Progress 05/01/20 to 04/30/24
Outputs
Target Audience:The overall target audience of the Growing Teachers Throughout the Season (GTS) project was K-14 teachers who engage students in STEM-based agricultural production techniques to meet educational objectives and develop workforce skills. We engaged pre-K through grade 12 teachers through focus groups, surveys, interviews, continuing education via professional development presentations, via email, during site visits, and through social media. Over 50 teachers signed informed consent forms and provided feedback focus groups and/or surveys throughout the project. We completed data collection about desired formats and content, followed later by data collection about implementation of developed GTS products. Beyond the pilot data collection, pre-K through14 teachers were engaged and benefited from instructional GTS school garden videos which were shared widely on websites, in presentations, and in responses to inquiries. In addition to reaching the original target audience (K-14 teachers), we reached pre-K educators and provided professional development to Extension educators and SNAP-Ed and EFNEP administrators and instructors. Beginning in March 2024, we offered GTS trainings ranging from 90-minute professional development sessions to 6-hour hands-on train-the-trainer sessions and presented GTS findings and publications at numerous national- and state-level conferences for a variety of professional audiences. For details, see the complete list of presentations under "Other Products". Three graduate students completed projects related to GTS and one undergraduate gained experience through a two-year internship that included GTS activities. We also received approval to hire a student after the project period (using other funds) to focus on dissemination of the GTS products. Changes/Problems:One of our greatest obstacles was having to deal with system changes and personnel loss at our institutions. Changes in purchasing, hiring, and other administrative tasks at our institution continue to cause confusion and take extra time to resolve. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?In addition to the many professional development opportunities for teachers listed above, the following opportunities were provided: Family and Consumer Sciences, and Agriculture and Natural Resources, Extension program area updates Project faculty and staff met with FCS Community Nutrition/SNAP-Ed leaders and SNAP-Ed Policy, System, and Environmental (PSE) Change Specialists to introduce the GTS year-round garden concept and the seed starting materials and approaches that can be used to educate SNAP-Ed participants. Instruction materials included materials lists, information sheets, and the GTS Seed Starting video. SNAP-Ed leaders continued to include seed starting as an option/objective in an upcoming mini-grant opportunity for SNAP-Ed staff across Ohio. The PSE Specialists participated in the GTS Train-the-Trainer, assisted with subsequent trainings, and are planning to provide GTS trainings for SNAP-Ed staff statewide in late 2024 or early 2025. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?GTS products (GTS Guidebook, online modules, information sheets and videos) have been disseminated to K-14 teachers, early childhood educators, and Extension professionals. The incorporation of research results in the guidebook development process is explained in the GTS guidebook and modules. See the previous question for a full summary of dissemination events. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Objective 1 - Our first objective was to obtain input from teachers to develop the GTS curriculum, which will guide K-14 professionals through traditional and controlled environment growing techniques while addressing unique school-year planting challenges and educational demands. The greatest accomplishment is that as a result of our research, we published two major products: The Growing Teachers Throughout the Seasons Guidebook and the Growing Teachers Throughout the Seasons online learning modules. These materials provide background information, step-by-step guidance, and video instructions for teachers to implement school gardens and incorporate the activities across the curriculum. Using GTS, teachers and students plant, nurture, and harvest a different food each month September through May. We completed collection of data from the pilot of the 9-month GTS growing guide for teachers. The pilot involved collecting monthly feedback and focus group input from 46 teachers who implement the GTS guide. We completed analysis of the Farm to ECE garden needs assessment, disseminated results through state-level stakeholder groups, and drafted a journal article. Under our guidance, 3 Master of Public Health students completed the Applied Practice Experience. Objective 2 - Produce teacher-inspired, self-sustaining GTS online training modules featuring school- and lab-based demonstration plots to guide educators through traditional and controlled environment procedures using standardized sets of materials. Based on teacher input, we developed, made available, and promoted 20 free online Growing Teachers Throughout the Seasons modules: The GTS Growing Cycle Supporting Your School Garden The 3 GTS Growing Methods Seed Starting Basics LED Lighting Systems