By Julie Tomascik
Editor
To help high school science teachers explore agriculture and incorporate agricultural concepts in their classroom, Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) is hosting a virtual Teacher Ag Academy.
The free, one-hour event is set for 4:15-5:15 p.m. on Feb. 2.
“This professional development event will challenge certified, Texas high school science teachers to grow and integrate agriculture into the classroom,” Jordan Walker, TFB director of Educational Outreach, said. “Agriculture today looks much different than it did just five years ago. Those advancements in agriculture, including technologies and farming practices, that make agriculture safe and efficient can be explored in a high school science class.”
The ag academy will feature a presentation from Sarah Eder, who teaches about biotechnology and OnRamps physics at El Campo High School.
Eder encourages students to explore careers in agriculture and discover the many ways biotechnology is used in plant breeding to improve crop yields and increase disease resistance.
Each semester, her class identifies key scientific discoveries and how they influence the future of agriculture.
In the Teacher Ag Academy, Eder will share more information about how she ties agriculture into the science concepts her students learn in the classroom.
“Agriculture is truly embedded in what is known as STEM—science, technology, engineering and math—education that many schools have adopted,” Walker said. “Agriculture is the science of growing crops, raising livestock and developing new crop varieties. It’s the technology to grow more with less using precision ag tools, and it’s the engineering on farms that allow for more efficient and sustainable production. It’s the math involved to determine nutritious rations for livestock, and so much more. Those concepts tie directly to concepts students learned in the classroom.”
Walker noted that teachers also will learn about credible agricultural education resources available from TFB and the American Farm Bureau Federation.
Registration for the event is free and closes on Wednesday, Jan. 27.
“If you know a Texas science teacher looking for more information about agriculture, we hope you encourage them to attend our virtual event,” Walker said. “Our hope is to engage with science teachers to help them increase agricultural literacy and awareness in their classrooms, as well as provide them ideas and resources they can use with their students regardless of how they’re learning—virtually or face-to-face.”
All teachers who register and attend will be entered into a drawing for a giveaway.
Continuing professional education credits will be available for teachers who attend the session.
Teachers can register online at https://txfb.us/scienceteacheragacademy.
For more information about the virtual Teacher Ag Academy for high school science teachers, email edoutreach@txfb.org or call 254.751.2569.
For additional Ag in the Classroom resources and lesson plans available from TFB, visit https://texasfarmbureau.org/aitc.