Guest Blogger Series: Why, How, What? Program of Activities

The classic FFA activities: fundraisers, recruitment events, food drives, annual chapter banquet, etc. What's the purpose? It's not about what we do, it's about why we do it. Simon Sinek's golden circle is a great way to put this into perspective.

Why?
FFA activities and events are catalysts of change that transform perspectives, habits, career ambitions, and relationships in an authentic and intentional way. Our purpose is to grow and empower students. With guidance, students develop and deliver their own learning experiences through a chapter's program of activities (POA). Planning and executing a quality POA at the local level is powerful.

How?
Success is the result of creative planning and detailed preparation. To invest in chapter success, students set goals and plan the necessary steps to accomplish these goals. By engaging in the development and delivery of a quality POA, students develop leadership and planning skills which are essential in all careers. The key to a quality POA is getting every member involved. The steps to develop and implement a successful POA are outlined in four steps:

• Plan: The POA should be organized by using student committees. The number of committees and committee structure varies by chapter. The chapter vice president is tasked with coordinating the work of committees and every member should serve on at least one committee.
• Develop: Once committees are formed, the POA can be developed. Planning forms are available to aid in the development of the POA. These forms make it easy to write the rough draft by hand, present the plan to the chapter for approval or amendment and prepare the POA for distribution.
• Do: Once the POA is developed and approved by members, the next step is for committees to plan each activity and event. What steps are necessary to achieve the goals approved by members? Make it happen!
• Reflect: Plans are useless without implementation. The POA is a tool used to help the chapter meet members' needs and interests. Reflection is an ongoing process. The POA should be reviewed and reflected upon regularly.

What?
The POA assists in defining chapter goals, outlining steps needed to meet those goals and acts as a written guide to provide a calendar of events the chapter will follow in the year ahead for administrators, advisory committees, alumni and other stakeholders. Every year each FFA chapter takes time to plan ways to provide engaging opportunities focused on growing leaders, building communities and strengthening agriculture.

There are a variety of resources available to aid in the planning, development and delivery of a local program of activities. These include:

• POA Resource Guide - 15 page resource that walks a user through planning, developing, doing and reflecting on a program of activities.
• POA Planning Forms - these four forms are available in PDF and Word. Examples and instructions are included in the POA Resource Guide.
• National Chapter Award Program handbook - this includes information, a scoresheet and rubric for the National Quality FFA Chapter Standards as well as everything needed to be successful in the National Chapter Award Program.
• Chapter Success Guides - each year, a magazine is created to showcase the national finalists in the national chapter award program. These exceptional chapters are planning, developing, delivering a quality program of activities and reflecting on their experiences in a purposeful way. The 2015 guide is a great immediate resource. The 2016 guide will be available in the spring of 2017 and will feature Midd-West FFA of Pennsylvania!

For more information  please visit www.ffa.org/nationalchapter or contact nationalchapter@ffa.org.

Recognition

Awards, Recognition, Degrees, Motivation

 

Today we had Ms. Carole Fay visit us here at Penn State! She has taught for 30 years and is the second year SAE specialist for Pennsylvania.

 

Points from class:

• Looking through a students AET and keystone degree.
• Questions answered!
• Look to build continuity in your program.
• How will you incorporate SAE into your classes? What's appropriate? Every other Friday SAE Day?
• Proficiency awards, size isn't what matters, it's the time and effort you put in.
• Use pictures of your project
• Show growth.
• Bring a camera on SAE visits!

 

 

Resources:

• Here is an awesome article from the Human Potential Group about how to shift from being extrinsically motivated to intrinsically.
• AET

POA & National Chapter Award Program - Ms. Jenna Genson

Jenna Genson: Education Specialist - Agriscience Fair/National Chapter

AEE 311 was so excited to talk with Jenna Genson on this rainy PSU morning. She has left us so much great knowledge on POA's and the National Chapter Award Program through he National FFA where she works.

If you would like to review the awesome PowerPoint that Ms. Genson showed in class please click on the link!

The Video Recording can be found here:
https://meeting.psu.edu/p5rd6528nl3/




Contact Information:
Twitter: @JGenson
Email: jgenson@ffa.org
Phone: 317-802-4402


Reminders for class:

• Weekly Web Wonders
• Look @ the class blog! So many great resources.
• http://psuaee311.blogspot.com/

 

Session 11: What Does Inclusion Mean?

