnership between AgrowKnowledge and PAS. The MOU and the associated meetings forged AgrowKnowledge partnerships with the National FFA and the FFA Foundation beneficial for the seamless transition of all students in agriculture, food, and natural resources (AFNR) educational programs. This accomplishment takes the concept of Team Ag Ed to a new level.

Introduction to Agricultural Biotechnology

Working with Kellie Aitchison, Biology Instructor at Finger Lakes Community College, Canandaigua, NY, AgrowKnowledge developed an Introduction to Agricultural Biotechnology, a three-credit hour, semester- long, college- level (100 to 200) course. The course is completely written and is in the editing and review process. It includes: a syllabus with learning objectives (competencies), topical outline and assessment methods, lesson plans and class activities for 60 hours of instruction (classroom and laboratory), PowerPoint presentations, readings (URLs for readings on Web sites or PDFs) for each topic in the outline, discussion topics, assignments, case studies, quizzes and tests. Content of the course reflects the current knowledge of and future of agricultural biotechnology and integrates the math, science, and technology of agricultural biotechnology.

Students taking this course will be able to:

• Explain biotechnology to a lay person
• Describe their own hands-on experiences with biotechnology
• Debate and draw conclusions on both costs and benefits associated with the use of biotechnology in agriculture
• Explain the relationship between knowledge of DNA and current biotechnology applications in the food, fiber, and fuel system.
• Understand the history and development of biotech advancements and how this relates to agriculture.
• Explain the importance of biotechnology research as well as the new frontiers in agricultural applications

Course developer Kellie Aitchison holds a B.S. in Animal Science and a Master’s in the Art of Teaching with New York State certification in Agriculture as well as Biology from Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. From 2002-2008, she taught high school biology in a small rural community in western NY. Currently she is a full-time biology instructor at Finger Lakes Community College. She has also written curricula for National PASS Center, and for the Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research at Cornell University.

This Agricultural Biotechnology course will be introduced to participants attending the July 20 - 22, Artificial Insemination/Biotechnology, Redlands Community College, El Reno, OK and then will be made available on the AgrowKnowledge Web site free to members.

AgrowKnowledge Faculty Development Workshops

Watch the website for Registration!

July 13 - 15, Inquiry-Based Environmental Science Using Math and GPS/GIS, Kirkwood Community College, AgrowKnowledge Center, Cedar Rapids, IA

Participants will learn how to use a Vernier LabQuest (www.vernier.com) unit with various probes/sensors to measure and monitor environmental parameters such as monitoring and determining water quality, soil temperature, soil pH and soil moisture, decomposition, carbon dioxide concentrations, pollution study, and mapping data using GPS and GIS.

Each participant will take home a LabQuest unit and two or three probes/sensors and an environmental science curriculum guide with classroom inquiry activities.

Registration fee: $300 per participant. Travel and lodging help available through AgrowKnowledge to those who qualify. Graduate college credit or CE's available.

July 20 - 22, Artificial Insemination/Biotechnology, Redlands Community College, El Reno, OK

During the first two days, participants will learn health, nutrition, anatomy and physiology, artificial insemination, and heat synchronization of meat goats; including practice inseminations of does. On the third day of the workshop participants will be introduced to AgrowKnowledge's new Introduction to Biotechnology course. Participants will experience hands-on learning and will leave with materials that they can incorporate into their classes.

The workshop will be hosted at and will include a tour of the Redlands Darlington Applied Research Center. The Center offers visitors all the benefits of a fully functional technology supported conference center in beautiful rural Oklahoma. The Darlington Center offers many points of interest including a grape vineyard, Grade A Goat Dairy, Artificial Insemination & Embryo Transfer Lab and an enology Laboratory.

Registration fee: $300 per participant. Travel and lodging help available through AgrowKnowledge to those who qualify. Graduate college credit or CE's available.

Subject Matter Experts Needed

Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) are needed to help formulate national certification examinations for the following: introductory agricultural biotechnology introduction to biofuels, and geospatial technology. This is a joint project of AgrowKnowledge, and NOCTI. SMEs evaluate examination content and compare to content standards (objectives/competencies). SMEs also help develop examination content. SMEs receive a stipend for their work. If you are interested in being an SME, contact CLOAKING .