Professional Development
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Each summer the Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation (IALF) partners with Local Hosts to offer two-day professional development opportunities for educators. The two-day in-person workshop is FREE to attend and includes on-site tours, hands-on activities, resource materials, lunches and more! These fast-paced professional development workshops give teachers, extension personnel, and others who educate youth the skills they need to implement many of the Iowa Core science and social studies standards. Using agriculture as a lens to teach provides students real-world connections and relevance to classroom material. Participants will leave the workshop with instructional strategies, lessons, and activities that can be immediately implemented into their classroom with little or no additional effort. With IALF's partnership through the AEAs, license renewal ($35.00) and graduate credit ($95.00) options are available for the workshop courses.
This year, IALF was selected as a STEM Scale-Up Program provider by the Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council. Summer workshops occurring from July 15-October 30 are open to all educators; however, they are also part of the STEM Scale-Up award program through the Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council. Educators who receive a STEM Scale-Up award from the Iowa Governor's STEM Council will have precedent to registration within professional development workshops from July 15-October 30. The STEM Scale-Up Award also provides a stipend to support travel and workshop attendance and materials for up to 25 youth.
June 13-14: Unbeknownst to you, Agriculture is Everywhere! (Oskaloosa, IA)
REGISTER HERE by 6/10/24
Explore how agriculture is a part of everyday life and your community. During day one, participants will get an opportunity to learn from drone, engineering, and greenhouse experts in agriculture. Participants will also have the opportunity to get hands-on experience with lesson plans and resources to help connect workshop learning to their classroom. At day two of this workshop participants will tour locations like a wind farm, explore technology at a cattle operation, visit an egg processing facility, and more!
June 18-19: The Engineering and Math of STEM in Agriculture (Fort Dodge, IA)
REGISTER HERE by 6/12/24
Engage in STEM exploration with a focus on engineering and mathematics in this workshop. During both days of the workshop participants will have the opportunity to learn first-hand from experts as they tour various locations such as a corn products plant (e.g. ethanol, corn syrup, and more!), vineyard, biotechnology company, and more! Throughout, participants will also have the opportunity to get hands-on experience with lesson plans and resources to help connect workshop learning to their classroom.
July 16-17: Plows to Pixels: Agriculture Through the Years (Sioux City, IA)
REGISTER HERE by 7/9/24
Learn about how technology is constantly changing within the agriculture world. The first day of this workshop will provide participants the chance to visit a variety of locations to learn about how technology within agriculture has changed over time. They'll visit a real-life farm operation and learn how the cattle industry has evolved, explore a production facility to see how the food and meat industry use technology including AI and robotics, and more! During day two, participants will learn from greenhouse, engineering, and literacy experts in agriculture. Participants will also have the opportunity to get hands-on experience with lesson plans and resources to help connect workshop learning to their classroom.
July 18-19: The STEM of Specialty Crops (West Des Moines, IA)
REGISTER HERE by 7/11/24
Lettuce, strawberries, and herbs are just a few examples of specialty crops grown in Iowa. Explore the STEM behind these crops at this summer workshop! During day one of this workshop, participants will learn about the STEM of specialty crops as they tour vegetable farms, urban agriculture, industry development, and more! Through onsite tours, participants will gather background knowledge of agriculture's use of STEM in rural and metro areas. During day two, participants will learn from extension personnel and other growers to help integrate growing produce in the classroom. Participants will also have the opportunity to get hands-on experience with lesson plans and resources to help connect workshop learning to their classroom.
July 23-24: Technology in Iowa Agriculture From 1800s-Now (Coralville, IA)
REGISTER HERE by 7/16/24
During one day of this workshop, participants will learn about STEM and how agriculture technology has changed over time to improve production and productivity. They will explore the STEM of the past and new innovations by visiting Johnson County Historical Society and a swine and cattle farm. Through onsite tours, participants will gather background knowledge of agriculture in their area. The second day will include guest speakers and virtual tours to observe processing technology. Participants will continue to learn about STEM and its connection to the agriculture industry along with how participants can implement these agricultural concepts into their classrooms.
July 30-31: Nothing to Waste: The STEM of Agriculture Co-Products (Mason City, IA)
REGISTER HERE by 7/23/24
Engage in learning how agriculture is sustainable through the use and development of co-products in this summer workshop. Through the workshop participants will have the opportunity to see a full-circle picture of agriculture. Day one will include tours that showcase products and co-products of agriculture including a honey farm, cattle feedlot production, landfill, ethanol plant, and more! During day two, participants will get an opportunity to learn from water reclamation, engineering, and carbon experts in agriculture. Participants will also have the opportunity to get hands-on experience with lesson plans and resources to help connect workshop learning to their classroom.
August 1-2: Exploring the Agriculture Story (Waterloo, IA)
REGISTER HERE by 7/25/24
Learn first-hand about the agriculture story from farmers in your area. Day one of this workshop will take participants to locations like a dairy to learn about production including ice cream, the John Deere Museum to explore the tractor story, a row crop farm, and more! During day two, participants will learn from vegetable, career, and food program experts in agriculture. Participants will also have the opportunity to get hands-on experience with lesson plans and resources to help connect workshop learning to their classroom.
August 6-7: From the Field and Beyond: STEM Careers in Agriculture (Irwin, IA)
REGISTER HERE by 7/30/24
Explore STEM careers in agriculture during this summer workshop. Day one will take participants on tours to locations such as an implement dealership, row crop and livestock operation, swine veterinarian, and more! During day two, participants will get an opportunity to learn from tomato, veterinarian, and technology experts in agriculture. Participants will also have the opportunity to get hands-on experience with lesson plans and resources to help connect workshop learning to their classroom.
If you have any questions regarding professional development opportunities, please contact IALF (info@iowaagliteracy.org)