Today in AEE 311 we talked all about inclusion!  Ms. Megan Tanaka spoke with us today about making an effort toward "intentional inclusion", a powerful concept!  Finally, we wrapped class up with 6 different lists to help us create a poem based on our own personal culture; as we know, we can't fully understand the culture of our students without first understanding our own culture!

What are you curious about?

• Is the data collected at National Convention made public?
• Lessons that I could use the sunglasses activities for?
• Be creative!  Inclusion is important in any class but maybe an FFA Leadership class would be a great fit for the lesson!  Or, consider this for a segment on inclusion in the FFA during your FFA Officer retreat. 
• How can we get the "We Are FFA" experience at our state convention?
• To see how my poem will turn out
• We can't wait to hear them all!
• The "We Are FFA" program
• Why did the "We Are FFA" program start?
• Can you change a student's views on diversity when they grew up in a racist household?
• This is a tough questions.  I believe that as teachers we may not always have the ability to change a student's circumstances but we can always provide a safe, constructive, culturally rich learning environment for each one of our students.
• Student recruitment ideas
• Is there a proper network for teacher and students to put program information and share ideas?
• Why yes there is!  Check out this blog about using NAAE Communities of Practice as an AEE 311 student!
• Are members or officers supposed to create the POA?
• Officers should consider the needs and desires of the members but the POA should be developed by the officer team, likely at the officer retreat 
• Can we have more peer to peer or big group discussions?

What did you learn?

• More about intentional inclusion at the national level
• Equity & Anti-racism
• About Megan Tanaka's role at National FFA
• "We Are FFA"
• Diversity in the classroom
• Local involvement with the "We Are FFA" program
• Not to put Vaseline on sunglasses...
• Empathizing with students with disabilities

What do you want to learn more about?

• How to use the "We Are FFA" program locally?
• What is an example lesson of inclusion?
• How did Dr. Foster include others and their diversity into his FFA chapter?
• More about Ms. Tanaka's position
• More about reaching the needs of all students
• Strategies for classroom inclusion
• Ms. Tanaka's Contact info
• mtanaka@ffa.org 

This week there was a lot of great questions about inclusion and the "We Are FFA" program!  I think that the resources listed below can answer a lot of these questions and I encourage you to really dig in and check them out!

FFA LifeKnowledge: Check out this link to a list of a ton of lesson plans that include elements of diversity and inclusion.  One of my favorites is the HS.72 : Appreciating Cultural Diversity lesson


Student Recruitment: Check out some of the resources that National FFA provides for student recruitment strategies 

Check out this video on the "We Are FFA" Program for some more info!

Dr. Baggett Responses to Your Questions!

Hello all! As I had stated in the answers to the ticket out questions in an earlier session, Dr. Baggett has responded to your questions for here. Below are your questions and his responses!

Did Brown vs. Board of Education help improve vocational education for African Americans?

The Brown vs. Board of Education sat the judicial precedent for integration—that separate but equal was unconstitutional according to the 14^th Amendment of the Constitution.  Very little changed in the real world of secondary education with this decision.  It wasn’t until the Civil Right Act of 1964 that real changes began to take place.  The “Cotton Belt States” still resisted change and the US Government had to use military force to make sure the law was enforced.  Hence, there were turbulent times in this region between 1965 and 1969. The majority population knew that African American schools were not equal because they did not support these schools appropriately compared with the other schools.  However, given the limited resources available, minority schools did an excellent job!  Desegregation helped to level the playing fields relative to the availability of resources.  

After 1964, minority schools were closed and minority students were integrated into majority schools.  There was a huge emotional letdown among minority high school graduates when they found that their alma mater no longer existed.

How did you feel about the FFA and NFA merge?  

Most NFA members were not happy with the merger and I was not exception.  Many NFA members felt that the merger was really a hostile take-over.  There was a vacuum of identity.  NFA members did not have an affinity for FFA.  The 1890 Land grant colleges and universities struggled in accepting FFA and did not embrace collegiate FFA chapters to replace NFA.  Few, if any, 1890 institutions developed collegiate FFA chapters.  My alma mater, NC A & T State University, developed the Ag Ed Association as a replacement for collegiate NFA.

