Owl Pellets: Tips for Ag Teachers

How can ag teachers make STEM feel less like an add-on and more like a natural part of agricultural education? In this episode, Pulling STEM into Ag: Systems Thinking That Teachers Can Use Next Week, we explore how systems thinking can help teachers connect science, technology, engineering, and math through authentic AFNR challenges. Tune in for practical ideas for connecting classroom/lab instruction, FFA, and SAE while making integrated STEM manageable, relevant, and applicable to students’ everyday lives.

Article: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/16/2/253?utm_source=researchgate.net&utm_medium=article

Authors: Neil A. Knobloch, Christopher J. Eck, Aaron J. McKim, and Hui-Hui Wang

Can a little friendly competition make a big difference in the ag classroom? In this episode, Friendly Rivalry, Real Learning: Making Classroom Competition Work, Joe Ramstad joins us to explore how SBAE teachers can use competition to increase student engagement, check understanding, and support learning. Tune in for practical ideas for keeping competition fun, fair, low-stakes, and focused on what students are actually learning.

Article: https://jae-online.org/index.php/jae/article/view/3303/2543

Authors: Joe Ramstad and Scott Smalley

What really prepares ag teachers to lead safe, engaging, and effective hands-on learning in the lab? In this episode, Planting Confidence in the Lab: What Really Prepares Ag Teachers, we explore how mentorship, industry experience, teacher preparation, professional development, and real-world experiences shape teachers’ confidence and readiness for laboratory instruction. Tune in for practical ideas for strengthening lab skills, building support systems, and creating meaningful hands-on learning experiences regardless of your program’s resources.

Article: https://jae-online.org/index.php/jae/article/view/3303/2543

Authors: Kevin Sanders, Mark Hainline, Scott Smalley, and Joe Ramstad

What helps ag teachers turn what they know into teaching that actually works for their students? In this episode, From Research to Barn Floor: Building PCK That Works Next Week, Jenny E. Bennett and colleagues explore how agricultural educators develop pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) through experience, professional development, relationships, and their teaching environments. Tune in for practical ideas on building confidence, using your professional network, adapting curriculum, and turning everyday classroom constraints into better learning opportunities.

Article: https://jae-online.org/index.php/jae/article/view/3218/2514

Authors: Jenny E. Bennett, Aryn Baxter, Kellie J. Enns, and Nathan Clark

In this episode of Owl Pellets: Tips for Ag Teachers, Brian Myers, Becky Haddad, and Mike Retallick sit down with Jason Dossett to discuss his research, Conceptualizing Curriculum Planning: Analyzing Agricultural Educators' Instructional Planning Processes. Whether you're a first-year teacher building your first lesson plans or a veteran educator looking to refine your planning process, this episode offers research-based strategies that can help you create meaningful learning experiences while navigating the everyday realities of agricultural education.

Research Article: https://jae-online.org/index.php/jae/article/view/3284/2524

Authors: Jason Dossett, Sadie Hundemer, R. G. (Tre) Easterly III, and J. C. Bunch

Do you know what the start of a new school year means? It is time for a new season of the Owl Pellets: Tips for Ag Teachers Podcast. We are excited to be back to releasing new episodes weekly. But first, we want to hear where you are listening from and who you are sharing this episode with! 

Another end to the school year, another end to an Owl Pellets: Tips for Ag Teachers season. Come along as Brian, Becky, and Mike wrap up season 11. 

Brian, Becky, and Mike are back to diving into how learning works. However, in this episode, they are meeting a very special guest. Throughout this episode, they will dive deep into how the book came to be and some of Michele DiPietro's advice for both teachers and students. Come along as we wrap up our season 11 mini-series. 

Brian, Becky, and Mike are back to diving into how learning works. Throughout this episode, they will dive deep into the eighth and final section of the book "How Learning Works: 8 Research-Based Principles for Smart Learning." Marsha Lovett, Michael Birdges, Michele DiPietro, Susan Ambrose, and Maria Norman focused this book on making learning work for you and your students! Come along as Brian, Becky, and Mike chat about how taking a step back and letting your students self-direct their learning helps them, even outside of the classroom. 

Ready to boost your STEM teaching confidence? William Norris and Lacey Roberts-Hill deliver crucial insights from research exploring how agricultural educators perceive their ability to integrate STEM-based AFNR standards! We unpack findings on specific STEM concepts where teachers excel and areas where more support is needed. Learn about the vital role of preservice training and actionable recommendations for professional development to strengthen your skills. This episode is packed with practical ways to confidently bring real-world STEM applications into your lessons, setting your students up for success.

Journal article: Meaningful skills for the agricultural workforce: Assessing the confidence levels of agricultural educators to integrate STEM into their curriculum