Hi All,
Monday, I visited the Mohawk FFA to see how their two teacher program differed from a single teacher program. As well as see how Mindy's student teaching experience was going during the final stretch.
At first I wasn't very sure why they are a two teacher program and still am a little unsure as to why. I was definitely surprised by the set up of their facilities, having one moderately sized mechanics shop that is all theirs,sharing a computer lab (with a very tiny tinny monitor for projections)and carpentry shop with several other classes. Switch rooms for just about every class. However, what they lacked in space they made up with equipment, at least in terms of machines. So, many welders.
The first class I was able to see was the first section of her Animal Science class which was nice because their were presenting their Final Farm Plan projects like my own classes were. The size of the monitor, allowing other students to have computers up to work on while others presented, and the rush to get them "just over with" in two days seemed to take away from the students presentations and the effectiveness of the project. I did like that some of the students branched out from their home farms/ area and located their operations in other areas nation wide. Over all the class ran very smoothly. The second section came in directly after the first and ran very similar to the first except that the internet did not want to cooperate, there was no back up plan, and with the all ready small monitor showing the presentations in the edit format mad it even harder to see.
Next, was the the first section of two Agriculture Construction class. These classes were working in the shared carpentry class hanging drywall, in a already framed and wired buildings. I have know idea how they get much down as they have to travail between the two rooms to measure, cut, etc. Additionally, half way through the class a home owner/consumer classes' students start to come into the shared class for their own class to start. The second section of the construction class came in right after the other and ran very similar, having one homeowner class leave and another come in during this time causing some distraction.
After lunch the third section of animal science took place following the same format as the previous two. It is during this section that I noticed the smart board in the computer lab and asked why the were not using it to present, it was because of not asking how to work it. The final class for the day was a machines class half of the class were working on lawnmowers while three students worked on a welding test plat they had been working on for 15 weeks, which was surprising. Their was only one student in attendance so I thanked Mindy and her Cop teacher and headed back to Derry.
It was very eye opening to see how different all agriculture programs are set up and work but yet deliver the same materials/content to their students. I did take way a great idea for the next time I have to teach Ag Construction, mark a section of your shop out (if you have the space) and have the students frame out one side of a building,using a wall for the other side. Split it into three or more rooms, then have them wire and dry wall their assigned rooms.
