State Programs
State Summary 2010 — Nebraska
State Contact
Ms. Deanna Karmazin
Nebraska Agriculture in the Classroom
5225 South 16th Street
Lincoln, NE 68512-1275
P: 402.421.4408
F: 402.421.4761
E: DeannaK@nefb.org
Website
Classroom Resources
Revised instructional units as the State Standards in math, science and language arts were changed in 2010.
Major Program Accomplishments or Outputs
Four workshops were presented to the FFA Chapter Officers through their COLT Leadership Training. This year the theme, R U Smarter Than Your Ag Teacher. The students and the FFA advisors were actively involved in answering questions from the The Food and Farm Facts booklet and selected questions from the Ag Teachers. Four sessions were also held for the FFA Advisors to update them on new resources from AITC and invite them to participate in the workshop. Each chapter received the book, Borlaug by Noel Vietmeyer.
Expanded the PreService Presentations to secondary and middle level students in 11 colleges and universities across the state. Education majors are being reached in the basic methods classes from 2 to 3 hours per session.
The Ag Pen Pal Program continues for the 20th year to reach elementary students. We ask the family to write at least 3 letters and if possible to visit their classroom.
The mobile Learning Barns are present in 36 counties across the state. The Learning Barns contain educational resources, games, farm equipment, puppets, literature books, CD's, DVD's and teacher resources.
Through the AITC Endowment Fund, 4 teachers were awarded mini-grants. These grants provide the teachers with funding for resources, literature books, field trips, science fair projects that are related to agriculture.
Our major fundraising event, a golf tournament was held for the 12th year.
This year through our partnerships we were able to reach more students and teachers during Earth Day, Family Nature Nights, Ag Awareness Festivals and Farm School summer program. Our partners include Bright Lights Summer Program, Natural Resource Districts, University of Nebraska Extension, Educational Service Units and FFA.
Two mailing's to the Ag Pen Pal classrooms for National Agriculture Week and National Farm/City Week. Each classroom recieved educational resources to use during these two special weeks.
Major Program Impacts or Outcomes
The PreService Presentations continue to expand and this year reached over 600 future teachers. The presentations were in these basic subject areas-social science, math, science, reading and art. We experienced a 24% increase in orders for AITC resources. The evaluations from the PreService on a scale of 1-5, five being the highest were: 93% rated the packet of resources as a 5.
94% rated the Lesson Plan Booket as a 5.
92% rated the hands-on activities as a 5.
93% rated the activities related to core subjects as a 5.
96% rated the presenter as a 5.
The teachers involved in the Ag Pen Pal Program completed an evaluation that indicated 82% of their students had increased their knowledge of agriculture by two places (40%) or more on a scale of 1-5. For 53%, the knowledge gain was three places (60%) or more. Overall, 99% of the teachers completing both the Ag Pen Pal and Learning Barn evaluation scales reported a knowledge gain for their students because of their participation in the Ag Pen Pals Program.
In two of our largest cities the Learning Barns were moved to 43 elementary classrooms reaching 1,150 plus students. Of the responses received from the teachers, 77% rated the educational content a 5 and four teachers rated the content as a 23%
The mini-grants from our Endowment Fund awarded 4 teachers nearly $1500 to purchase resources for their classroom.
The golf tournament raised $26,000 for our general fund.
One hundred twenty-eight FFA students attended the workshops during the COLT sessions and 66 FFA Advisors were present for the update on AITC Resources.
Two mailings were sent to the 240 Ag Pen Pal teachers for National Agriculture Week and National Farm/City Week. Each received a science kit, literature book, Beef Ag Mag and Teacher's Guide. Of the evaluations returned 95% rated the resources excellent and very useful in their classrooms. Approximately 6,000 students were reached through these 2 mailings.
Biosketch
Master of Science in Agricultural Leadership, Education & Communications Certified Teacher in the State of Nebraska Fifteen Years experience writing curriculum for Agricultural Education