Owl Pellets: Tips For Ag Teachers

Ever wondered how FFA, classroom, and SAEs really impact student growth? In this week's episode, Tiffany Marzolino, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, explores ag teachers' perceptions of student development across the three-circle model! Discover why the classroom often leads, but how grading SAEs and using tech can supercharge their perceived impact. We'll also dive into making SAEs truly student-driven and navigating that biggest barrier: time. Get ready for practical tips to maximize your SAEs!   Journal Article: https://jae-online.org/index.php/jae/article/view/120

Ever thought about using Jeremy Clarkson to teach agriculture? This episode discusses fascinating research on how the TV series "Clarkson's Farm" impacted undergraduate students! Erica Summerfield, South Dakota State University, reveals how showing just two episodes sparked rich dialogue and boosted understanding of food systems, farming challenges, and rural life, even among students new to agriculture. Discover how popular media can be a powerful tool for your ag classroom to bridge knowledge gaps and make complex topics accessible and relatable for diverse learners.   Journal Article: https://jae-online.org/index.php/jae/article/view/2608

Ever wondered how hands-on learning can transform students and your community? This episode digs into fascinating research on land-based learning! Aaron McKim and Abbey Palmer, from Michigan State University, share how connecting high schoolers with local agriculture boosts their leadership skills, sustainability awareness, and understanding of local food. Get ready for practical models to bring real-world impact into your ag classroom!   Resources: https://www.canr.msu.edu/uprc/land-based-learning-center-projects Journal Article: https://jae-online.org/index.php/jae/article/view/2767 

We are back,... we are SO back! Brian, Becky, and Mike are super excited to be back with another season of Owl Pellets: Tips for Ag Teachers podcast. Be ready to tackle conversations over how learning works, getting beyond the walls of the classroom, adult partnerships, the donut model, how to communicate about your program, and many more exciting topics. You might even get to meet a member of the team who has been hiding behind the scenes for a few years. Happy listening, and here is to season 11! 

Ag Ed is uniquely positioned to support boys in school. Stacy Vincent (University of Kentucky) joins the OP crew to share key findings from an experimental study looking at student performance in same-sex versus co-ed classrooms. Tune in to hear more about how students process and engage in school differently.   Journal article: https://jae-online.org/index.php/jae/article/view/122

The "To Those Concerned with Teacher Retention" mini-series highlights a series of vulnerable conversations in letter form to help us ask tough questions of the education career. The series will challenge listeners to consider new solutions, imagine "what ifs," and inform future directions for education. The full journal article includes appendices for further discussion, and we welcome you to use the following resources to respond with your own letter (https://oregonstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6YGn16kf2juTGZg) or other thoughts (https://padlet.com/ag_education/collective-thought-experiment-vu3pwzetg94qo2nt).   Journal Article: https://jae-online.org/index.php/jae/article/view/2604

Jamie Greig and his team at University of Tennessee knows implementing VR can feel intimidating, but with their guide to planning, process, and reflection, you'll be a VR implementation expert in no time.   Journal Article: https://agdevresearch.org/index.php/aad/article/view/353

We'll just come right out and say it: Mobility might be a retention strategy. Becky Haddad (University of Nebraska-Lincoln) and Lavyne Rada (Co-Director of the Minnesota Teacher Induction Program) chat with Mike and Brian about reasonable retention, navigating the teaching career, and supporting newness across the career spectrum.   Journal Article: https://jae-online.org/index.php/jae/article/view/2471

The "To Those Concerned with Teacher Retention" mini-series highlights a series of vulnerable conversations in letter form to help us ask tough questions of the education career. The series will challenge listeners to consider new solutions, imagine "what ifs," and inform future directions for education. The full journal article includes appendices for further discussion, and we welcome you to use the following resources to respond with your own letter (https://oregonstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6YGn16kf2juTGZg) or other thoughts (https://padlet.com/ag_education/collective-thought-experiment-vu3pwzetg94qo2nt).   Journal Article: https://jae-online.org/index.php/jae/article/view/2604

