Owl Pellets: Tips for Ag Teachers

Boosting Your FFA Chapter: Social Media That Works

How effective is your FFA chapter's social media strategy? Raquel Taylor, Taylor Ruth, and Nathan Conner dive into research exploring how secondary agriculture teachers use social media to promote their FFA chapters. We examine which platforms are favored, the content shared, and the significant benefits teachers experience. Despite widespread use, findings reveal untapped potential and a clear need for professional development. This is a must-listen for insights into optimizing your social media presence, reaching the right audiences, and elevating your FFA chapter's story online for greater impact.

 

Journal article: https://jae-online.org/index.php/jae/article/view/40

Agriscience Fairs: Science, Communication, and Career Readiness

Ready to supercharge scientific thinking and real-world skills in your students? This episode digests research on how U.S. agriculture teachers implement Agriscience Fair programs! Discover the complex decisions teachers make and how these fairs uniquely strengthen scientific thinking, hands-on learning, communication, and interview skills. We'll explore the power of cross-curricular collaboration (hello, English teachers!) and building science literacy cultures. Get ready for insights on overcoming barriers and using peer support to blend classroom theory with engaging, practical life skill development for every student.

 

Journal Article: https://jae-online.org/index.php/jae/article/view/2920

How Learning Works: Prior Knowledge

Brian, Becky, and Mike are back to diving into how learning works. Throughout this episode, they will dive deep into the second section of the book "How Learning Works: 8 Research-Based Principles for Smart Learning." Marsha Lovett, Michael Birdges, Michele DiPietro, Susan Ambrose, and Maria Norman focused this book on making learning work for you and your students! Come along as Brian, Becky, and Mike chat about how prior knowledge plays a role in learning. 

Words that Grow: Boosting Ag Literacy with Writing, Speaking, and Hands-On Learning

How can your agriscience classroom cultivate strong agricultural literacy that goes beyond hands-on skills? This episode digests research exploring how SBAE teachers are promoting ag literacy through speaking, listening, and writing activities! Discover how explicit explanations, group discussions, and project-based work help students grasp complex vocabulary and apply concepts to real life. We'll also tackle common challenges like time constraints for writing. Get ready for practical insights on how intentionally weaving communication into your lessons, alongside labs, prepares students to truly understand and advocate for agriculture!

 

Journal Article: http://jsaer.org/2024/04/22/exploring-agricultural-literacy-instructional-practices-for-advancing-student-writing-in-agricultural-education/

The Donut Model: Finding the Sweet Spot for Teacher Success

Ever feel like you're constantly balancing on the edge of burnout? This episode introduces the Donut Model for Ag Teacher Success! Adapted from Doughnut Economics, this new framework offers a fresh way to understand the sweet spot between minimum and maximum productivity boundaries. Learn how factors like mentoring, support systems, and workload management can help you thrive, not just survive. Get ready for new language to advocate for your well-being and find fulfillment in ag teaching!

 

Journal Article: https://jae-online.org/index.php/jae/article/view/2764

Special Episode: Meet the Producer

Have you ever wondered what it takes to produce this podcast? Who is this mysterious fourth person of the Owl Pellets crew? For the past three seasons, Kyleigh Hilburn has been behind the scenes producing Owl Pellets: Tips for Ag Teachers Podcast. In this week's episode, Brian and Becky pull Kyleigh out from the background and into the guest's chair. Hear all about what it takes to produce a podcast, life as a graduate student, and be engaged with teaching, research, and extension at a land-grant institution. 

Building Stronger Ag Classrooms: Youth-Adult Partnerships in Action

Ready to unlock deeper student involvement and real-world learning? This episode digests a powerful 7-year study on the CROPS Project, grounded in the transformative Youth-Adult Partnership (YAP) Theory! Discover how fostering genuine collaboration between youth and adults in ag education can dramatically enhance student motivation, build practical skills (like farm safety!), and strengthen classroom relationships. Learn why YAP isn't just a strategy, but a sustainable and impactful model for agricultural educators seeking profound learning outcomes.

 

Journal Article: https://jae-online.org/index.php/jae/article/view/2394

Margin in the Middle: Finding Balance and Boosting Creativity in Ag Teaching

Ever feel like you're running on empty? This episode digests vital research on "margin" in the lives of ag educators – that crucial buffer between your workload and your personal resources! Discover why having more margin is key to maintaining wellness, boosting creativity, and finding greater satisfaction in ag teaching. We'll share actionable strategies from the study on how you can protect and grow your margin, helping you stay energized and effective in the classroom.

 

Journal Article: https://jae-online.org/index.php/jae/article/view/2827

How Learning Works: Student Identity & Development

Brian, Becky, and Mike are back to diving into how learning works. Throughout this episode, they will dive deep into the first section of the book "How Learning Works: 8 Research-Based Principles for Smart Learning." Marsha Lovett, Michael Birdges, Michele DiPietro, Susan Ambrose, and Maria Norman focused this book on making learning work for you and your students! Come along as Brian, Becky, and Mike chat about how student identity and development play a role in learning. 

Building Employability: Real Skills for Real Ag Classrooms

What do school superintendents really want your ag program to teach? This episode digests research exploring how district leaders prioritize essential employability skills within SBAE curricula! Discover why critical thinking, problem-solving, and resource management are top priorities. Learn how superintendents view these skills as "very" or "extremely important" for student careers, reinforcing the need for ag teachers to deliberately incorporate them. Get actionable insights on how to prioritize, teach, and assess these vital skills to better prepare your students for college and the workforce!

 

Journal Article: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/jrtc/vol8/iss2/3