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Impact Report

For plan Memorial Middle School Agricultural Extension and Education Center
Date January 6, 2011, 7:42 pm
For Objective Short-term Show short-term objectives
Impact Report Short term objectives 1. Design, develop, and deliver STEM-based agricultural and natural resource science education programming that complements in-class teaching and/or experiential learning opportunities that meet New Mexico public education content standards, benchmarks and performance standards. 2. Initiate program research project. 3. Build collaborative relationships with other agencies and organizations by identifying and meeting with key agency and organization representatives to multiply effectiveness of programmatic efforts, and enhance program reach and visibility. 4. Gain local, state and national recognition for MMSAEEC through programming efforts, educational innovativeness and model value. 5. Procure grants or other funding to support program activities. Obj. 1 - The Memorial Middle School Agricultural Extension and Education Center, located in Las Vegas, served all 384 students at Memorial Middle School in the Spring of 2011 and all 388 students in the Fall of 2011. Programmatic goals include , but are not limited to: 1) preparing youth for careers in the sciences, particularly for minority students who are underrepresented in these career fields, and 2) developing students with a variety of skill sets to prepare them for the many unique challenges their generation will certainly encounter in the future. Major programming efforts were delivered at each grade level (grades 6-8) in one of the following content areas: scientific method, agriscience, and emerging issues in agriculture and natural resources. Sixth grade programs include: exploring the scientific method through inquiry-based greenhouse and field-based experiments. Seventh grade programs include: the science and practice of sustainable agriculture and natural resource systems. Eighth grade programs include: renewable energy and natural resource conservation. Ongoing efforts to refine curriculum and the delivery model are designed to improve overall content of curriculum materials, improve science literacy, and enhance Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) learning. School district data for school year 2009/2010 indicate the following: 428 students, 89% Hispanic (N=382), 66% economically disadvantaged (N=281), 25% special needs (or are on an individual educational plan of which 29 out of 105 are considered gifted), and 16.4% are English Language Learners (N=70). As a result, a great deal of instructional modification is necessary to meet the educational needs of a diverse group of learners. Instructional modifications include: multiple teaching methods; differentiated instruction, including varied instructional approaches, varied instructional materials, varied instructional presentations and behavioral support. All students at Memorial Middle School were engaged by programmatic efforts (N=428); all science teachers (N=7) collaborated with the program; 33% (N=2) math teachers collaborated with the program; 9 cross-curricular programs were initiated with core discipline teachers. Two service learning projects were undertaken: acequia clean-up and local food donation from the school farm. Fresh produce from the school farm was used in the cafeteria for a farm-to-school program. A nutrition program was developed to complement nutrition education through the Health classes. Students (N=45) harvested fresh produce from the campus agricultural system, designed healthy snacks using the fresh produce and consumed the fresh produce in class. MMSAEEC organized with a campus faculty member for students in the AXED 485 Agriscience class (N=9) to conduct mini lessons with 7th grade students. Topics included: soil fertility monitoring, water quality monitoring and environmental effects on plant growth. Obj. 2 - Approval for human-subject research into the impacts of the MMSAEEC was continued by the NMSU Institutional Review Board. Two school districts are cooperating on a four-year quasi-experimental study to compare science achievement, agriculture and natural resource science achievement, leadership life skills development, and career interests between students participating in MMSASC learning activities for three years of middle school and students at a control middle school who receive their instruction without the agricultural science Center enhancements. Standards-based Assessment (SBA) science test scores have been obtained from study school districts and year one data collection is complete. Data was collected from 218 students participating in the program (treatment group) and 131 students in the control group. Data analysis for year one is underway. Sixth grader ag and natural resource achievement data for year 2 was collected in September, as was SBA data. Obj. 3 - MMSAEEC has developed collaborative relationships with fifteen non-profit organizations, foundations, government agencies, and other state institutions of higher learning. These collaborations further the missions of the partner groups, as well as enhance programmatic impacts achieved through these various partnerships Obj. 4 - Center recognition was increased through numerous venues. The MMSAEEC continues to update and improve its website and is now receiving exposure through external websites. Eleven tours of the center were provided to interested community members, parents of students, and University partner groups. Three fruit tree grafting workshops were delivered. The local paper featured center activities twice. I was an invited to speak about program inititatives in inquiry-based learning and experiential education at four different meetings. NMSU governmental affairs, the Associate Dean of Extension, and the NMSU Office of the Vice President of Research have requested information on the center for educational outreach purposes. One peer-reviewed journal article about MMSAEEC activities with national reach was published, a second article has been accepted for publication and a poster abstract was included in the proceedings for a national conference. Obj. 5 - Two grants were applied for and the Center was awarded two grants totaling $16,600.