Curious about how to set failure as an expectation? WHAT?! Taylor Merrick (Arizona ag teacher) and Amber Rice (Iowa State University) have the inside scoop on problem-based learning to help teachers work their students through the process of problem solving, the nature of conflict, and the environment you create in the process. Journal Article: https://jae-online.org/index.php/jae/article/view/103

A team isn't just a group of people thrown together, and Tom Jacobsen with the University of Idaho Extension has some great tips for us to build teams through LDE preparation. Tune in as Tom chats with the crew about defining success, engaging in a team building process, and teaching employability skills in how we ask students to prepare for competition. Journal Article: https://jae-online.org/index.php/jae/article/view/97

The "To Those Concerned with Teacher Retention" mini-series highlights a series of vulnerable conversations in letter form to help us ask tough questions of the education career. The series will challenge listeners to consider new solutions, imagine "what ifs," and inform future directions for education. The full journal article includes appendices for further discussion, and we welcome you to use the following resources to respond with your own letter (https://oregonstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6YGn16kf2juTGZg) or other thoughts (https://padlet.com/ag_education/collective-thought-experiment-vu3pwzetg94qo2nt).   Journal Article: https://jae-online.org/index.php/jae/article/view/2604

Philanthropy is an intentional, private allocation of time or money--more simply, it's just giving back where you can, and Amber Rice (Iowa State) and Weslee Potts (Arizona Mom & administrator) are here to tell us more! Tune in as they share how Gen Z seeks connection, meaning, purpose, and belonging in their philanthropic efforts, looking to give time more than money in ways that align with their values.   Journal Article: https://jae-online.org/index.php/jae/article/view/2577

VR may feel intimidating to implement, but never fear! Justin Pulley (Tarleton) is here to make sure we've got the basics covered to dive in. Tune in as Justin shares that we don't need to be experts to give VR a try as long as we implement it with a pedagogical purpose in mind.    Journal article: https://jae-online.org/index.php/jae/article/view/165

The "To Those Concerned with Teacher Retention" mini-series highlights a series of vulnerable conversations in letter form to help us ask tough questions of the education career. The series will challenge listeners to consider new solutions, imagine "what ifs," and inform future directions for education. The full journal article includes appendices for further discussion, and we welcome you to use the following resources to respond with your own letter (https://oregonstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6YGn16kf2juTGZg) or other thoughts (https://padlet.com/ag_education/collective-thought-experiment-vu3pwzetg94qo2nt).   Journal Article: https://jae-online.org/index.php/jae/article/view/2604

Engaging with teacher professional development provides so many opportunities to meet people where they are. Trent Wells (Murray State) joins the OP crew to talk about designing and delivering teacher professional development.   Journal Article: https://jae-online.org/index.php/jae/article/view/2473

Mentoring can be a tricky relationship to define and maintain. Jarred Shellhouse (University of Florida) joins us with reminders that mentoring is more than feedback and guidance; it requires respect, trust, and aligned values.   Journal article: https://jae-online.org/index.php/jae/article/view/39

The "To Those Concerned with Teacher Retention" mini-series highlights a series of vulnerable conversations in letter form to help us ask tough questions of the education career. The series will challenge listeners to consider new solutions, imagine "what ifs," and inform future directions for education. The full journal article includes appendices for further discussion, and we welcome you to use the following resources to respond with your own letter (https://oregonstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6YGn16kf2juTGZg) or other thoughts (https://padlet.com/ag_education/collective-thought-experiment-vu3pwzetg94qo2nt).   Journal Article: https://jae-online.org/index.php/jae/article/view/2604

It can be easy to take experiential learning for granted, so Brad Coleman (Oklahoma State University), and Grady Roberts and JC Bunch (University of Florida) chat through how to move beyond "hands on" learning into true experiential learning. Tune in as they unpack how to help students make productive contributions, real life applications, and interdisciplinary learning.   Journal Article: https://jae-online.org/index.php/jae/article/view/2479

Systems thinking has exciting implications for workforce preparation and our classroom interactions. Tune in as Kevan Lamm (University of Georgia) explores how the world really works as we engage on meandering journeys.   Journal Article: https://jae-online.org/index.php/jae/article/view/64