Source: UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION submitted to NRP
NACTA/SERD PD CONFERENCE
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
SERD GRANT
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0211966
Grant No.
2007-38837-18569
Cumulative Award Amt.
$8,000.00
Proposal No.
2007-04858
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Sep 1, 2007
Project End Date
Aug 31, 2008
Grant Year
2007
Program Code
[MQ.2]- (N/A)
Recipient Organization
UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
(N/A)
LOGAN,UT 84322
Performing Department
COOPERATIVE EXTENSION
Non Technical Summary
Project Directors (PDs) in CSREES' Science and Education Resources Development (SERD) unit are required to attend a conference once during the life of their grant to showcase their SERD-funded project, and share educational resources among regional and national peers in professional development sessions. The NACTA/SERD Project Director's Conference project is an annual, national, professional development opportunity that targets PDs in competitive grant programs within the SERD unit. At this conference the PDs can showcase their project, share educational resources, and develop partnerships among agricultural educators with similar discipline or project interests to increase classroom efficiency and effectiveness.
Animal Health Component
100%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
100%
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
90352993020100%
Knowledge Area
903 - Communication, Education, and Information Delivery;

Subject Of Investigation
5299 - Agricultural supplies, general/other;

Field Of Science
3020 - Education;
Goals / Objectives
Objectives: At the conclusion of this activity, invited PD participants and NACTA members should: - Better interpret the RFA submission process and grant intent; - Have clearer understanding of grant expectations and fiscal management; - Develop better impact statements; - Build effective partnerships and initiatives to improve classroom teaching; and - Become exposed to new and innovative instructional practices. The purpose of this agreement is to provide on-site conference coordinating activities and program support to advertise, register participants, conduct professional development sessions and handle transportation and logistical support for invited speakers during this conference.
Project Methods
Activities: The SERD PDs and NACTA members will hold joint sessions to learn from teaching experts as well as highlight individual successes within teaching and learning. The conference hosts invited speakers, concurrent speaker sessions, poster sessions, round-table discussions and on-site tours relevant to the conference focus. Abstracts of all presentations and posters will be provided in print format. NACTA also sponsors an honors and awards program to promote and reward high quality teaching.

Progress 09/01/07 to 08/31/08

Outputs
The North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA), an organization of teaching professionals, and CSREES' Science and Education Resources Development (SERD) unit held a joint conference June 10-13, 2008 at Utah State University in Logan, Utah. The theme for the meeting was 'Retaining the Best'. The joint NACTA/SERD meeting targeted post-secondary instructors in the agricultural and life sciences fields. SERD project directors were encouraged to attend this conference, show-case their SERD-funded projects, and share their educational resources with regional and national peers in professional development sessions. The conference provided a forum for discussion of questions and issues relating to the professional advancement of agricultural instruction through invited speakers, concurrent speaker sessions, poster sessions, round-table discussion and on-site tours relevant to the conference focus. Participants were able to reflect upon and improve their teaching through examination and discussion of courses and curricula, teaching and testing techniques, facilities, and materials. Partnerships among agricultural educators with similar discipline or project interests were forged. In addition, conference participants were encouraged, promoted, and rewarded for instructional excellence in agriculture and the research supporting this instruction. PRODUCTS: The conference had invited speakers, a grant-writing session, concurrent speaker sessions, poster sessions, round-table discussions, and on-site tours relevant to the conference focus. OUTCOMES: At the conclusion of this activity, invited PD participants and NACTA members were better able to interpret and understand the agency's RFA submission process, grant intent and expectations; and were able to develop better impact statements. Conference participants were exposed to new and innovative instructional practices; and, they built effective partnerships and initiative to improve classroom teaching. DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: Dissemination is provided through the abstract proceedings printed in the NACTA Journal, and through word-of-mouth from participants as they go back to their institutions. FUTURE INITIATIVES: Future joint NACTA/SERD conferences are currently being developed.

Impacts
Improved understanding of the RFA submission process, grant intent and expectations, and fiscal management helped participants improve their grant writing which will ultimately increase their proposal success rate. Participants were exposed to new and innovative instructional practices, and partnerships among agricultural educators with similar discipline or project interests were forged, which will ultimately result increased classroom efficiency and effectiveness.

Publications

  • Abstract Proceedings. 2008. NACTA Journal. Vol. 52(2): 70-120.