Welcome to AEE 311!

Welcome to AEE 311!

The agricultural industry is in a period of revolution; it will never be the same again. Few individuals have a clear picture of exactly the extent to which change is taking place and even a less clear picture of where the industry will be in a quarter of a century. Change is everywhere in agriculture, and agricultural education must keep pace. Recent changes in the focus of agriculture education have created a need to stay abreast of the impact these changes will have on classroom instruction, supervised agriculture experience programs (SAE), and the youth organization The National FFA Organization.

Regardless of past experiences any of us may have had with The National FFA Organization, the magnitude of change effecting this youth organization requires us to take a close look and to examine the recently developed opportunities available to agricultural educators and students alike. The primary vision for the future of secondary agricultural education has been articulated by a shift from vocational agriculture to agriculture science and business (see Understanding Agricultural: New Directions for Education, 1988, National Academy of Sciences; and A New Era in Agriculture, (1998) The National FFA Foundation). Certification requirements have also been changed at the Department of Education resulting in a market-driven agricultural education program.

Currently, the shortage of qualified teachers and inadequate tools and facilities hamper the development of quality secondary programs. At present a significant number of undergraduates have not participated in a high school agricultural youth organization. Agricultural leadership organizations and programs provide vehicles for expanding and enriching the opportunities for participants to develop personal qualities, leadership abilities, occupational skills, and other capabilities that will enhance their ability to direct the agricultural industry more efficiently.

Leadership development instruction and activities need to be provided to all agricultural education majors to better prepare them to meet community needs. This course is for upper division students in agricultural education prior to their student teaching during spring semester.  Leadership development instruction and activities related to the FFA organization in agriculture will result in educational benefits to students, faculty and staff.

This blog will allow for the response to questions posed on the daily ticket out from each class session. Feel free to post questions, comments for additional instruction.

Penn State's ANGEL (https://cms.psu.edu) will be the digital home of AEE 100 where course materials are shared.

We will have fun this semester!

Dr. Foster
foster@psu.edu
@FosterDanielD

Dr. Ewing
jce122@psu.edu
@jce122