Best Varieties to Transplant and to Seed Directly Transplanting Seedlings Thinning of Indoor and Outdoor Plants Paper Towel Planting and Other Seed Starting Tips for Classrooms Raised Bed Basics Season Extension Basics Soil Testing and Fertility Outdoor Watering and Fertilizing Integrated Pest Management - Insects and Weeds Closing Out Growing Spaces Controlled Environment Agriculture Methods vs. Traditional Growing Self-Contained Hydroponic Growing Systems for Schools Food Safety While Preparing and Maintaining the Garden Food Safety During Harvest Taste Testing and Celebrating the Garden Harvest Objective 3 - Pilot test, evaluate, revise, and disseminate the GTS curriculum, materials and evaluation results that demonstrate impacts related to school-year plant production. Below is a summary of presentations and other dissemination activities for all project years: GTS Trainings and Professional Development for Teachers/Community Partners: Number of events = 19 Number of participants = 422 Presentations to groups: Number of events = 8 Number of participants = 155 Conferences Peer-Reviewed International Conference presentation: 1 Peer-Reviewed and Invited State- and National-Level conferences/presentations: 20 Peer reviewed sessions accepted for future State Conferences and Presentations: 2 Peer reviewed sessions accepted for future National Conferences and Presentations: 3 Events with Collaborators/Community: Number of events = 3 Number of participants = 471 Student engagement: Number of events = 7 Number of participants = 360 Enrolled in Scarlet Canvas course by 4/15/2024 = 110 Approximately 25 school visits to support GTS in classrooms. Stakeholder Engagement (State and local government, and industry partners): 12 participants Other Over 315 guides purchased in the first month after release. Growing Franklin posts = 32 Week in the School Garden supportive emails to teachers in this reporting period. GRAND TOTALS 2020-2024 GTS Events = 61 Participants = 1530 Other = 347 (includes guidebooks sold and web posts disseminated) Accepted sessions for future state and national conferences (May-October 2024) = 5
Publications
|
Progress 05/01/23 to 04/30/24
Outputs
Target Audience:The overall target audience of the Growing Teachers Throughout the Season (GTS) project is K-14 teachers who engage students in STEM-based agricultural production techniques to meet educational objectives and develop workforce skills. In this reporting period we engaged pre K - 12 teachers through focus groups, surveys, interviews, continuing education via professional development presentations, via email, during site visits, and through social media. In summer 2023, we completed data collection about implementation of GTS from the 46 teachers who piloted the first draft of the GTS guidebook throughout the 2022-2023 school year. These teachers all signed informed consent forms, implemented the three growing methods according to guidance in the GTS materials, and provided feedback through 9 monthly surveys and 2 focus groups. Beyond the pilot data collection, pre-K through14 teachers benefited from instructional GTS school garden videos which were shared widely on websites, in presentations, and in response to inquiries. In addition to reaching the original target audience (K-14 teachers), we reached pre-K educators and provided professional development to Extension educators and SNAP-Ed and EFNEP administrators and instructors. Beginning in March 2024, we offered GTS trainings ranging from 90-minute professional development sessions to 6-hour hands-on train-the-trainer sessions and presented GTS findings and publications at numerous national- and state-level conferences for a variety of professional audiences. For details, see the complete list of presentations under "Other Products". Changes/Problems:One of our greatest obstacles has been having to deal with system changes and personnel loss at our institutions. Jamie Rickle, the Program Coordinator assisting with the project, resigned in March 2024, just as GTS training sessions were beginning and GTS was being promoted. Changes in purchasing, hiring, and other administrative tasks at our institution continue to cause confusion and take extra time to resolve. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?In addition to the 56professional development opportunitieslisted above, the following opportunities were provided: Family and Consumer Sciences, and Agriculture and Natural Resources, Extension program area updates Project faculty and staff met with FCS Community Nutrition/SNAP-Ed leaders and SNAP-Ed Policy, System, and Environmental (PSE) Change Specialists to introduce the GTS year-round garden concept and the seed starting materials and approaches that can be used to educate SNAP-Ed participants. Instruction materials included materials lists, information sheets, and the GTS Seed Starting video. SNAP-Ed leaders continued to include seed starting as an option/objective in an upcoming mini-grant opportunity for SNAP-Ed staff across Ohio. The PSE Specialists participated in the GTS Train-the-Trainer, assisted with subsequent trainings, and are planning to provide GTS trainings for SNAP-Ed staff statewide in late 2024 or early 2025. