Science and Mathematics Education Commons^™

Perceptions And Instructional Practices Used By West Virginian Secondary Agricultural Teachers In Meat Science Education, Kindra D. Carr

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

A focus on classroom integration of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) concepts has resulted in secondary teachers broadening the scope and delivery of STEM principles in their classes. Because agriculture classes allow students to convert abstract ideas into concrete ideas, they provide a useful setting to teach STEM concepts. Using secondary agricultural classes to teach science is effective and has contributed to higher standardized science test scores, as opposed to a science class alone. West Virginia is known for meat processing facilities and meat technology learning activities in its public schools. However, little is known about how the content …

Developing Serious Games In Engineering Education: Innovation At The Nexus Of Food, Energy, And Water Systems, Nathan Rice

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

At a time when food, energy, and water (FEW) are of the utmost concern to the security and health of the world, an initiative has begun to understand the interactions between these systems. The goal of Innovation at the Nexus of Food, Energy, and Water Systems (INFEWS) is to bring together research fields that typically work in their own silos to solve complex problems increasing the resiliency and sustainability of the FEW system. Stemming from this initiative was a project to produce an educational immersive simulation game to teach youth about how their food is produced, systems thinking, and sustainable …

Exploring Elementary Students’ Agricultural And Scientific Knowledge Using Evidence Centered Design, Molly R. Brandt

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The public is more disconnected from agriculture than ever. Americans are two to four generations removed from the farm, and a majority of Americans, even in rural agricultural states have no direct link to agriculture. As a result, the public lacks the knowledge and appreciation of the food, fuel, and fiber it demands. The National Center for Agricultural Literacy (NCAL) uses National Agricultural Learning Objectives (NALOs) to measure student’s agricultural knowledge. The purpose of this project is to develop assessments aligned with the NALOs and to use results from the assessments to further understand students’ agricultural literacy. This study focuses …

Ag In Motion, Kerri Bermudez, Annelise Jensch, Michaela Stone

Agricultural Education and Communication

The purpose of this project was to gauge the interest levels of Ag in Motion for the Central Coast. Positive feedback would allow the project to continue on after this project is finished. Ag in Motion is an important asset to middle school aged children because they have the opportunity to learn about agriculture and it’s value. This is especially important considering California is number one producer of agricultural commodities in the United States.

The Central Coast is defined as these three counties: Monterey County, San Luis Obispo County, and Santa Barbara County. An online survey was developed and sent …

Roger Williams Park Edible Forest Garden, Mark S. Scialla

Senior Honors Projects

An edible forest garden is a low-maintenance system that uses edible native and regionally-adapted plants arranged in beneficial relationships to meet human, wildlife and ecosystem needs. The forest garden in Roger Williams Park will transform underutilized urban land into a highly productive parcel producing market-viable fruits, nuts, vegetables, medicine and fiber. Forest gardens mimic natural forest systems in architecture and complexity. The design follows ecological principles to create a system that promotes biodiversity and enhances the surrounding ecosystem. This project also demonstrates the potential to grow food and create land-based livelihoods in the city.

Located on the edge of a …

Roots Of Farm And Family, Carol Gjenvick

Graduate Student Independent Studies

The current food industry is a vast and confusing system that often generates contradicting information, new jargon and trends on how and what to eat. Most families in urban and suburban regions shop at local grocery stores, supermarkets or chains and are far removed from the origins of their food supply. Even with the growing support of farmers markets and local farmers, the average person no longer has access to an actual farm. Children in particular, are less likely to understand how a farm operates, the essential role of the farmer, the impact of seasonal changes on food supplies and …

Strategic Discussions For Nebraska: Opportunities For Nebraska -- Food Scarcity, Mary Garbacz

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communication: Faculty Publications

Strategic Discussions for Nebraska is a program in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources that produces an annual publication called Opportunities for Nebraska, focusing on a different topic each year. The publication is produced in hard copy and also is available online at www.sdn.unl.edu.

The content for each publication is produced by UNL students enrolled in a Magazine Writing course each spring semester, taught by the SDN coordinator. Students conduct interviews with UNL researchers and write stories for inclusion in the publication. The interviews are captured on video and are edited into video montages, …

From The Fair To The Laboratory: The Institutionalization Of Agricultural Science And Education In Maine, Thomas Reznick

Maine History

Up until the mid-nineteenth century, agricultural science and education in Maine were primarily local affairs. Meeting in farm clubs and attending agricultural fairs, the Maine farmer performed most research by trial and error and by meeting on common ground with other farmers to discuss what worked and what did not. By the mid-nineteenth century, however, the farm clubs and county fairs waned and succumbed to the growing political influence of the Grange, which supported burgeoning agricultural scientific and educational institutions, such as the College of Agriculture and the Experiment Station. Through the auspices of the Grange, such institutions took the …

Use Of Artificial Enclosures To Determine The Survival Of Rana Pipiens Larvae In Upper Midwestern Agricultural Ponds, Joshua M. Kapfer, Mark B. Sandheinrich, Melinda G. Knutson