Would things have been better if there would not have been segregated school, or would minorities have suffered more "persecution"?

Segregation was wrong on so many levels and it made a lie of the statement “One nation under God…” because the United States was two nations—one African American and a white.  Segregation was institutional racism in the truest sense of the word and everyone paid dearly.  Slavery was wrong and precipitated segregation where African men, women, and children were treated as property.  Persecution and abuse was used to keep slaves and eventual African Americans in their place as second class people not worthy of citizenship.

Life and education definitely would have been better if schools were not segregated.  Integrated schools exposed the races to one another and fostered racial harmony and respect.  Children of all races grow up, experience the same environment, face similar challenges, and achieve success or failure together.  These children see that the old stereotype are invalid and that skin color does not make a lot of difference.  Having equal access to the resources allows all to develop and grow at one’s interest and capability.  Some, both black and white, will make the most of these opportunities and excel while others will do the minimum.

AEE 311 Session 10 Ticket Out: What is a Program of Activities?

Thanks for a great "Jill Gordon Day" session this morning ;). Check out the ticket out answers below! I have sent to link to Stephanie as well, so hopefully any questions that are geared towards her will be answered! I will try my best to answer from what I know already :).

Other important information: There are currently 3 POA examples loaded onto Angel as well as my own assignment from last year. Seriously, let me know if you have any questions about the assignment! You can reach me on Angel mail, email (jag5750@psu.edu) or Twitter (@jillianpsu).

Also feel free to contact Mrs. Jolliff in regard to any resources. You can reach her at jolliff@ridgemont.k12.oh.us

What are we curious about?

• National FFA
• This is quite the broad question, check out their website (ffa.org) to see the different programs, activities and resources that are available (both as a collegiate student and an ag teacher) if you have a more specific question, comment below or tweet out and I will get back to you!
• How the built in grade works for tying FFA into the classroom
• Given that FFA in an INTRAcurricular activity (built INTO the classroom) and that Pennsylvania is an affiliate state (meaning all ag ed students are FFA members) many programs now give grades for FFA involvement. So if you are enrolled in an Ag course, a portion of your total grade will go to the activities you attend. Linked here is the sheet that Stephanie gives her students to keep track of involvement.
• What makes Jolliff's banquet different from others?
• Going to lobby this one to Stephanie! (I have a copy of last year's program if anyone is interested)
• How do I initially start creating a POA?
• Remember that this assignment is NOT about creating a POA! It's about figuring out how to start a program in your school. See the examples on Angel to get a better understanding. Personally, I think a good place to start is looking at committee structure!

What did we learn?

• Many components of implementing POA
• How to get more student involvement
• Ridgemont FFA Chapter
• What characteristics make an effective POA
• Jolliff is super woman
• How to get students involved in POA

What do we want to learn more about?

• A successful POA
• Check out Stephanie's website to get more info on the structure of theirs. Remember, it will only be successful if it is student centered and student driven!!!!!
• How to phase out "sacred cows"
• I am going to let Stephanie give her input on this as well :)
• How long did it take to get Ridgemont where it is today? What other growth would you like to see?
• Getting a high school as a whole more involved with an Ag program?

If you missed the session or want to watch it again, click here!

Stephanie's Website (with Ridgemont Info)

Click here to check out the Ridgemont FFA Pinterest page!

Session 9: What is a Program of Activities?

Session 9 was a session of awesomeness! Ms. Jenna Genson was with us today speaking about Program of Activities!

Here is the link to the recorded session with Jenna! https://meeting.psu.edu/p84sjvot0ly/
What are you curious about?