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?GTS products (GTS Guidebook, online modules, information sheets and videos) have been disseminated to K-14 teachers, early childhood educators, and Extension professionals. The incorporation of research results in the guidebook development process is explained in the GTS guidebook and modules. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?This was our last annual reporting period. The final project report includes future plans beyond this project.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Objective 1 - Our first objective was to obtain input from teachers to develop the GTS curriculum, which will guide K-14 professionals through traditional and controlled environment growing techniques while addressing unique school-year planting challenges and educational demands. The greatest accomplishment is that as a result of our research, we published two major products: The Growing Teachers Throughout the Seasons Guidebook and the Growing Teachers Throughout the Seasons online learning modules. These materials provide background information, step-by-step guidance, and video instructions for teachers to implement school gardens and incorporate the activities across the curriculum. Using GTS, teachers and students plant, nurture, and harvest a different food each month September through May. We completed collection of data from the pilot of the 9-month GTS growing guide for teachers. The pilot involved collecting monthly feedback and focus group input from 46 teachers who implement the GTS guide. The second round of focus groups were held on May 3, 4, 9, and 10, 2023. We completed analysis of the Farm to ECE garden needs assessment. Disseminated results through state-level stakeholder groups. Drafted journal article. Under our guidance, a Master of Public Health student completed the Applied Practice Experience through assisting with the analysis and reporting of a statewide Gardening in Early Care and Education needs assessment survey and dissemination of the results. The original Farm to School Program Coordinator on the project moved away, and we onboarded her replacement into the project team in spring/summer 2023. This position was very involved with data collection and management. Objective 2 - Produce teacher-inspired, self-sustaining GTS online training modules featuring school- and lab-based demonstration plots to guide educators through traditional and controlled environment procedures using standardized sets of materials. Based on teacher input, we developed, made available, and promoted 20 free online Growing Teachers Throughout the Seasons modules: The GTS Growing Cycle Supporting Your School Garden The 3 GTS Growing Methods Seed Starting Basics LED Lighting Systems Best Varieties to Transplant and to Seed Directly Transplanting Seedlings Thinning of Indoor and Outdoor Plants Paper Towel Planting and Other Seed Starting Tips for Classrooms Raised Bed Basics Season Extension Basics Soil Testing and Fertility Outdoor Watering and Fertilizing Integrated Pest Management - Insects and Weeds Closing Out Growing Spaces Controlled Environment Agriculture Methods vs. Traditional Growing Self-Contained Hydroponic Growing Systems for Schools Food Safety While Preparing and Maintaining the Garden Food Safety During Harvest Taste Testing and Celebrating the Garden Harvest Objective 3 - Pilot test, evaluate, revise, and disseminate the GTS curriculum, materials and evaluation results that demonstrate impacts related to school-year plant production. Below is a summary of presentations and other dissemination activities: GTS Trainings and Professional Development for Teachers/Community Partners: Number of events = 13 Number of participants = 311 Conference Participation and Presentations to groups: Number of events = 8 Number of participants = 155 Peer-Reviewed and Invited State- and National-Level Conferences and Presentations: 5 Submitted for peer review National and International Conferences and Presentations: 2 Events with Collaborators/Community: Number of events = 3 Number of participants = 471 Student engagement: Number of events = 7 Number of participants = 360 Enrolled in Scarlet Canvas course by 4/15/2024 = 110 Approximately 25 school visits to support GTS in classrooms. Stakeholder Engagement (State and local government, and industry partners): 12 participants Other Over 315 guides purchased in the first month after release Growing Franklin posts = 32 Week in the School Garden supportive emails to teachers in this reporting period. GRAND TOTALS GTS Events = 56 Participants = 1419 Other = 347 (includes guidebooks sold and web posts disseminated)
Publications
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
Smathers, C. and McDermott, T., et al (2024). Growing Teachers Throughout the Seasons; Techniques and Learning Connections for Growing Foods at Schools During the School Year in Almost Any Climate. ScarletCanvas (Set of 20 online modules). Publisher: The Ohio State University. NIFA support acknowledged. https://scarlet.instructure.com/courses/2112
- Type:
Books
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
Smathers, C. and McDermott, T., et al (2024). Growing Teachers Throughout the Seasons: Techniques and Learning Connections for Growing Foods at Schools During the School Year in Almost Any Climate. Bulletin 801. Publisher: OSU Extension Publications. Copyright: Ohio State University. NIFA support acknowledged.
