Source: NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIV submitted to
CULTIVATING A NEW GENERATION OF TEACHERS TO CREATE RESILIENT AGRI-FOOD SYSTEMS THROUGH EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
NEW
Funding Source
AFRI COMPETITIVE GRANT
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1030534
Grant No.
2023-68018-39956
Project No.
NC.X2022-08878
Proposal No.
2022-08878
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Program Code
A7501
Project Start Date
Jun 1, 2023
Project End Date
May 31, 2026
Grant Year
2023
Project Director
Liang, C.
Recipient Organization
NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIV
1601 EAST MARKET STREET
GREENSBORO,NC 27411
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
This proposed project responds to the priority areas of the AFRI program to support professional development opportunities for K-14 teachers by addressing food and agricultural sciences in (1) Plant health and production and plant products; (2) Food safety, nutrition, and health; (3) Bioenergy, natural resources, and environment; (4) Agriculture systems and technology; and (5) Agriculture economics and rural communities. Dr. Chyi-lyi Liang is the project director with 20+ years of experiences in leading experiential learning programs. North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, the largest 1890 Land Grant institution is leading this submission. Other partners include the Center for Environmental Farming Systems, North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, NC Cooperative Extension, and local USDA offices. The primary training location is the Small Farm Unit at the Cherry Research Station in Goldsboro, NC, with a long history of supporting innovative specialty crop production. Thirty K-14 teachers will be selected to participate training each summer. Facilitator-to-participant ratio is 8:30. The objectives meets the PDAL program area priorities to increase the number of K-14 teachers trained in the agri-food system sciences via activities: (1) expert-guided interdisciplinary team-oriented research; (2) immersive learning, hands-on farming, curriculum development and teaching training; and (3) post-project support, coaching, and mentorship for participants. The impacts will lead to significant improvement in enrollment and retention for K-14 students to explore career opportunities in the new frontier of food and agriculture.
Animal Health Component
0%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
90360993020100%
Knowledge Area
903 - Communication, Education, and Information Delivery;

Subject Of Investigation
6099 - People and communities, general/other;

Field Of Science
3020 - Education;
Goals / Objectives
The overarching goal of the proposed project is to offer new knowledge and skills to K-14 teachers and administrators via innovative experiential learning in a dynamic agri-food system interface to enhance their capacity and ability to develop exciting new curricula for their students. The objectives are (1) to deliver integrated training involving innovative hands-on research, experiential learning, and interdisciplinary curriculum design to fulfill soft skills and technical competency for K-14 teachers and administrators, and (2) to fulfill shared efficacy and to equip participants with knowledge and training materials of the historical context of diversity and equity in agri-food systems and supporting networks.
Project Methods
The procedures to accomplish the objectives will be: (1) confirm 5-6 subject experts to deliver the training; (2) select and confirm 2-3 field trip hosts around Goldsboro; (3) confirm local hotel lodging, meeting space, and lunch arrangements; (4) work with school superintendents across the state to select and confirm participants with a focus on limited-resource and underserved communities; (5) confirm and hire an external evaluator; and (6) identify special needs from each participant and arrange accommodations.Our staffing plan involves the lead PI, a project coordinator, the crew of the Cherry Research Farm, The Small Farm Unit Manager and technicians, and subject experts who are specialists from USDA, NC State University and NCA&T. We will hire translators (e.g., Spanish and Sign Language) and other professional services to accommodate special needs. An external evaluator will be contracted to assess the project progress, activities, outcomes, and impacts via observations, interviews, and online surveys.Our Team Management Plan will apply an integrated management strategy (IMS), which the CEFS and Cooperative Extension have successfully adopted. The PI will work with other personnel to monitor daily routines, review tasks accomplished and report. The IMS has semi-restricted access for project personnel and externalevaluatorto update information, conduct performance evaluations, and create effective communication channels. The PI and project coordinator will initiate, establish, and streamline the reporting and assessment process in the IMS. For example (1) Review/compile contracts and purchase orders, monitor human resources, (2) Coordinate training activities with trainers and participants, (3) Maintain and update contact information for project participants for progress reporting, evaluation, and promotion, and (4) Review financial information and account balance.We will work with the existing CEFS Advisory Board and a Stakeholder Advisory Committee (school representatives, students, and parents) to review priorities, progress, and achievements. The PI, project coordinator, and evaluator will meet monthly to assess progress, identify gaps, and seek alternatives to improve outcomes. Our team will practice an Open-Door Agreement to yield 100% transparency. When conflicts occur, the PI and project coordinator will facilitate mitigating tension and creating productive solutions. Selections of any key personnel replacement will rely on team nominations and qualifications.