• What are the hours that you work to judge the chapter awards?
• There are several options for Penn State students to judge National Chapter awards!  Email Janae Herr kjh5370@psu.edu for more information!
• How to format our expectations of the POA
• 3 examples of past AEE 311 POA's have been uploaded to ANGEL so check them out!  Also, this week's Weekly Web Wonder has lots of example POA's.
• Job opportunities at National FFA
• Check out this link for information on job opportunities at National FFA
• How do I create a blog?
• Great question!  There are lots of platforms for blog, our favorite is Blogger.  It is through Google so all you need is a gmail account and you are ready to go.  One of the first steps will be naming your blog, which can be tricky but is essential!  Check out this link for some tips.
• Does each state have enough people to apply for the National Chapter Award each year?
• Check out this link to see all of the 2014 National Chapter Award Recipients from each state!
• Continuing to learn about FFA
• How do I do all of this as an Ag Teacher and FFA advisor and still have time for life outside of my job?
• This would be a great question for Ms. Stephanie Joliff during our next session.  Ms. Joliff has an incredible program in Ridgemont,OH and balances a family in there as well!
• How in depth is the budget in a POA?
• Check out the ANGEL & Web Wonder examples.  The budget is usually the chapter's budget for the entire year so you will need to anticipate any income or expenses. 
• All of the work I need to do
• Review the syllabus and utilize your TA's!
• Working with my cooperating center on their POA
• A great place to really get a handle on what implementation of a POA looks like!
• I am still a little confused as to what is required in a POA
• Check out the examples and email your TA's!
• Who in PA has qualified or been awarded the National Chapter Award?

What did you learn?

• Program of Activities (POA)
• Committees included in a POA
• Student, Chapter and Community Development Committees
• National Chapter Awards
• Application Process
• Creating a successful POA
• Importance of a POA
• "You are a coach, not a parent!"
• POA implementation in the community
• POA resources
• Duties of the Sentinel

What do you want to learn more about?

• Next week's guest speaker
• Ms. Stephanie Joliff from Ridgemont, OH, speaking about POA Implementation.  Come with great questions!
• Format of the officer selection plan
• Check out the ANGEL examples
• Opportunities on the National FFA trip
• Talk to one of our coordinators about opportunities for PSU students at National Convention! kjh5370@psu.edu
• What does the National Chapter Award application look like?
• Check out this link to the Application for the National Chapter Award
• Georgia & Texas Agriculture Programs
• Here are links to some information on Agriculture Education in Georgia and Texas!

Session Three: Essential Elements of a Successful FFA Chapter

Today we were visited by some pretty awesome guests; the Executive Secretary of the Pennsylvania FFA, Mr. Mike Brammer, and by the state President and Chaplin, Katie McLaughlin and Grant Carlton.  We were offered some great advice as future FFA advisers and had the opportunity to explore the 10 essential elements of a successful FFA chapter!

Ticket Out Responses for Session 3:

• What are we curious about?
• Has active membership increased since affiliate membership was implemented?
• Affiliate Membership is a new and developing concept for the National FFA Organization.  Check out these links from ffa.org about the .National FFA Affiliate Program

• How does a school district start an Ag Ed program?
• For schools wanting to start an FFA chapter, National FFA recommends taking these 11 steps toward receiving your charter.
• For schools without an Ag program, schools should contact the Pennsylvania Department of Education and Mr. Chris Weller, State FFA Adviser.  Also, it is important to work closely with the school board to learn about the policies for developing a new program that are unique to your district.

• Can a FFA adviser be an adviser to more than one chapter and/or school?
• According to the National FFA's Constitution and Bylaws, the FFA adviser should be the teacher in that particular school.  However, if there are enough members, a program can establish Subsidiary chapters that are modeled after and have the same adviser as the parent chapter, meaning that the adviser would have two chapters.

• What did we learn?
• 10 Essential Elements of a successful FFA chapter
• All of the full-time positions in PA are currently filled
• About the PA FFA Association

• What do we want to learn more about?
• Starting an Ag Ed program at a school that does not currently have one
• (see info above)
• Affiliate membership
• (see link above)
• How to become more involved with the FFA
• Check out this link about Penn State Collegiate FFA to see how you can become more involved while at Penn State!

Follow up to Session 5: How did it all begin?

Response to Tickets Out

What are you curious about?