|
Progress 05/01/22 to 04/30/23
Outputs
Target Audience:The overall target audience of the Growing Teachers Throughout the Season (GTS) project is K-14 teachers who engage students in STEM-based agricultural production techniques to meet educational objectives and develop workforce skills. In this reporting period we engaged pre K - 12 teachers through focus groups, surveys, interviews, continuing education via professional development presentations, via email, during site visits, and through social media. In summer 2022, we enrolled 46 teachers to serve as pilot participants throughout the school year. These teachers all signed informed consent forms and agreed to provide feedback through monthly surveys and focus groups. Due to pandemic-related issues including early retirements and hiring challenges and other demands on school staff, teachers' availability remains very limited. The enrolled 46 teachers who implement school gardens provided feedback on the content and format of the drafted GTS growing guide and associated teaching activities. Beyond the focus groups, pre-K through14 teachers benefited from instructional GTS school garden videos which were shared widely on websites, in presentations, and in response to inquiries. In addition to reaching the original target audience (K-14 teachers), we reached pre-K educators and provided professional development to Extension educators and SNAP-Ed and EFNEP administrators and instructors. For example, the GTS Seed Starting video has been used to train the GTS seed starting approach and was demonstrated in a session about Farm to Early Care and Education presented at the National Association for the Education of Young Children Conference in April 2022. Changes/Problems:Personnel changes created time and effort demands that conflicted with our intended project work plan. Haley Scott, who played a key role in developing the curriculum, moved out of state. She changed to remote work in May 2022 and left her position in December 2022. Hiring her replacement took many months. Jamie Rickle joined OSU as the new Farm to School Program Coordinator in March 2023. Chris Weatherholtz, the Farm to School/School Garden coordinator for our school district partner retired in May 2022. We onboarded the new coordinator, Katie Young, in summer 2022. Gretchen Turner joined the university as the new Sponsored Project Officer to facilitate administration of project funds in December 2022. There was also turnover in our college business office, which delayed processes as well. Changes in purchasing, hiring, and other administrative tasks at our institution continue to cause confusion and take extra time to resolve. While other major disruptions, such as requirements to complete lengthy online human subjects trainings, are not currently occurring with our school partner, many effects of the COVID pandemic persist that have impacted implementation of GTS in schools. This includes staffing shortages at schools, decreased funding available for materials purchasing, increased cost for supplies, and supply side problems sourcing gardening and food production equipment. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? The pilot implementation of the GTS curriculum has been a major professional development opportunity for the 46 teachers enrolled. Project faculty and staff continue to support FCS Community Nutrition/SNAP-Ed leaders and SNAP-Ed Policy, System, and Environmental (PSE) Change Specialists to implement the GTS year-round garden concept and the seed starting materials and approaches that can be used to educate SNAP-Ed participants. Instruction materials included materials lists, information sheets, and the GTS Seed Starting video. SNAP-Ed leaders continued to include seed starting as an option/objective in an upcoming mini-grant opportunity for SNAP-Ed staff across Ohio. The GTS Seed Starting video was used to train early care centers across Ohio. The GTS seed starting and hydroponic methods were demonstrated in a session about Farm to Early Care and Education presented at the National Association for the Education of Young Children Conference in April 2022 for early childhood education teachers. CCS PDs (continuing education credits for teachers) Sept 21, 2022 - (78 participants) Jan 31, 2023 - (23 participants) Feb 13, 2023 - (10 participants) March 21, 2023 - (34 participants) March 24, 2023 - Presentation to the Columbus City Schools interim superintendent March 27, 2023 - 34 The "New Farm to ECE Resources" session presented for the OSU Extension FCS Annual Conference in October 2022 included resources developed through this project. The topics included starting a year-round garden at an ECE site. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?GTS products (information sheets and videos) have been disseminated to K-14 teachers, early childhood educators, and Extension professionals. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Objective 1 - Obtain input from teachers to develop the GTS curriculum. Activities for next project period: Complete the pilot of the 9-month GTS growing guide for teachers. The pilot involves collecting monthly feedback from teachers who implement the GTS guide. Incorporate the feedback into the final published version. The final version will undergo editing and publishing by OSU Extension Publications. Complete all supporting videos requested by participants. Complete the GTS website and post materials for widespread dissemination and use. We have submitted a conference proposal for an oral session to the 2023 National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Professional Learning Institute on the topic "Garden-Based Learning for Young Children: Statewide survey results and practical research-tested approaches" Session to be delivered in June 2023. The RFP is currently undergoing peer review. Analyze and disseminate the results of the Farm to ECE Garden Survey conducted in 2023. Objective 2 - Produce teacher-inspired, self-sustaining GTS online training modules. Activities for next project period: Video capture and editing. Complete draft of text for the hardcopy calendar-style science journal workbook in preparation for piloting in fall. Objective 3 - Pilot test, evaluate, revise, and disseminate the GTS curriculum. Activities for next project period: The pilot evaluation of the GTS guidebook at Columbus City Schools will be completed by June 2023. The final version will undergo editing and publishing by OSU Extension Publications. Complete all supporting videos and handouts. Complete the GTS website and post materials for widespread dissemination and use. The GTS project team is working with our school partner, Columbus City Schools (CCS) to engage and assist multiple disability (MD) students in completing their State of Ohio graduation requirements by developing activities using GTS agriculture and associated harvest of the month nutrition that will be used to complete Ohio Means Jobs readiness Seals. This is a pilot project to create Best Management Practices for replication at other schools that engage MD students.