SAES-422 Multistate Research Activity Accomplishments Report
Sections
Status: Approved
Basic Information
- Project No. and Title: WERA207 : Agricultural Literacy
- Period Covered: 04/01/2003 to 04/01/2004
- Date of Report: 05/18/2004
- Annual Meeting Dates: 04/22/2004 to 04/24/2004
Participants
Cox, David, (dcox@ag.arizona.edu) - University of Arizona); Frick, Marty (uadmf@montana.edu) - Montana State University; Spielmaker, Debra (debras@ext.usu.edu) - Utah State University); Thompson, Greg (greg.thompson@orst.edu) - Oregon State University; Swan, Mike (mswan@wsu.edu) - Washington State University; Andreasen, Randy (randaroo@nmsu.edu) - New Mexico State University; Elliot, Jack (elliot@ag.arizona.edu) - University of Arizona (excused during his sabbatical).
Minutes - April 22, 2004
Western Region Coordinating Committee for Agricultural Literacy (WCC-207)
Annual Meeting
Ocean Resort
Honolulu, Hawaii
Those in attendance: D. Cox, Administrative Advisor (University of Arizona); M. Frick, Chairperson (Montana State University); D. Spielmaker, Secretary (Utah State University); G. Thompson (Oregon State University), M. Swan (Washington State University). AAAE member present R. Andreasen (New Mexico State University). J. Elliot, Vice Chairperson (University of Arizona); was excused during his sabbatical.
1. Introductions were made.
2. Minutes of the April 23-34, 2003 annual meeting held in Troutdale, Oregon, were reviewed and approved.
3. Agenda for the meeting was discussed. The main items for discussion were a status report and a Plan of Action for the three major objectives and what was accomplished since the annual meeting in Oregon.
4. Discussion of the past years accomplishments and progress of WCC-207 sub committees ensued.
Objective 1 ? M. Swan and G. Thompson
Develop a process to obtain categories and organize AITC baseline knowledge and data. The information would be assembled in a research report and be used as a benchmark for the remainder of the committee?s existence and for further research.
Comments:
After the discussion in Oregon that this group must focus on the concepts and not the specific content titles ? to get at the baseline knowledge and data required for Objective One, M. Swan and G. Thompson developed a several survey questions they would like to ask Western Region AITC state leaders this next year. The questions were reviewed by the committee and it was determined that the questions should be modified to obtain data not on the current curriculum used but rather what curriculum resources do states need to meet current state standards, (related to agriculture) and the Oklahoma Standards and Benchmarks (adopted by this committee) that are not being met by curriculum packages currently be used by Western AITC programs. In other words how can WCC-207 researchers help with curriculum materials and help to measure the impacts of the materials developed for AITC.
Other data requested could include questions about how state AITC programs currently measure the effectiveness of their ag-literacy efforts; i.e. do the materials they currently use meet state standards? If so which ones? Have they accessed their ag literacy efforts (curriculum, training, classroom materials, etc), and would they welcome research assistance in measuring their impacts? Does your state develop your own AITC materials? Does your AITC program use other state AITC materials? If so what are the top 10 out-of-state instructional materials you use? Do these materials meet your state standards? Additional data should also be gathered about the educational qualifications of AITC education staff. The data gathered from the states can then be utilized by the researchers to develop materials and effective ag-literacy measurement tools (see Objective 3).
With these concepts in mind Objective 1 needs to be modified to reflect this new direction. It was also determined that the data should be gathered by the online data collection system already developed by D. Spielmaker that gathers data for Objective 2. The questions will be added to the current online form and sent to the State Contacts in early January 2005. M. Swan and G. Thompson will be responsible for sending D. Spielmaker formatted questions.
Objective 2 ? M. Frick and D. Spielmaker
Identify those specific components and practices, which correlate with AITC measurable program successes. These would include:
a. Quality and Comprehensive program indicators that delineate program success, and
b. Data collected which supports analysis of successful components and correlates significant impacts with organizational structure, funding practices, and learner outcomes.
Comments:
A new benchmark instrument was developed and implemented by D. Spielmaker per the recommendations of the committee in Oregon. Data was gathered through an online system beginning in March 2004 and the results will be presented at the National AITC meeting in June 2004. The instrument was discussed by the committee. At the time 35 states had submitted data. Questions for objective one will be added next year. Dr. Cox commented that this effort to collect this baseline data reflected real progress. Director Cox also commented that this group may want to assist state AITC programs with information about how to write impact statement in order to get more accurate information on the online survey instruments. D. Spielmaker agreed and will assist with AITC state contact training. Dr. Cox reminded the committee to focus on outcomes and the purposes of WCC-207.
Objective 3? J. Elliot and R. Andreasen
Determine the significant impacts of AITC measurable program successes, which include:
a. Research outcomes that will serve as a mechanism to develop a model, which results in AITC changes for success measured by increases in efficiency and program effectiveness.
b. Demonstrated increase in students? knowledge and appreciation of agriculture (agricultural literacy) as it relates to science, technology, society, economics and global issues; resulting in a better informed citizenry, consumers, and a future agriculture workforce ( i.e., business leaders, scientists, educators).
Comments:
R. Andreasen was added to this sub committee as D. Pals has retired. J. Elliot is on Sabbatical. This Objective was not discussed at length due to time spent on the other two objectives, but data gathered from Objective 1 and 2 will help researchers with Objective 3. In particular this Objective needs data concerning instructional materials currently utilized, to develop a research design using either a pretest ? posttest by state or the qualitative analysis and ?goal conceptions? developed by C. Trexler (see 2004 Western Region AAAE Proceedings). The primary impact to be measured will be how state meet state standards as they are correlated with Oklahoma Standards and Benchmarks for Food and Fiber (agricultural) Literacy.
