Progress 02/01/21 to 01/31/25
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience was North Carolina high school teachers engaged and/or interested in teaching food science, with a focus on career and technical education teachers in family and culinary or agricultural teaching programs. Changes/Problems:Bringing in external experts or providing enriching experiences (like farm visits or chef demonstrations) through traditional field trips is challenging due to logistics and funding. Utilizing video conferencing and pre-recorded videos allowed virtual guest speakers directly into the classroom. This eliminates travel costs and scheduling conflicts, offering students valuable exposure without the complexities of physical field trips or travel time for visitors. Building Partnerships with School Administration and District Leaders. Gaining necessary permissions and securing funding for any initiative can be difficult without administrative support. By actively engaging curriculum coordinators and district leaders, we have built buy-in and advocate for the importance of this program. This engagement has resulted in numerous speaking engagements for the grant personnel and teachers who have participated in the program, and the restructuring of the foods curriculum in NC to provide more food science instruction at high schools throughout the state. Shifting the Focus from Large-Scale, One-Off Events to Sustainable, Integrated Activities. Coordinating large, single-day events (like an invitational) requires significant effort from teachers and can be disruptive. By emphasizing smaller, more manageable activities that can be integrated into the regular curriculum we have created a more sustainable and less burdensome approach for teachers. This involves incorporating specific modules into existing lessons, conducting in-class experiments, or utilizing online resources consistently. We have created video interviews of food science professionals, lesson plans, and training to accommodate teachers. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The main focus of this grant was to increase professional development and training opportunities for middle and high school teachers resulting in increased self efficacy in the food science discipline. This comprehensive professional development program aimed to bolster food science education in middle and high schools by fostering direct connections between classrooms and industry professionals, thereby illuminating diverse career opportunities. Forty-seven teachers received CASE training and certification, equipping them with a robust, year-long curriculum encompassing presentations, lesson plans, and worksheets. The proof of concept in this grant has provided the necessary evidence of need, impact, and operational viability for a food science professional development program for teachers. This success has paved the way for a compelling partnership with the NC State University Kenan Fellows Program, offering mutual benefits in terms of reach, expertise, credibility, and ultimately, a greater impact on food science education in North Carolina. Kenan Fellows Program fosters leadership among outstanding teachers across various subjects. Ongoing fundraising efforts are leveraging this potential collaboration as a key selling point to attract donors who want to support innovative and impactful educational initiatives. Collaboration allows for a broader impact on STEM education by integrating specialized content with pedagogical expertise and leadership development. The fact that the CASE Food Science and Safety Institute is continuing to support NC teachers and aligns perfectly with the goals of initiatives like the Kenan Fellows Program, which also aims to empower and equip educators. This shared focus strengthens the potential for future collaboration and highlights the importance of ongoing fundraising efforts for programs like the CASE Institute and Teaching Fellows. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The innovative lesson plans developed by teaching fellows, enriched by their industry job shadowing experiences, were made readily accessible to North Carolina educators through a dedicated professional development learning management system, ensuring widespread dissemination of valuable educational resources. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The CASE Food Science and Safety Institute certification project successfully equipped 47 middle and high school teachers with enhanced food science knowledge. The CASE Food Science and Safety Institute is well established and plans to continue certification of teachers in years to come. A concurrent initiative facilitated job shadowing experiences for four teaching fellows at North Carolina food manufacturers. These fellows then developed practical classroom curriculum, bridging industry insights with educational resources. The teaching fellows program is in search of continuing funding and hopes to work with NC State University's Kenan Fellows. Collectively, these efforts have demonstrably increased freshman enrollment in Food Science programs at NC State University, highlighting the project's impact in stimulating student interest and preparing them for future careers in the field.
Publications
- Type:
Theses/Dissertations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
https://www.lib.ncsu.edu/resolver/1840.20/41194
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