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Objective 1 - Our first objective is to obtain input from teachers to develop the GTS curriculum, which will guide K-14 professionals through traditional and controlled environment growing techniques while addressing unique school-year planting challenges and educational demands. Although we experienced significant setbacks because of pandemic-related changes in educational settings, demands on teachers, and lack of access to school sites, we continued to meet with our school district partner for weekly district input. The original school district collaborator on the project retired, and we successfully onboarded her replacement into the project team. The curriculum draft was completed and printed in August 2022 for piloting in school settings throughout 2022-2023. We enrolled 46 teachers to pilot the GTS curriculum throughout 2022-2023 academic year and have collected monthly survey data from them to inform curriculum revisions. Project faculty and staff presented 7 sessions at academic conferences (1 international, 1 national, 5 state, and 6 local) that featured GTS school garden survey data, project engagement strategies, and project materials and curriculum based on teacher input. Additionally, 1 pending national-level conference session proposal under review for presentation later in 2023. All national and international presentations were selected via peer-review and included NIFA acknowledgement. A full text manuscript was published in December 2022 by Acta Horticulturae, The Journal of the International Horticulture Society, titled "Addressing Urban Food Security Through Agricultural Career Awareness". NIFA support acknowledged. A Master of Public Health student completed her Applied Practice Experience to meet graduation requirements through assisting with the implementation of a school garden-focused statewide Farm to Early Care and Education survey in January-February 2023. Project faculty obtained IRB approval to engage teachers to collect survey data used to guide curriculum development. We enrolled 46 Columbus City Schools teachers in the pilot project. Project faculty hosted an online orientation on September 21, 2022 with 78 participants. Project faculty hosted four focus groups in November and December 2022 with 34 teachers in attendance. Project faculty have sent monthly IRB approved surveys to collect data on teacher engagement with the GTS curriculum. Project faculty provided online support for teacher participants through a website hosted "Week in the School Garden" guidance post to assist with indoor and outdoor growing. Project faculty have conducted 32 site visits to Columbus City Schools and 16 site visits to other Franklin County schools to provide on-site evaluation for indoor and outdoor production including troubleshooting of the growing systems. Project staff added 27 weekly instructional guidance posts to the Growing Franklin website (https://u.osu.edu/growingfranklin/category/week-in-the-school-garden/) Although this was not a direct project objective, we do want to note and celebrate that the student intern who gained career skills through this project was recently offered a fulltime position with benefits to offer agriculture education through a local organization. Objective 2 - Produce teacher-inspired, self-sustaining GTS online training modules featuring school- and lab-based demonstration plots to guide educators through traditional and controlled environment procedures using standardized sets of materials. Demonstration plots (2 seed starting, 10 raised beds) were maintained at numerous locations, including the Franklin County Extension office and the PI's office site. Outdoor signage includes the NIFA acknowledgement. Printed a hardcopy draft curriculum of GTS "Calendar Guide" with materials lists, growing instructions, associated objectives and curriculum integration. Distributed seed starting and raised bed materials lists and instruction handouts for technical assistance. Videos - We created 1 new GTS instructional video with NIFA acknowledgement (Best Varieties to Transplant and to Seed Directly). The seed starting, raised bed basics, and Best Varieties videos produced were shared with k-12 teachers in the Columbus City Schools district. Online views: Links to the videos are shared in blog posts, during trainings and through technical assistance. During this reporting period, the Seed Starting video was viewed 202 times, the Raised Bed video was viewed 39 times, the Best Varieties video was viewed 44 times, and the Transplanting video was viewed 146 times for a total of 431 views. Objective 3 - Pilot test, evaluate, revise, and disseminate the GTS curriculum, materials and evaluation results that demonstrate impacts related to school-year plant production. In this reporting period we engaged preK - 12 teachers through focus groups, surveys, interviews, professional development presentations, via email, during site visits, and through social media. In summer 2022, we enrolled 46 teachers to serve as pilot participants throughout the school year. These teachers all signed informed consent forms and agreed to provide feedback through monthly surveys and focus groups. We conducted 4 focus groups in 2022 and have 4 additional focus groups planned for May 2023. Our team has compiled list of revisions needed based on input from teachers.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2022
Citation:
Smathers, C.A.; McDermott, T. (2022-8-17). Addressing Urban Food Security Through Agriculture Career Awareness. Paper presented at International Horticulture Congress, Angers, France. Acta Hortic. 1356, 9-16. DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2022.1356.2 Publication Status: Published.
