The Art and Science of Teaching Agriculture: Four Keys to Dynamic Learning is a 240-page methods of teaching book. Specifically, it is a collection of thoughts, best practices, strategies, and techniques for planning, delivering, and assessing teaching and learning. This resource is assembled from among the best teaching professors in agricultural communication, education, and leadership in America. The authors offer the opportunity to build confidence in planning, delivering, and assessing the depths of the variables inherent in learning for secondary and postsecondary educators in both formal and nonformal educational environments.

You will quickly grasp the four fundamental keys of solid, basic, time-tested formal and nonformal teaching: Laying the Foundation, Connecting with Students, Designing Instruction, and Applying Learning. These keys are shared with you through the unique voices of the authors to provide a multiperspective approach to teaching.

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How to access this book
The main landing page for this book is https://doi.org/10.21061/teachagriculture.
The open textbook is freely available online in multiple formats, including: PDF, ePub, and Pressbooks (https://pressbooks.lib.vt.edu/teachagriculture)
A paperback print version (in color) is available for order here: https://www.amazon.com/Art-Science-Teaching-Agriculture-Learning/dp/1957213663.

ISBNs
ISBN (PDF): 978-1-957213-71-2
ISBN (Pressbooks): 978-1-957213-72-9
ISBN (EPUB): 978-1-957213-70-5
ISBN (print): 978-1-957213-66-8

Table of contents
The Discipline of Agricultural Education
Psychology of Learning
Principles of Teaching and Learning
Learning as Problem Solving
Inclusive Teaching
Dynamics of Teaching
Planning for Effective Instruction
Delivering Content With Technology
Assessing Agricultural Education
Applied Leadership Development through FFA
Supervised Agricultural Experiences
Effective Use of the Agriculture Laboratory Environment to Support Student Learning

Suggested citation
Whittington, M. Susie, Rick Rudd, and Jack Elliot, ed. (2023). The Art and Science of Teaching Agriculture: Four Keys to Dynamic Learning. Blacksburg: Virginia Tech Department of Agricultural, Leadership, and Community Education. https://doi.org/10.21061/teachagriculture. Licensed with CC BY NC 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/deed.en).

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Accessibility
Virginia Tech is committed to making its publications accessible in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. The Open Education Initiative is committed to continuous improvement regarding accessibility. The text, images, headings, and links in the PDF and HTML versions of this text are tagged structurally and include alternative text, which allows for machine readability. Please contact openeducation@vt.edu if you are a person with a disability and have suggestions to make this book more accessible.

Illustration and cover design: Kindred Grey

This is a version of a comprehensive Foundational SAE or SAE for All.  It is a portfolio of lessons and activities to be copied and shared with students, which they fill in, manipulate, and track through their time in middle school and high school agricultural education. Developed by Kensie Burnside

In this eight-day lesson, students will be establish and develop SAEs. Additionally, students will gain valuable record keeping skills through the use of AET.

This lesson presents a brief overview of budgeting and tracking income and expenses within a Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) program or project.

Students will gain a general understanding of FFA History, opportunities, and procedures, as well as a general knowledge about Agricultural Education through various structured activities. By Holly Podliska, NE AFNR Educator

Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAE) and Record Keeping have long been a crucial and significant component of the three-circle model of a complete agricultural education program. SAE’s and the affiliated records open opportunities for students to experience success in the FFA degree and proficiency award applications. The Agricultural Experience Tracker (AET) serves as a conduit linking student record keeping, activity documentation, SAE visits, SAE photos, and even career exploration into a digital platform which is classroom ready and meets the needs of ALL students in the classroom.

A series of videos will address a broad overview of SAE’s and their associated documents. From these videos, hopefully you will be able to glean some best practices to create a user-designed tool to manage SAE’s, student involvement, and your time investment with your students and programs.

These guides give an overview of Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAEs), explain how SAEs work, and provide SAE options, implementation tips and appendices, including leaning plans, career plan templates, supervision plans and more.

This is a compilation of SAE for All resources, including informational materials and videos and teacher created resources.  Many more additional resources can be found at https://saeforall.org/educator-resources/

Grade Level: 8th - 9thSubject: Introduction to Agriculture, Food, and Natural ResourcesDuration: 50 minutesDOK Level: 2SAMR Level: Substitution Indiana Standard: IAFNR-3.1 Explain the nature of and become familiar with those terms related to an SAE programIAFNR-3.2 Explore the numerous possibilities for an SAE program which a student might develop Objective: Students will be able to explain and identify three examples of the different types of SAEs.Essential Question: What are the different types of SAEs?Procedure: Have students draw a picture of their favorite activityThe students will explain why they choose the activity as their favorite activityHave a class discussion on interests are different among everyoneShow the video SAE Part 1Present the notes in Types of SAEsShow the video SAE Part 2Explain and provide the homework SAE worksheet through google classroomProduct or Assessment: The correct responses on the SAE worksheet

 Why Keep SAE Records? Grade Level: 8th - 9thSubject: Introduction to Agricultural, Food, and Natural ResourcesDuration: 100 MinutesDOK Level: 4SAMR Level: Modification and RedefinitionIndiana Standard: IAFNR-3.3 Develop an individual SAE program and implement record keeping skillsObjective: Students will be able to design and evaluate different record keeping systems for SAEs.Essential Question: Why keep SAE records?Procedure: Show the video SAE part 3Go through the presentation Why keep SAE recordsExplain and demonstrate the parts of the Attica FFA Record BookHave the students take out their research notebooksProvide the students with their own copy of the record book through google classroomEnter the first lab into their record books under the agriscience tabHave the students complete the next two labs on their ownThe students will adjust the tabs to fit their main SAE project.The students will enter two weeks worth of recordsProduct or Assessment: The assessment will be given on the students two week worth of records. After the initial grading of the record books, they will be graded monthly to ensure the record books are being kept up to date.