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The 2nd Annual
Critical Issues Conference

The conference is over...but the work is only just beginning.

On January 8, 2003, four groups convened to discuss the critical issues in agriculture. Each group was given a specific area on which to focus: Technology, Curriculum, Faculty Development and Recruitment/Retention. For each issue, the groups then came up with the goals related to the issues as well as action steps to be taken to achieve those goals. All goals and action steps were developed with a one year timeframe in mind.

For those looking for the slide show presented by Deb Klopp, AgrowKnowledge Curriculum Specialist, you can view it by clicking here.

Critical Issues Conference 2004


TECHNOLOGY
Critical Issue: The ag community needs to understand and improve on the effective usage, implementation and evaluation of applicable technologies.
Goal Action Steps
Identify what key technologies are in use in industry, government and educational settings
  • Develop regional surveys of industry, government and education
  • Attend trade shows
  • Conduct web searches
  • Conduct general library searches
Establish a mechanism for the development, verification and dissemination of emerging technologies [No action steps were listed]
Integration of technologies into the classroom
  • Develop three one credit courses for in-service of instructors


CURRICULUM
Critical Issue: To maintain and evolve programs of instruction and learning that satisfy employment demand in an environment of changing resources
Goal Action Steps
Develop cross-disciplinary ag-tech curricula models to strengthen agri-sciences and technology foundation while focusing on service and responding to needs of primary stakeholders.
  • Develop a clearinghouse of agri-technology curricular resources and information to reduce redundancy of effort
  • Create a national needs assessment database of agri-technolgy careers
  • Develop model for colleges to identify the stakeholders and their needs
  • Identify and collaborate in development of models that relate to career clusters for agriculture, food and natural resources
  • Identify and develop industry partners for supporting and funding curriculum and training
  • Identify and develop competency profiles with national standards
  • Initiate pilot programs that have seamless transitions from middle school thru career entry and advancement in that career, higher education, and life-long learning
Increase communication and cooperation among the various sections of the educational community Increase communication and cooperation among the various sections of the educational community [No action steps were listed]
Promote and enhance the public awareness of the positive impact agriculture has on the quality of life
  • Develop a clearinghouse of ag curricular resources and information
  • Identify, quantify, and utilize ag employment data


FACULTY DEVELOPMENT
Critical Issue #1: Providing on-going, up-to-date education in the areas of technology, curriculum development, instructional methods, and assessment.
Goal Action Steps
To increase emerging technology competencies
  • Conduct workshop(s)Identify priorities for workshops
  • Seek presenters/hosts
  • Publish workshop dates and details on AgrowKnowledge web site
To broaden the interdisciplinary background of educators
  • Form a curriculum advisory committee
To develop educators ability to develop curriculum
  • Conduct workshop on how to develop curriculum
To increase retention of educators
  • Recognize and Utilize mentoring programs
 
Critical Issue #2: Providing opportunities and incentives for educator development
Goal Action Steps
Provide leadership training to establish and implement an educator development program
  • Identify/Develop a program for leadership training
  • Provide programs for all levels of education (e.g., faculty, administrative, etc.)
To recognize educator development accomplishments
  • Publish a listing on the AgrowKnowledge web site
  • Series of technical sessions at next years Critical Issues Conference presented by successful educator development programs
Link educator development to certification, continuing education units (CEUs), and/or academic credit
  • Identify the methods/criteria for obtaining certification, CEUs and/or academic credit
 
Critical Issue #3: Strengthening collaborative efforts between industry and education.
Goal Action Steps
Establish roles and responsibilities of each stakeholder
  • Communicate between education and industry
  • Educator initiates or requests technical training
  • Administration supports/encourages educator to attend training
  • Industry provides or sponsors technical training
Increase communication between education and industry
  • Establish listserve/webpage
  • Sponsor workshops for technical training of educators
  • Invite industry into the classroom
  • Initiate field trips


RECRUITMENT & RETENTION
Critical Issue: Sharing of the best practices in recruitment and retention methods
Goal Action Steps
Identify best practices from good practices for recruitment for Community College and Universities
  • To survey all partners for good practices and add practices to list for testing
Completed list of successful methods for retention. Reasons for lack of retention
  • Conduct a survey to develop a list of effective practices for retention