|
Progress 05/01/21 to 04/30/22
Outputs
Target Audience:The overall target audience of the Growing Teachers Throughout the Season (GTS) project is K-14 teachers who engage students in STEM-based agricultural production techniques to meet educational objectives and develop workforce skills. In this reporting period, we engaged K-12 teachers in through focus groups, interviews, and surveys to provide input on useful content, preferred formats and an appropriate pace for school garden instruction. Due to pandemic-related adjustments to our project timeline, as well as significant changes to school schedules, hybrid teaching formats, and teacher availability, the focus groups were rescheduled from 2020 to July 2021 and then to September 2021 and February 2022--at which times they finally happened. Due to pandemic-related issues and demands on school staff, however, teachers' availability was very limited. A total of 25 teachers who implement school gardens provided feedback on the content and format of the academic calendar growing guide and associated teaching activities. Beyond the focus groups, K-14 teachers benefited from instructional GTS school garden videos which were shared widely on websites, in presentations, and in response to inquiries. In addition to reaching the original target audience (K-14 teachers), we reached pre-K educators and provided professional development to Extension educators and SNAP-Ed and EFNEP administrators and instructors. For example, the GTS Seed Starting video has been used to train Head Start staff at six centers across Ohio. These centers were all selected as part of another project because they serve a large proportion of low-income families from racial and ethnic minority groups. The GTS seed starting video was shown in a session about Farm to Early Care and Education presented at the Ohio Association for the Education of Young Children Conference in April 2022. Changes/Problems:Due to pandemic-related adjustments to our project timeline, as well as significant ongoing, yet unpredictable, pandemic-related changes to school schedules, teaching formats, and teacher availability, the focus groups were rescheduled multiple times and were first held in September 2021. One of our greatest obstacles has been having to deal with system changes and personnel loss at our institutions. Changes in file sharing and maintenance have posed challenges to organizing project documents. Changes in purchasing, hiring, and other administrative tasks have caused confusion and taken extra time to resolve. Personnel losses (County Extension director, sponsored program office, etc.) have created time and effort demands that have conflicted with our intended project work plan. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? A recorded webinar about seed starting was held by the co-Investigator on April 11, 2022, attended by 26 EFNEP (Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program) program assistants based throughout Ohio for professional development. Instruction materials included the GTS Seed Starting video. Project faculty and staff met with FCS Community Nutrition/SNAP-Ed leaders and SNAP-Ed Policy, System, and Environmental (PSE) Change Specialists to introduce the GTS year-round garden concept and the seed starting materials and approaches that can be used to educate SNAP-Ed participants. Instruction materials included materials lists, information sheets, and the GTS Seed Starting video. SNAP-Ed leaders decided to include seed starting as an option/objective in an upcoming mini-grant opportunity for SNAP-Ed staff across Ohio. The GTS Seed Starting video was used to train Head Start staff at 6 centers across Ohio. These centers were all selected as part of another project because they serve a large proportion of low-income families from racial and ethnic minority groups. The GTS seed starting video was shown in a session about Farm to Early Care and Education presented at the Ohio Association for the Education of Young Children Conference in April 2022 for early childhood education teachers. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Yes. GTS products (information sheets and videos) have been disseminated to K-14 teachers, early childhood educators, and Extension professionals. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Objective 1 - Obtain input from teachers to develop the GTS curriculum. Activities for next project period: Conduct pilot of the 9-month GTS growing guide for teachers. The pilot will involve collecting monthly feedback from teachers who implement the GTS guide. Present an in-person demonstration for the Ohio School Nutrition Association's Annual Conference on the topic "If They Grow It, They Will Eat It! Farm to School Year-round Growing Demonstrations and Techniques for Incorporating School Gardens Throughout the School Year" Session to be delivered in June 2022. Present an oral session to the 2022 National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Professional Learning Institute on the topic "Growing Teachers: Empowering Garden-Based Learning in Any Location Throughout the School Year" Session to be delivered in June 2022. Present an oral session for the 2022 