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

Amphibians in the upper Midwest use agricultural ponds for breeding. Unfortunately, the risks (both direct and indirect) associated with using these ponds are poorly understood in both amphibian adults and larvae. In order to quantify these risks, we performed a comparison of larval survival rates between agricultural and natural ponds in southeastern Minnesota during the spring and summer of 2001. During this time, larval survival was observed in Rana pipiens tadpoles raised through metamorphosis in enclosures placed in agricultural and natural ponds. In addition, we measured the levels of nutrients commonly linked with agricultural ponds (i.e., ammonia, total phosphorous, and …

Bioprospecting, Philip A. Reed

STEMPS Faculty Publications

The article discusses that the product applications of bioprospecting are almost limitless. This area of biotechnology has been labeled bioprospecting, and it is a practice that is creating worldwide controversy. Defined simply, bioprospecting is "scientific research that looks for a useful application, process, or product in nature." However, as with most biotechnologies, the definition does not address the complexities of bioprospecting. Archeologists are finding that some biotechnologies, such as the use of herbs for medicine and the use of fermentation and yeast in food products, date back 5,000 to 10,000 years (De Miranda, 2004). The four main categories of biotechnologies …

A Thematic Unit For Integrating Social Studies And Science In The First Grade, Lin Marjorie Lasater

All Graduate Projects

A thematic unit for integrating social studies and science with other curriculum areas was developed for first grade students. The theme for the unit centered around farms. The unit was divided into five subunits: farms, farm animals, orchards/vineyards (to include fruits of the Yakima Valley and apples), crops (to include vegetables of the Yakima Valley, pumpkins, and wheat), and nutrition/four food groups. The literature was reviewed to establish a theoretical foundation for the unit and for activities that focused on reading, writing, and language development.

Farming In India, Winfield Scott

Science Bulletin

The following extract from an article written by Saint Mhal Singh of India (See Wallace's Farmer, April 30, 1909) is given as a description of farmers in that populous country. The Hindoos are the Eastern Branch of our own Aryan race.

A Classified Bibliography Of References For General Agriculture, Winfield Scott

Science Bulletin

III. FORAGE CROPS

A. Legumes.

A Classified Bibliography Of References For General Agriculture, Winfield Scott

Science Bulletin

Most teachers are exceedingly busy with their regular duties in the school. This leaves but little time to look up references or for that matter to plan the work once the school year has begun. Their success is largely determined by the preparation which has been made before the school year opens. The following references have been prepared for these busy teachers who would like to enrich their courses in agriculture, but who do not have time to study or select references.

Some Suggestions Concerning The Management Of The Laying Flock In Winter, Winfield Scott

Science Bulletin

I. Community Poultry Survey. The following outline will serve as a basis for the survey. After the completion of the survey make a study of data and draw conclusions as to cause of the failure of some flocks and the success of others.

Suggestive Procedure In Presenting A Course In Profitable Corn Production, Winfield Scott

Science Bulletin

Community Survey

1. How many acres of corn are grown on the home farm? 2. How many acres of corn grown on farms not represented in class? (This answer can be secured by assigning to each pupil a definite number of farms which are not represented in class) 3. What is the yield per acre of (a) the home farm? (b) the assigned farm? 4. What is the total yield on (a) the home farm? (b) the assigned farm?

New-Type Tests In Agriculture, Winfield Scott

Science Bulletin

Modern methods of testing a pupil's knowledge have been applied successfully in the teaching of agriculture. The writer submits a few sample question sets as illustrative material.

Presenting The Problems Of Feeding, H. Earl Rath

Science Bulletin

It has been the experience of the author that the teaching of feeding taxes the ingenuity of the agricultural instructor more than most other agricultural topics. The mere statement of principles without application or proof offers little of permanent value to the pupil. On the other hand, an attempt to pursue all, or even a small part, of the mass of data necessary to prove even a single principle, leaves the student groggy and confused. Neither is there time allowed in most courses for such procedure.

Laboratory Work In Poultry, H. Earl Rath

Science Bulletin

It is probable that the winter feeding, housing and management problems of poultry have been taken up in class before this time. If not, the alert agricultural instructor can develop some very practical laboratory work by conducting a survey in the community of the conditions under which poultry is kept, and then comparing the results obtained from flocks cared for under varying conditions.

Fall And Winter Material In Animal Husbandry, H. Earl Rath

Science Bulletin

Swine are now going to market in large numbers. This offers an excellent opportunity to study market types as represented in the herd and compare them with the sows from which they were produced. If brood sows for spring litters have not all been selected, the teacher has some valuable work for pupils in selecting the better prospects from the available groups.

Some Suggestions For Fall Laboratory Work In Animal Husbandry, H. Earl Rath

Science Bulletin

Now that the seed corn is selected for next spring, and the frost has put an end to grasses and other outdoor crops, the agricultural instructor often feels that little outdoor material is available for further study. With this in mind I would like to present a laboratory exercise that will provide for some valuable outdoor work, and can be used as the basis for much classroom study as well.