• I would like more information on the "affiliate" initiative for FFA. Where are these funds for dues to come from?
• The Pennsylvania FFA Board of Directors is drafting a Frequently Asked Questions Letter. When it comes across the list serv, I will forward it to the AEE 311 class.
• FFA from a classroom stand point. How can I get even the most stubborn student to join my chapter?
• How do you get a stubborn student to do Math Homework? FFA is the laboratory of leadership development in agricultural education. Membership can be "optional", but involvement is not.
• Can I use my time as a Learning Group Leader (LGL) for Outdoor school towards my 80 hours even after counting other hours as a counselor? 
• Yes
• I am curious about how the upcoming issue chat will go on Thursday
• It will be great!
• How do we sign up for the Teach Ag Society ATA Quiz Bowl Team?
• Talk to Laura Sankey Rice (sankey@psu.edu)
• How do we sign up for FLC?
• Talk to a 2014 Student Teacher
• The Three Theories
• http://psuaee311.blogspot.com/2013/08/three-theories-of-adolescent-youth.html
• How NFA and FFA come together..
• Ask on Thursday!
• How the FFA evolve in other countries?
• Great Question...I would LOVE to see what research you could find on this!
• More about FFA History
• https://www.ffa.org/about/whoweare/Pages/History.aspx
• Check out FFA at 50: https://www.ffa.org/documents/ffa_at_50.pdf
• FFA Knowledge CDE
• Different in every state, here are the rules for PA: http://www.paffa.state.pa.us/CDE%20NEW/2014%20CDE/2014%20FFA%20Knowledge.pdf 
• The Big Brother Big Sister Program
• Be sure to ask Morgan Campbell!! Look at the Tuesday Teach Ag Blast!

What did you learn?

1. More information about the History of Ag Ed with Quiz Bowl Review
2. I learned how much more I could learn!
3. I learned many historical facts about FFA, NFA, and Ag Ed in General
4. FFA Stamp was released for the 25th Anniversary of FFA.
5. How to engage students in a fun way.
6. The FFA Band was called "The Mail Order Band"
7. What does the FFA Advisor do
8. How Factors of adolescent development, Theories, and Strategies relate!

How do you want to learn more about?

• Specific roles in a chapter and its officers
• The next two class sessions will help
• How to lead a chapter while also maintaining a classroom?
• Remember, FFA is a part of your curriculum (intra-curricular) thus part of your classroom.
• I want to learn more about creating and implementing an effective FFA officer selection plan.
• The next two class sessions will be great!
• Why does not every state have a chaplain? Why are states getting rid of the thought of prayer?
• I do not think they are getting rid of the thought of prayer or moments of reflections, but I think they are recognizing that it is VERY difficult to prepare students to be respectful of all religions and backgrounds. Remember, there is the separation of church and state. For example, if you are praying at a meeting and the student close's with the phrase, "In Christ's name", how would that make a potential Jewish or Muslim student feel welcome?
• Women in FFA? Why were girls only allowed in FFA Later?
• Bring it up on Thursday!
• What are some strategies to coaching a knowledge CDE?
• Just keep it fun and have repetition. Change up game styles (ie flash cards, jeopardy, etc)
• Agri Corp
• Check out the website: http://agricorps.org/
• I want to learn more about Parli Pro!
• Take AEE 297a with Foster in the Spring! Wednesday nights 4:40-7:00.

What is the Total Agricultural Education Program? A recap from AEE 100

Agricultural education is a systematic program of instruction available to students desiring to learn about the science, business, technology of plant and animal production and/or about the environmental and natural resources systems. Agricultural education first became a part of the public education system in 1917 when the U.S. Congress passed the Smith-Hughes Act. Today, over 800,000 students participate in formal agricultural education instructional programs offered in grades seven-adult throughout the 50 states and three U. S. territories.

Through agricultural education, students are provided opportunities for leadership development, personal growth and career success. Agricultural education instruction is delivered through three major components:

1) classroom/laboratory instruction (contextual learning)

2) supervised agricultural experience programs (work-based learning)

3) student leadership organizations (National FFA Organization, National Young Farmer Educational Association, and National Postsecondary Agricultural Student Organization).

The magic happens when all three components are present. This means:

* Yes, you teach about FFA in class

* Yes, FFA helps with student recognition of SAE programs

* Yes, FFA is an outside of classroom application of in class content

* Yes, SAE program development is critical for the success at the highest level for FFA members

* Yes, instruction about SAE should occur in class time and should be part of the course grade

* Yes, all students in agricultural education courses should participate in FFA activities (as the leadership laboratory of the course) and have an SAE that they keep records on.