International Horticulture Congress International Symposium on Urban Horticulture for Sustainable Food Security on the topic: "Addressing Urban Food Security Through Agricultural Career Awareness" Session to be delivered in August 2022. Objective 2 - Produce teacher-inspired, self-sustaining GTS online training modules. Activities for next project period: Video capture and editing. Complete draft of text for the hardcopy calendar-style science journal workbook in preparation for piloting in fall. Objective 3 - Pilot test, evaluate, revise, and disseminate the GTS curriculum. Activities for next project period: Summer 2022: Create protocol for the pilot evaluation and submit for approval to the OSU Institutional Review Board. The pilot evaluation of the GTS guidebook at Columbus City Schools will be conducted August 2022- June 2023.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Objective 1 - Our first objective is to obtain input from teachers to develop the GTS curriculum, which will guide K-14 professionals through traditional and controlled environment growing techniques while addressing unique school-year planting challenges and educational demands. Although we experienced significant setbacks because of pandemic-related changes in educational settings, demands on teachers, and lack of access to school sites, we continued to meet with our school district partner for weekly district input. We conducted and reported results from four focus group sessions involving 25 teachers. Significant progress was made developing and revising the GTS curriculum. The curriculum draft will be completed in summer 2022 for piloting in school settings throughout 2022-2023. Outputs/Products: Project faculty and staff presented 7 sessions at academic conferences (2 national, 3 state, and 2 local) that featured GTS school garden leadership data, project engagement strategies, and project materials and curriculum based on teacher input. Additionally, 3 conference session proposals (1 national, 1 state, and 1 international) have been accepted for presentation later in 2022. All presentations were selected via peer-review and included or will include NIFA acknowledgement. Project faculty submitted a full text manuscript to Acta Horticulturae, The Journal of the International Horticulture Society, titled "Addressing Urban Food Security Through Agricultural Career Awareness". NIFA support acknowledged. A Master of Public Health student began her culminating project to meet graduation requirements through assisting with the pilot evaluation of the GTS guidebook in Columbus City Schools 2022-2023. Objective 2 - Produce teacher-inspired, self-sustaining GTS online training modules featuring school- and lab-based demonstration plots to guide educators through traditional and controlled environment procedures using standardized sets of materials. Outputs/Products: Demonstration plots (2 seed starting, 10 raised beds) were established at numerous locations. LED units and other materials for seed starting demonstrations were set up at the Franklin County Extension office and the PI's office site. Outdoor signage includes the NIFA acknowledgement. The indoor and outdoor demonstration areas have been maintained and used continually for digital content creation to assist in video creation. Developed a detailed curriculum outline of GTS modules with associated objectives, content topics, and points to highlight in GTS videos. Videos - We updated 2 GTS instructional videos with NIFA acknowledgement (seed starting and raised bed basics) Three videos are currently in final edits for release in spring of 2022. The new videos address: hardening off transplants for outdoor planting, indoor watering and fertilizing of transplants in LED systems, and outdoor watering and fertilizing techniques. The seed starting and raised bed basics GTS videos produced were shared with k-12 teachers in the Columbus City Schools district. Online views: Links to the videos are shared in blog posts, during trainings and through technical assistance. Prior to this year, the Seed Starting video was viewed 946 times and the Raised Bed video was viewed 106 times. To date in 2022, the Seed Starting video was viewed an additional 132 times and the Raised bed video was viewed 143 more times." Developed content for GTS curriculum materials including a hardcopy calendar-style science journal workbook and fact sheet-type resources. Advanced a plan for creating GTS curriculum publications through the college's publication office. Objective 3 - Pilot test, evaluate, revise, and disseminate the GTS curriculum, materials and evaluation results that demonstrate impacts related to school-year plant production. Outputs/Products: The pilot evaluation of the GTS guidebook at Columbus City Schools is being planned for August 2022- June 2023.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Submitted
Year Published:
2022
Citation:
Abstract accepted with an invitation to submit full text manuscript to Acta Horticulturae, The Journal of the International Horticulture Society. Addressing Urban Food Security Through Agricultural Career Awareness . Manuscript submitted April 2022; publication forthcoming. NIFA support acknowledged.
