Progress 09/01/05 to 08/31/07
Outputs
In the Waialua Model, hands-on lessons in agriculture/horticulture and aquaculture were integrated into the core Science and Special Education curricula; therefore, students were able to see the application of theories they learn in the classroom. During class time, students were able to work on projects in the Agriculture/Horticulture, and Tropical and Ornamental Fish Farms located on the school's campus. A retired agriculture teacher, Mr. Noel Kawachi, was hired during the life of the grant part time to supervise the agriculture fields and assist various teachers and their classes as they utilized the agriculture field. Mr.Kawachi also attended the various fields during the vacations time periods. The Agriculture Speaker's Bureau and Field of Dreams Field Trip Program has been assimilated into the school College and Career Center Program under the guidance of Mr. Ryan Ishimoto. Mrs. Lori Wade a part-time teacher was hired thru General School funds to assist MR.
Ishimoto and the students as they participate in various activities in the College and Career Center. The Career and College Center counselors instructed all students in establishing an Education and Career Opportunities System (ECOS) account that assists students in career and post-secondary choices. All students participated in a school-wide Advisory System where they developed a 4-year education plan as well as a 5th year post-secondary education and/or career plan. The Tropical and Ornamental Fish Farm project provided entrepreneurial opportunities and increased self-sufficiency of the two participating private sector organizations in the community, and increased long-term opportunities for the participating students. Agriscience related Partnerships-in-Education were developed with a variety of sources such as with: the University of Hawaii at Manoa and Windward Community College which was instrumental in developing curricula and instructional material for the Tropical and
Ornamental Fish Farm Programs. With the assistance of The Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA) and the Hawaii Agriculture Research Center (HARC) an Agriculture Speakers Bureau and Field of Dreams Field Trip Program was developed. Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. (Pioneer) provided expertise assistance in the agriculture field. Dr. Clyde Tamaru (UH Sea Grant Extension Agent), Ron Weidenbach (Hawaii Fish Company) and Jeff Koch (Mokuleia Farms). Mr. Weidenbach and Mr. Koch advised students on how to become successful agri-entrepreneurs and have participated in the Speakers Bureau/Field of Dreams Program. The Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation (HFBF) donated labor, estimated at $1,000 for the development of the Speakers Bureau. Mr. Andrew Cole, Career and Technical Education Coordinator and Educational Redesign Specialist at WHIS, donated labor estimated at $10,000. Ms. Betsy Polhemus and Dr. Meredith Berry donated labor, estimated at $5,000 each. Mr. Kawachi donated labor valued at
$4000, Mr. Capello donated labor valued at $3000 and Mrs. Wade donated labor valued a $1500.
PRODUCTS: A PowerPoint research presentation from Pioneer Seed Company is included in the evidence package which is being sent via US Postal.
OUTCOMES: An internship experience was established where students were exposed to real-life land management situations under the mentorship of practicing resource professionals. This capstone experience has encouraged students to integrate previous coursework in the biological, social and managerial sciences to solve resource management problems. Selected students have return to campus following the internship to impart their experiences to other students. The Natural Resources Career Pathway and its course of study has been established at the school and shown a steady increase of student enrollment over the last two years. Students in the various agri-science related programs developed a 4-year and 5th year education and career plan through the College and Career Center. All graduating seniors presented their 5th year education and career plan to a panel of community members and faculty staff.
DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: Under the guidance of Mrs. Akina and Mrs. Pescaia were able to produce several school related newspaper articles, which were featured in the school's newspaper as well as in the local community newspaper. The students also presented various aspects of their programs at community and school related exhibits.
FUTURE INITIATIVES: The Natural Resources Career Pathway will continue to offer agri-science related classes for the school year 2007-2008. Part-time teachers will continue to be hired using general school funds.
Impacts
The grant enabled the school to establish the Natural Resource Career Pathway and supported not only argi-science related classes and programs but also had a spill over effect into the general educational environment of core subject areas. Teachers in core subject areas were able to bring their classes to the various argi-science field areas and engage their students in hands-on learning activities and research projects.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 09/01/05 to 08/31/06
Outputs
A part time agriculture teacher was hired to supervise the agriculture fields and assist various teachers and their classes as they utilized the agriculture field. Several students were hired to work in the agriculture field and aqua ponds before and after school. Two different Science teachers brought their classes to the agriculture field and engaged in different academic activities on a routine basis. The Aqua Science students had several guest speakers from the community, local business and the University system. Local farmers and businesses helped with development and construction of the schools aqua ponds Both the Agriculture and Aqua Science programs had interactive booths at the Community Complex Educational Fair where they gave speeches and demonstrations to visitors. All agriculture related teachers developed curriculum, instruction and assessment materials for all courses. All students participated in a schoolwide Advisory System where they developed a
4-year education plan as well as a 5th year post-secondary education and/or career plan. Agriculture related education activities have been incorporated into regular core academic classes. The Project Ho olaulima suffered from a staff reduction due to the enrollment count of the school and the program was discontinued. The University of Hawaii at Manoa and Windward Community College has been instrumental in developing curricula and instructional material for the Tropical and Ornamental Fish Farm Program. The Tropical and Ornamental Fish Farm project provides entrepreneurial opportunities and increased self-sufficiency of the two participating private sector organizations, and increases long-term opportunities for the participating students. Several Special Education teachers have incorporated agriculture education into their daily curricula. With the assistance of The Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA) and the Hawaii Agriculture Research Center (HARC) an Agriculture Speakers
