Instructor:
Unit: Supervised Agricultural Experience
Lesson: Agricultural Careers and Opportunities
Lesson Objectives:
1. Identify as a class a variety of career opportunities in the agricultural industry
2. Define comprehensively the term and characteristics of a SAE
3. Defend the role and benefits of SAE in agricultural education
Key Terms:
Education / People Skills / Experience / Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE)
Teaching Materials & Resources
· Random objects (e.g., pencil, peanut butter jar, bandana, compass, calculator)
· https://www.purdue.edu/usda/employment/ for US agriculture employment outlook 2015-2020
· www.exploresae.com SAE Resources and Essential Elements of an SAE
· Career and SAE Interest Planning Worksheet (from www.Exploresae.com)
· Flip chart paper and Markers
Preparation (Interest Approach/Motivator)
Key Points / MethodsThis activity is to try and use random objects to relate back to agriculture and careers.
Key Points could be:
Pencil – Forestry, research, business, etc…
Peanut Butter – Peanut production, processing, nutrition
Bandana – agricultural production, safety
Compass – precision farming
Calculator – farm business, tax, research, ag production / Step 1 - Bring 5 random objects to class, when at first glance by a student, would seem unrelated to the agricultural industry (for example: pencil, peanut butter jar, bandana, compass, calculator, etc.).
Step 2 - At the beginning of class, ask students to name off some of the obvious careers in agriculture and write them on the board or flip charts and attach the the wall
Step 3 - Divide the students into five groups and give each group one of the random objects. Instruct the groups to brainstorm at least five careers in agriculture that could be related to that one object. Give the groups 5 minutes to complete the task. When time is up, record the careers students brainstormed by adding to the agricultural career listed started at the beginning of class.
Step 4 – Use this discussion opportunity to introduce the concept of an SAE and how it may connect to future careers.
Presentation
Key PointsOBJECTIVE 1: Careers in Ag
o Identify essential career training areas (Handout #1 or your state’s content standards). Review each area with the students though using the handout.
o Three vital career skills people need to carry out most jobs:
1. Education –includes high school classes, college courses, technical school, and certifications.
2. People skills –includes being courteous, honest, respectful, a good communicator, supportive, and able to solve problems with a group.
3. Experience – includes having personally done something in a particular job or location to increase expertise in an area.
o Review career opportunities in agriculture (Handout #2 USDA Job Outlook)
OBJECTIVE 2: Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE)
o Connect the concept of an SAE to and how it can relate to careers in agriculture.
o The Essential Elements of an SAE (Handout #3) are:
1. Planned: Planning a SAE can help to outline essential resources and steps for a successful project.
2. Documented: Recording the time and or money that is invested in an SAE
3. Supervised: Supervising and grading can help students stay on task and measure their personal growth
OBJECTIVE 3: Connecting an SAE to Careers in Agriculture
o Assist the students in connecting their SAE interest to a career in agriculture
o Discuss the benefits of SAE:
o Helps in making career and education decisions
o Develops self-confidence
o Gives practical meaning to courses studied in school
o Develops job skills
o Promotes thinking skills
o Applies record keeping skills
o Promotes good money management
o Teaches the work ethic
o Helps develop the ability to assume responsibility
o Gives practical experience in relating to other people
o Helps make the transition from school to work
o Helps achieve FFA awards
o Discuss how an interest in an SAE connects to agricultural education pathways (AFNR or state standards) and then how that connects to career opportunities / Using educational career pathways (or your states standards), outline each area and how it can relate to the industry.
REVIEW- career opportunities using USDA job outlook for agriculture. https://www.purdue.edu/usda/employment/
REVIEW - Key areas of career interest Handout #1.
Discuss the importance of the essential elements, but focus on SAE planning as key.
REVIEW Handout #2 for essential elements of an SAE
Focus on how an SAE is the application of what is learned in class.
An activity idea could be to have selected students share a hypothetical SAE project.
Application (What will your students do?)
Key Points / Methodso Re-enforce SAE connections to student career goals
o Also, have students identify the amount of available time outside of school they have to dedicate to a SAE, where they would like to conduct a SAE the most, and what benefits from a SAE they are interested in the most. / Facilitate the process by visiting with students prior to completing the activity.
Step 1 - Have students complete SAE handout using ideas from handout #1 and #2 and complete a draft SAE Plan and Educational Plan. Provide approximately 20 minutes for time to complete.
Step 2 – Have student summarize if their SAE interest is a compliment to other educational plans or an additional educational experience.
Step – Turn in their activity for a daily grade.
Evaluation (How are you measuring their learning?)
Key Points / Methods· Conduct a brain dump:
o Facilitate a summary of areas of SAE interest / On separate flip charts around the room, have the following topics written: Career Skills, Characteristics of SAE, What is an SAE?, and Benefits of SAE. Rotate from one chart to another, having students “dump their brains” by telling you everything they learned from the lesson about that topic. Ask probing questions related to each topic to ensure students grasped the concepts completely.
· Morgan, E.M., Chewlewski, R.E., & Wilson, E. (2000). Agriscience explorations. Danville, IL: Interstate Publishers, Inc.
· National Agriculture Day, http://www.agday.org/education/careers.php Texas SAE Builder videos, http://saebuilder.com/videos.aspx
· The LifeKnowledge Center for Agricultural Education, https://www.ffa.org/ffaresources/educators/lifeknowledge/Pages/default.aspx