|
Progress 05/01/20 to 04/30/21
Outputs
Target Audience:The overall target audience of the project is K-14 teachers who engage students in STEM-based agricultural production techniques to meet educational objectives and develop workforce skills. In the first year, we intended to engage k-12 teachers in through focus groups, interviews, and surveys to provide input on useful content, preferred formats and an appropriate pace for school garden instruction. Due to pandemic-related adjustments to our project timeline, as well as significant changes to school schedules, teaching formats, and teacher availability, the focus groups were rescheduled for July 2021. The two GTS instructional garden videos produced during this period were shared with k-12 teachers in the Columbus City Schools district.Additionally, as part of a Master of Public Health culminating project, we conducted survey research among k-12 school garden coordinators in the Columbus City Schools district. Of the 89 school garden coordinators in the sample, 36 individuals completed the survey, for a 40% response rate. The purpose of the research was to examine leadership traits in the context of programming. The identification of school garden coordinator leadership traits can aide in the development of continuing education and training for school garden coordinators. The research results from this study can also aide in the identification of staff members whose leadership traits compliment the needs of the school garden coordinator position. Changes/Problems:Due to pandemic-related adjustments to our project timeline, as well as significant changes to school schedules, teaching formats, and teacher availability, the focus groups were rescheduled for July 2021. Our team was able to pivot and collect and report survey data on school garden leadership styles and approaches. Due to ongoing construction, raised bed demonstration plots were initially set up in a temporary location at the university's Waterman Agricultural and Natural Resources Laboratory ("Waterman Farm"). These were later moved, and additional raised bed demonstration units were added to a prime growing location next to the Franklin County Extension office building at Waterman Farm. Recognizing a need to incorporate food safety and disease prevention considerations at all stages of garden development (planning, planting, growing, harvesting, tasting), we are adding related information to the curriculum outline. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?A session titled "Leading Down the Garden Path: Translating Leadership Research into School Garden Success" was presented to educators at the Ohio Family and Consumer Sciences Conference in October 2021. Objectives for session participants included the ability to define the four elements of path goal leadership, identify leadership traits found in current school garden coordinators and how the traits are associated with garden engagement, and list ways to support school gardeners in their communities based on identified leadership traits. Through our project partner at Columbus City Schools, information to support school gardens, including links to the GTS videos, was provided in online teacher newsletters. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Yes. School Garden Leadership survey research results were presented to the School Gardens of Ohio organization and were shared through teacher newsletters. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Objective 1 - Obtain input from teachers to develop the GTS curriculum. Activities for next project period: Conduct teacher input focus groups in July 2021. This will involve preparing materials, training project staff to conduct the focus group discussions, analyzing and interpreting the data. Present a session about the GTS approach at the National Children & Youth Garden Symposium in July 2021. Prepare the academic presentation of GTS survey research results for the National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (November 2021) Objective 2 - Produce teacher-inspired, self-sustaining GTS online training modules. Activities for next project period: Video capture and editing. Complete draft of text for the hardcopy calendar-style science journal workbook, including fact sheet-type resource pages. Objective 3 - Pilot test, evaluate, revise, and disseminate the GTS curriculum. Activities for next project period: We are not yet implementing this project activity.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Objective 1 - Our first objective is to obtain input from teachers to develop the GTS curriculum, which will guide K-14 professionals through traditional and controlled environment growing techniques while addressing unique school-year planting challenges and educational demands. Although we experienced significant setbacks because of pandemic-related changes in educational settings, demands on teachers, and lack of access to school sites, we continued to meet with our school district partner for weekly district input. We conducted and reported results from a survey of school garden coordinators exploring their leadership styles and approaches. The focus groups planned, approved, and scheduled for June 2020 were postponed due to COVID-19. These focus groups have been rescheduled for July 2021. The related IRB protocol has been updated and approved. Academic presentations of survey research results at the Ohio Family and Consumer Sciences Conference (October 2020) and National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (accepted proposal; session to be presented November 2021) Community presentations of survey research results were provided for the School Gardens of Ohio organization. A Master of Public Health student completed her culminating project and defense to meet graduation requirements through her work on the survey of school garden coordinators. Our project team had a session about the GTS approach approved for presentation at the National Children & Youth Garden Symposium in July 2021. Objective 2 - Produce teacher-inspired, self-sustaining GTS online training modules featuring school- and lab-based demonstration plots to guide educators through traditional and controlled environment procedures using standardized sets of materials. Demonstrationplots (2 seed starting, 10 raised beds) were established at numerous locations. LED units and other materials for seed starting demonstrations were set up at the Franklin County Extension office and the PI's office on campus. Due to ongoing construction, raised bed demonstration plots were initially set up in a temporary location at the university's Waterman Agricultural and Natural Resources Laboratory ("Waterman Farm"). These were later moved, and additional raised bed demonstration units were added to a prime growing location next to the Franklin County Extension office building at Waterman Farm. Outdoor signage includes the NIFA acknowledgement. A parallel set of demonstration plots were established at the PI's remote office. Foods were grown in these covered outdoor plots throughout the winter in our central Ohio location. All demonstration plots were used to capture images and video to be used in the GTS curriculum. Provided take-home 1500 seed starting kits for distribution to Columbus City Schools students in summer 2020. Developed a detailed curriculum outline of GTS modules with associated objectives, content topics, and points to highlight in GTS videos. Produced 2 GTS instructional videos with NIFA acknowledgement. The two GTS videos produced were shared with k-12 teachers in the Columbus City Schools district. The Seed Starting video has been viewed 946 times and the Raised Bed video has been viewed 106 times, at the time of this report. Developed a plan and format for GTS curriculum materials including a hardcopy calendar-style science journal workbook and fact sheet-type resources. Created a plan for creating GTS curriculum publications through the college's publication office. Objective 3 - Pilot test, evaluate, revise, and disseminate the GTS curriculum, materials and evaluation results that demonstrate impacts related to school-year plant production. We are not yet implementing this project activity.
Publications
|
|