Professional Development Helps Connect Teachers to New Science Standards
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa – May 2, 2016– A two day professional development workshop for teachers will be offered in Oskaloosa and Eddyville, Iowa by the Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation, Keokuk Co. Farm Bureau, Mahaska Co. Farm Bureau, and Monroe Co. Farm Bureau.
The workshop will help teachers apply the newly adopted Next Generation Science Standards in the context of agriculture. The workshop will also use agriculture to teach other core concepts and skills like social studies, language arts, and math. The workshop will be hands on and interactive with one day of site visits and tours and one day of practical classroom application. Many STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) concepts will be integrated throughout.
“The new Iowa Core Science Standards will be a considerable shift for teachers in how they teach science to students,” said IALF executive director Will Fett. “The new standards are based on the Next Generation Science Standards and by using agriculture, students can learn science in a fun, engaging, and relevant way.”
The dates of the workshop are June 29 and 30. The first day will be held in Oskaloosa and the second day will be held in Eddyville, Iowa. The workshop will include lesson demonstrations, hands on implementation of concepts, tours of farms and agribusinesses, and technical skills in agriculture. The workshop will be available for teacher recertification credit and graduate level credit.
The workshop is made possible by supporters of the Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation including CHS Foundation and the Iowa Energy Center with additional support from Iowa Corn Growers Association, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, Iowa Pork Producers Association, Silos and Smokestacks National Heritage Area, DuPont Pioneer, GROWMARK, and the Iowa Beef Industry Council. To find out more about workshops in your area visit www.IowaAgLiteracy.org, email info@iowaagliteracy.org or call 515-331-4182.