Next year?s meeting will be held in Prescott Arizona, April 20-23, 2005
Respectfully submitted,
Debra Spielmaker, Secretary
Western Region Coordinating Committee for Agricultural Literacy (WCC-207)
Annual Meeting
Ocean Resort
Honolulu, Hawaii
Those in attendance: D. Cox, Administrative Advisor (University of Arizona); M. Frick, Chairperson (Montana State University); D. Spielmaker, Secretary (Utah State University); G. Thompson (Oregon State University), M. Swan (Washington State University). AAAE member present R. Andreasen (New Mexico State University). J. Elliot, Vice Chairperson (University of Arizona); was excused during his sabbatical.
1. Introductions were made.
2. Minutes of the April 23-34, 2003 annual meeting held in Troutdale, Oregon, were reviewed and approved.
3. Agenda for the meeting was discussed. The main items for discussion were a status report and a Plan of Action for the three major objectives and what was accomplished since the annual meeting in Oregon.
4. Discussion of the past years accomplishments and progress of WCC-207 sub committees ensued.
Objective 1 ? M. Swan and G. Thompson
Develop a process to obtain categories and organize AITC baseline knowledge and data. The information would be assembled in a research report and be used as a benchmark for the remainder of the committee?s existence and for further research.
Comments:
After the discussion in Oregon that this group must focus on the concepts and not the specific content titles ? to get at the baseline knowledge and data required for Objective One, M. Swan and G. Thompson developed a several survey questions they would like to ask Western Region AITC state leaders this next year. The questions were reviewed by the committee and it was determined that the questions should be modified to obtain data not on the current curriculum used but rather what curriculum resources do states need to meet current state standards, (related to agriculture) and the Oklahoma Standards and Benchmarks (adopted by this committee) that are not being met by curriculum packages currently be used by Western AITC programs. In other words how can WCC-207 researchers help with curriculum materials and help to measure the impacts of the materials developed for AITC.
Other data requested could include questions about how state AITC programs currently measure the effectiveness of their ag-literacy efforts; i.e. do the materials they currently use meet state standards? If so which ones? Have they accessed their ag literacy efforts (curriculum, training, classroom materials, etc), and would they welcome research assistance in measuring their impacts? Does your state develop your own AITC materials? Does your AITC program use other state AITC materials? If so what are the top 10 out-of-state instructional materials you use? Do these materials meet your state standards? Additional data should also be gathered about the educational qualifications of AITC education staff. The data gathered from the states can then be utilized by the researchers to develop materials and effective ag-literacy measurement tools (see Objective 3).
With these concepts in mind Objective 1 needs to be modified to reflect this new direction. It was also determined that the data should be gathered by the online data collection system already developed by D. Spielmaker that gathers data for Objective 2. The questions will be added to the current online form and sent to the State Contacts in early January 2005. M. Swan and G. Thompson will be responsible for sending D. Spielmaker formatted questions.
Objective 2 ? M. Frick and D. Spielmaker
Identify those specific components and practices, which correlate with AITC measurable program successes. These would include:
a. Quality and Comprehensive program indicators that delineate program success, and
b. Data collected which supports analysis of successful components and correlates significant impacts with organizational structure, funding practices, and learner outcomes.
Comments:
A new benchmark instrument was developed and implemented by D. Spielmaker per the recommendations of the committee in Oregon. Data was gathered through an online system beginning in March 2004 and the results will be presented at the National AITC meeting in June 2004. The instrument was discussed by the committee. At the time 35 states had submitted data. Questions for objective one will be added next year. Dr. Cox commented that this effort to collect this baseline data reflected real progress. Director Cox also commented that this group may want to assist state AITC programs with information about how to write impact statement in order to get more accurate information on the online survey instruments. D. Spielmaker agreed and will assist with AITC state contact training. Dr. Cox reminded the committee to focus on outcomes and the purposes of WCC-207.
Objective 3? J. Elliot and R. Andreasen
Determine the significant impacts of AITC measurable program successes, which include:
a. Research outcomes that will serve as a mechanism to develop a model, which results in AITC changes for success measured by increases in efficiency and program effectiveness.
b. Demonstrated increase in students? knowledge and appreciation of agriculture (agricultural literacy) as it relates to science, technology, society, economics and global issues; resulting in a better informed citizenry, consumers, and a future agriculture workforce ( i.e., business leaders, scientists, educators).
Comments:
R. Andreasen was added to this sub committee as D. Pals has retired. J. Elliot is on Sabbatical. This Objective was not discussed at length due to time spent on the other two objectives, but data gathered from Objective 1 and 2 will help researchers with Objective 3. In particular this Objective needs data concerning instructional materials currently utilized, to develop a research design using either a pretest ? posttest by state or the qualitative analysis and ?goal conceptions? developed by C. Trexler (see 2004 Western Region AAAE Proceedings). The primary impact to be measured will be how state meet state standards as they are correlated with Oklahoma Standards and Benchmarks for Food and Fiber (agricultural) Literacy.
Next year?s meeting will be held in Prescott Arizona, April 20-23, 2005
Respectfully submitted,
Debra Spielmaker, Secretary
Accomplishments
A new benchmark instrument was developed and implemented by D. Spielmaker per the recommendations of the committee in Oregon.