Owl Pellets: Tips for Ag Teachers

Systems thinking has exciting implications for workforce preparation and our classroom interactions. Tune in as Kevan Lamm (University of Georgia) explores how the world really works as we engage on meandering journeys.   Journal Article: https://jae-online.org/index.php/jae/article/view/64

The "To Those Concerned with Teacher Retention" mini-series highlights a series of vulnerable conversations in letter form to help us ask tough questions of the education career. The series will challenge listeners to consider new solutions, imagine "what ifs," and inform future directions for education. The full journal article (link coming soon) includes appendices for further discussion, and we...

It's no secret there's a gap between the teaching positions open and the teachers available to fill them. Jenna Offerman (Illinois ag teacher) and Lucas Maxwell (Illinois State University) help us rethink where and how we recruit teachers.   Journal Article: https://jae-online.org/index.php/jae/article/view/82

With 20% of children ages 1-18 in the United States having four or more adverse childhood experiences, we need some ideas to be prepared for the conversations our students will have with us. Tune in as William Norris (New Mexico State University) shares our role as teachers in supporting students and receiving support in working with students.   Journal Article: https://jae-online.org/index.php/ja...

Teaching welding brings so many opportunities for industry collaboration. Ryan Anderson (Texas State), Brittney Heibel (Xylem), and Merritt Drewery (Texas State) are back to share how we can develop our virtual reality skills, get intentional with assessment, and let partners in to find and meet our programmatic needs.  Journal Article: https://jae-online.org/index.php/jae/article/view/38 Resource...

 The "To Those Concerned with Teacher Retention" mini-series highlights a series of vulnerable conversations in letter form to help us ask tough questions of the education career. The series will challenge listeners to consider new solutions, imagine "what ifs," and inform future directions for education. The full journal article includes appendices for further discussion, and we welcome you to us...

Learning the norms for participating in the ag teacher community means opportunities to navigate something new for new comers and long-timers. Kellie Claflin (Ohio State University) joins the crew to talk about belonging as a contribution. Journal article: https://jae-online.org/index.php/jae/article/view/2452

When it comes to consciously adopting professional development opportunities, Becki Lawver and Michael Pate (Utah State), Dustin Perry (Montana State), and Scott Smalley (Iowa State) know what's up. Today, they talk with the OP crew about what keeps teachers coming back, opportunities for implementation after the professional development, and continued and sustained professional learning for skill...

The "To Those Concerned with Teacher Retention" mini-series highlights a series of vulnerable conversations in letter form to help us ask tough questions of the education career. The series will challenge listeners to consider new solutions, imagine "what ifs," and inform future directions for education. The full journal article (link coming soon) includes appendices for further discussion, and we...

What can we do in the classroom to prompt reflection and practice transfer? Brad Coleman (Oklahoma State University) joins the crew to answer that question! The more we practice transfer the further students are able to transfer it. Tune in for a great conversation about how we plan to support that transfer.   Journal Article: https://jae-online.org/index.php/jae/article/view/94 Resources: Reflect...

Food security means all people at all times have access to safe, nutritious, and culturally appropriate food. Jessica Spence (Virginia Tech), Daniel Foster (Penn State), Tobin Redwine (Texas A & M), Melanie Miller-Foster (Penn State), and OP McCubbins (Mississippi State) share how to tackle this big definition in our schools and communities through understanding diverse perspectives, incorpora...

Virtual Reality can feel like an intimidating investment as a learning tool, but Ryan Anderson (Texas State) and Brittney Heibel (Xylem) are here to help dispel all mystery! Tune in as they share how to implement VR with intention, track welding parameters, and engage VR as a supplement to welding instruction.   Resources: VRTEX 360 Journal Article: https://jae-online.org/index.php/jae/article/vie...

The "To Those Concerned with Teacher Retention" mini-series highlights a series of vulnerable conversations in letter form to help us ask tough questions of the education career. The series will challenge listeners to consider new solutions, imagine "what ifs," and inform future directions for education. The full journal article (link coming soon) includes appendices for further discussion, and we...

Middle schoolers are developmentally different, which requires us to think about agricultural education program implementation a little differently as well. Join the team as we chat with Chris Eck from Oklahoma State University to learn more about the opportunity and responsibility to integrate an intercurricular program (and especially SAEs) for Middle Schoolers.   Journal Article: https://jae-on...

The "To Those Concerned with Teacher Retention" mini-series highlights a series of vulnerable conversations in letter form to help us ask tough questions of the education career. The series will challenge listeners to consider new solutions, imagine "what ifs," and inform future directions for education. The full journal article (link coming soon) includes appendices for further discussion, and we...

Ag Mechanics is one of many content areas agricultural educators teach but it is an area that has both seen rapid growth in content and minimized opportunities for engagement in teacher preparation programs. Tune in as Tyler Granberry from the University of Tennessee chats with the crew about making sure there is a great fit with pre-service ag mechanics course offerings and identifying specific a...

Welcome to the exciting new season of Owl Pellets: Tips for Ag Teachers! Join us as we set the stage for an engaging and informative season. We will discuss this season's series and how excited we are for the conversations we will have this year. Join us as we dive into what makes this season a must-listen for teachers passionate about agriculture and teacher retention. 

Nine seasons? Can you believe it? Tune in as the Owl Pellets Crew chat about how much this podcast has grown and share their favorite moment from this season. To our guests and listeners, thank you for an amazing season! Here's to season 10!

How do we engage students in all the involvement opportunities available in Ag Ed? The answer might not be to engage more but to engage differently. Tune in this week as Stephen McBride (Purdue University) challenges us to think about involvement and engagement in deep and meaningful ways. We'll chat about how we catch the kids we might not think about, how to use our rockstars, and how to ignite...

Tune in as Tre Easterly (University of Florida) and Brian Myers (University of Florida) help us walk a mile in our principal's shoes to think about the ways they need to manage resources in line with school goals. They will also talk through how we can ally with our principals, communicate what our programs do, and use our ag programs to support the school's mission.   Journal Article: https://jae...

Incorporating ideas outside of the delivered content can be intimidating, but Garrett Steede (University of Minnesota-Twin Cities) shares that it doesn't have to be! Tune in as Garrett shares resources (available at umnagricast.com) in both Plant and Animal Science to help integrate science communication and communication principles in agricultural content.   Journal Article: https://scholarsjunct...

Am I an imposter? Whether coming into teaching or trying to establish a researcher's identity, this question is prevalent. We find ourselves prepared really well only to feel unprepared when we enter a career away from the support we had in preparation. Nicole Stedman, Jarred Shellhouse, and JC Bunch at the University of Florida explore these ideas and more as they help normalize developmental pro...

What do Oklahoma ag teachers need? Turns out, it's more than professional development; it's curricular resources, admin support, and respect. These needs span the ag program and the career, so Kayla Marsh and Kris Rankin (Oklahoma State University) challenge us to think about how we can balance professional development with reality, build networks through professional development, and garner respe...

In this episode, the Owl Pellets Crew wrap up their mentoring mini-series. What better way to conclude a series than to add recommendations? Brain, Becky, and Mike discuss seven recommendations for mentoring programs. 

Have you ever heard of 8th graders enjoying accounting? In this week's episode, Neil Knobloch and Andrea Brown talk with the crew regarding their success in integrating an agricultural business management simulation into an eighth-grade classroom. They make double-entry accounting sound fun!    Journal article: https://jae-online.org/index.php/jae/article/view/1965