Progress 06/01/23 to 05/31/24

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audiences are full-time teachers and administrators in North Carolina from K-14 schools (including technical center, community college, and pre-college programs). The priority is to provide hands-on and experiential learning opportunities for underserved communities and limited-resource school districts. We also include teachers and administrators who offer education to support youth with special needs. All disciplines are welcome to participate. Our goal is to increase the number of K-14 educational professionals trained in the agri-food system sciences via expert-guided interdisciplinary research to enhance faculty expertise and encourage widespread implementation of educational innovation at K-14 levels; immersive learning experiences (e.g., on-farm activities, experiential learning training, and field trips) and curriculum development and teaching training for K-14 education to improve student success outcomes continuous support, coaching, and mentorship for participants to integrate food and agricultural science concepts in their classes across disciplines to help students explore career opportunities in food and agriculture. The program is designed to offer 5-day immersive learning at the Small Farm Unit in Goldsboro, NC, as one of the six integrated farming units managed by the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The base of the training program is Dollar Enterprise© which was designed and implemented by Dr. Liang and it is a pioneering entrepreneurship educational program to be integrated into agri-food system concepts. This is a unique training program given three pillars of entrepreneurship - entrepreneurial mindset, entrepreneurial decisions, and entrepreneurial opportunities. Dollar Enterprise contents include business planning (production, market, finance, risk/uncertainty assessment), professional communication (oral presentations, written reporting, visual design, and peer interactions), and logistics of creativity (e.g., organic vs nonorganic operations, conservation practices, sustainable vs limited-term strategies). Participants will engage in (1) daily farming activities to incorporate conservation and environmental farming practices, (2) field trips to visit various farms engaged in sustainable farming operations, and (3) curriculum design and peer support to create a draft of new materials to bring back to their own schools. Participants will be recruited across NC school districts and multiple information sessions have been offered in Zoom. Each participant needs to submit an application package include- The school's need to promote and advance food and agricultural sciences Applicant's personal and professional development goals in advancing food and agricultural sciences via different courses and settings Applicant's willingness to commit time and effort to 5-day training in Goldsboro Teaching philosophy and experience Recommendations from supervisors, peers, and students Training approaches include Integrated research and hands-on activities to stimulate knowledge transfer and application - work at the farm Facilitated team works to follow the real-world work environment - shared values and responsibilities Peer-to-peer support to mirror networking in career development Monthly coaching and mentoring opportunities to support participants - will be scheduled in Zoom Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We plan to follow our proposed activities to implement this program. We will create a platform to host all the information including training materials, training communications, showcase of best practices, and mentoring support. We already have a timeline for recruiting, application, and selection, and we will continue following the same timeline. We will consider adjust training intensity, period, and materials based on the participants' input during summer 2024.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? We have established a communication channel with all participants who will join the program in Summer 2024. Each participant received a confirmation letter to indicate the training period, their commitment, their willingness to attend the 5-day training, their needs for special accommodation or food preferences, and proper attire to work at the farm. We also provided a list of personal things for each participant such as sunscreen, bug spray, boots, and other supplies. Each participant must respond to confirm their participation by April 1, 2024. We have contracted and secured local lodging and meals for all participants. NCA&T also agreed to provide transportation support to all participants to attend field trips and to commute between local hotel and the Small Farm Unit in Goldsboro NC.

Publications