Bureau and Field of Dreams Field Trip Program was developed. Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. (Pioneer) provided expertise assistance in the agriculture field. Dr. Clyde Tamaru (UH Sea Grant Extension Agent), Ron Weidenbach (Hawaii Fish Company) and Jeff Koch (Mokuleia Farms). Mr. Weidenbach and Mr. Koch advised students on how to become successful agri-entrepreneurs, and have participated in the Speakers Bureau/Field of Dreams Program. The Career and College Center counselor instructed all students in establishing an ECOS account that assists students in career and post-secondary choices. The Tropical and Ornamental Fish Farm Program added another class to its program. The schools Natural Resources Career Pathway student enrollment increased from last year. The Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation (HFBF) donated labor, estimated at $1,000 for the development of the Speakers Bureau. Mr. Andrew Cole, Career and Technical Education Coordinator and Educational Redesign Specialist at WHIS,
donated labor, estimated at $5,000 Ms. Betsy Polhemus and Dr. Meredith Berry donated labor, estimated at $3750 each
PRODUCTS: PowerPoint presentation, Pioneer Seed Tomatoes, Pioneer Seed Synagro Presentation Waialua Community Dreams of Renewal
OUTCOMES: The Waialua Agriculture Model addresses three Educational Need Areas. First, WHIS has help students and parents develop the students 4-year Career Pathways goals and their 5th-year post-secondary plans. WHIS has expand career opportunities by inviting industry lecturers through the Speakers Bureau/Field of Dreams Program, increasing student awareness about the variety of job opportunities in the industry through periodic tours of local agriscience companies, and providing before and/or after-school paid internships through the WHIS Farm System. Secondly, WHIS has to enrich and enhance the existing agriscience programs on campus. WHIS has integrated agricultural education into the curriculum of the Science and Special Education departments. By participating in existing and proposed agriscience programs on campus, students have been able to see the numerous steps and challenges involved in bringing a crop to market, and appreciate real-life lessons they learned in the
classroom. Finally, the Waialua Model has expanded student and workforce diversity. By inviting members of the industry to speak to students, and by coordinating field trips to local agribusinesses, students have learn about the depth of science and business involved in agriculture. These objectives have improved the quality of agriculture education at WHIS by giving students both theory and project-based learning tools in a variety of agriscience fields.
DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: Students have engaged in various oral presentations to the community, local business, visiting students and teachers describing their educational experiences within the agriscience areas at Waialua High and intermediate School. The students have written several articles for the schools student newspaper as well as for the community local newspaper. Agricscience related teachers have developed standards-based instruction curriculum, which includes curriculum maps, pacing guides, and formative assessments tools for each course, and have made them available to other teachers in the schools district.
FUTURE INITIATIVES: Waialua High and Intermediate School (WHIS) has several long-term goals, which are reflected in its school-wide Standards Implementation Design Action Plan (SIDAP) and its 3.5 Year Redesign Plan (Redesign Plan). SIDAP contains the schools vision and mission statements, and sets the guidelines for all classes and programs on the campus. Teachers and instructors develop their individual course syllabi and design their unit/lesson plans from the structure outlined in the plan. The schools Redesign Plan, begun during the 2004-2005 school year, stems from nation-wide efforts to design education for todays students, better preparing them for the 21st century workforce. The four key features of the Redesign Plan are the catalyst for students at WHIS, including: Meeting the unique needs of Middle and High School Learners; transition without remediation (helping students transition into post-secondary educational endeavors or the workforce without remediation); development
of Smaller Learning Communities; and Curriculum Integration. Through a comprehensive school-wide Career Guidance Advisement System (Advisement System), teachers, parents and students develop a student 4-year and 5th year postsecondary education plan, to better prepare them for postsecondary education or employment opportunities. The Advisement System is part of the schools Career Pathway System (Career Pathways), which is designed to educate students about possible career paths and provide specific course work and training in areas of interest. The goal of The Waialua High and Intermediate School Agriculture Education Program (Waialua Model) is to integrate agriscience into traditional course syllabi and Career Pathways for high school students at WHIS. The Waialua Model is designed to encourage and prepare interested students to enter this changing and challenging agriscience workforce. In the Waialua Model, hands-on lessons in agriculture/horticulture and aquaculture is being
integrated into the core Science and Special Education curricula; therefore, students will see the application of theories they learn in the classroom. As part of the Waialua Model, a professional Agriculture Speakers Bureau and Field of Dreams Field Trip Program (Speakers Bureau/Field of Dreams Program) has been incorporated as another aspect of the Advisement System, to help students transition towards their postsecondary plans. Students learn about the diversity of the agriscience industry that exists in their own community. Students, parents and local agriscience companies alike have benefit from making professional contacts that may lead to successful employment for high school graduates. Students will gain valuable work experience from before, during and after-school internships on the WHIS Farm System and actual field trips to agri-sites that will give them a realistic understanding about possible jobs in agriculture/horticulture and aquaculture, and what they entail. This
experience has help students to determine whether to pursue employment or further education opportunities in these same fields of study.
Impacts
The content of all Agriscience related courses will be updated annually, and the relevance of classroom topics will improve due to greater interactions between faculty and local community business and the Hawaii State University system working together on this project. Student enrollment in agriscience related courses at WHIS are expected to increase by one class section by next school year.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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