Recipient Organization
Marion Local School District
7956 State Route 119
Maria Stein,OH 45860
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
Background. Mercer County is the number one agricultural production county in the state of Ohio(gross agricultural receipts), with over $400 million in "farm-gate" sales per year. Mercer County is bordered by other top agricultural counties, which comprise a region in Ohio of leadership in the Ohio agricultural industry. The area is a leader in dairy, hog, and poultry production. Beyond traditional production, food manufacturing and processing is a major employer with Dannon Yogurt, Basic Grain and Cooper Farms employing thousands in the advancement of milk, grain, and poultry products. Problem to be addressed. In the heart of this agricultural production and advanced processing region are two educational institutions(Marion Local High School and Wright State Lake Campus).Responding to local need and interest in agriculture, both institutions are establishing agricultural education programs to serve the local region. Marion Local High School is re-establishing an agricultural education program that was discontinued years ago. Wright State Lake Campus is expanding course offerings in the agricultural area, responding to a lack of post-secondary agricultural offerings within a commutable distance to local residents(many who wish to remain involved in local agricultural operations while pursuing a college education). The University System of Ohio has identified within its Strategic Plan a goal of increasing dual enrollment college enrollment by Ohio high school students. Project Audience. The initial stage of this project will establish an innovative relationship between Wright State University Lake Campus and Marion Local Schools. Curriculum will be developed focused on 4 content areas of :Plant/Animal Science, Food Science, Ag Business, and Agricultural Biotechnology. Courses will be "matched" with programming offered at Wright State University Lake Campus with dual-enrollment credit opportunities established for high school students to earn college credit. Initial enrollment is expected to be 40 students with 60 students in future years(at Marion Local High School). Marion Local High School is a school that permits "open enrollment." The potential for select students in neighboring schools to enroll in the program will be evaluated. Long-term goals include an evaluation of programming for possible expansion into other high school agricultural programs in the region. Products. Innovative applied agricultural curriculum will be developed that will serve as a "stepping stone" for students to continue on at Wright State University. Innovative curriculum will be developed that will serve as a model to link local high students to the local college campus(focused on topic areas of Plant/Animal Science, Agri-Business, Ag Biotechnology, and Food Science). These curriculum adaptations will be analyzed for possible expansion into other local school systems encouraging broader involvement and career application of agricultural education.
Animal Health Component
100%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
100%
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
A)Enhancing Agricutural Education through Curriculum Improvements New agricultural program offerings will be established at Marion Local High School. Four Innovative curriculum(class)offerings will be established in Plant/Animal Science, Food Science, Agri-business, and Agricultural Biotechnology. Curriculum will incorporate sound science-base content standards,applied laboratory or work experiences, and tours/experiences that will apply knowledge to the agricultural industry and career opportunities. Enrollment in these 4 agricultural content areas will reach 40 students in 2010/2011 and over 60 students in following years. Other schools will analyze curriculum innovations for possible expansion or replication. B)Expanding Career Opportunities New agricultural educational offerings at Marion Local High School will reach 60 students once established. These courses will not only develop agricultural science and agricultural business skills in these youth, but also expose them to post-secondary agricultural education opportunities. Students will have the opportunity to earn dual-enrollment credit that will encourage their continued educational involvement and career training through Wright State University Lake Campus(or transfer to other educational institutions). Within the educational offerings at Marion Local High School, industry guest speakers, tours, FFA skills contests, and student work/internship experiences will be established to encourage linkage and career development. C)Facilitating Interaction with Other Academic Institutions An innovative educational partnership will be established between Wright State University Lake Campus at Marion Local Schools. Administrators and educators will work in-tandem to create curriculum content standards, develop teaching methods, and facilitate advanced educational pathways for involved students. Dual-enrollment college credit will be arranged for students,enabling successful students to graduate high school with earned college credit that they can utilize in the pursuit of a post-secondary education or college degree. Marion Local Schools will serve as a satellite site for agricultural-related college course work that is offered by Wright State University Lake Campus. The school will allow the utilization of agricultural laboratory and classroom facilities for college coursework delivered in the evenings at the high school setting. The established teaching space will benefit 40 college-level agricultural students from throughout the region. (The existing facilities at Wright State University Lake Campus are not currently designed for agricultural laboratory/teaching). A new satellite educational setting will be established, enabling WSU Lake Campus to expand agricultural offerings.
Project Methods
This project will involve the collaborative efforts of Marion Local High School, Wright State University Lake Campus, and Marion Local Agricultural Boosters. A working group has already been established and has successfully researched and identified curriculum and program goals. The agricultural curriculum delivery for high school students will be developed in tandem with agricultural faculty members at Wright State University Lake Campus to ensure dual enrollment standards are met. Regular meetings will be established between high school and college faculty to coordinate efforts and review educational goals and procedures. Shared faciltiy and staffing arrangements will be coordinated by administrative leaders at the respective institutions(Carl Metzger, Superintendent-Marion Local Schools and Dr. Greg Homan, Agricultual Program Director-Wright State Lake Campus). Timetable October 2009 - February 2010 Base Research/Exploration. Curriculum Goals. March 2010 - June 2010 Facility Development. Student/Community Promotion. Curriculum Review - Dual Enrollment. Hiring of HS Agriculture Educator. Baseline Student Survey. July 2010 - August 2010 Faculty/Administrative Planning. Curriculum Development. Equipment and Supply Prepartion. Base Training - Orientation New HS Teacher. Establish Industry Advisory Relationships. Student Orientation. August 2010 - May 2011 Delivery Agricultural Curriculum. FFA Program Established. Student Tours/Internships. HS & College Faculty Training. Evaluation of Preliminary Offerings. Promotion & Program Develpment. Establish Satellite College Coursework(at HS Ag Education Facility). Meetings of Ag Booster/Advisory Group. Regular Faculty/Administrative Reviews. June 2011 - August 2011 Reveiw Year 1. HS and College Faculty Training & Update. Curriculum, Equipment, Facility Upgrades. Begin Long-term Facility Evaluation. August 2011 -May 2012 Expanded enrollment in Ag Program. Expanded Industry/Internship/Activity. Review & Update Content Areas. Expanded Satellite College Offerings. Showcase Model w/other HS and Colleges. Evaluation(Enrollment, educational impact).