Agricultural educators know that preparing the next generation for Nebraska's largest industry is a responsibility that requires them to be at the top of their game. Sharpen your skills as a professional, increase your knowledge of advances in agriculture, and expand your ability to make a difference by participating in professional development opportunities!
Live Online Inservice, afternoons at 4:30 Central Time
Come join the virtual fun by attending a live PDW or viewing a previously recorded session. PDWs can be hosted by anyone (teacher, industry partner, state staff, college faculty, etc), so check back often for the latest list!
Future Sessions Include:
PDW meetings will begin again in August 2018
Join Now!
PDWs are hosted using Zoom Meetings as a free service to Nebraska Agricultural Education teachers. Join by computer, iPad, iPhone or Android phones. (Speakers and microphone are required for computers. Most laptops have these built-in. A webcam is preferred, but not required.) When joining your first PDW, it's recommended to connect 10 minutes early to be sure audio is working properly.
Can't connect via Zoom, or having audio issues?
You can dial-in by calling 415-762-9988
and entering Meeting ID 4026-1714-19.
Can't connect via Zoom, or having audio issues?
You can dial-in by calling 415-762-9988
and entering Meeting ID 4024-7100-15.
It's preferred that you connect via computer so that you can see the screen and participants.
Have ideas for future PDWs?
Contact Krystl with ideas and suggestions for topics and presenters.
Please note that the beginning of this PDW is a bit choppy with connection issues, but the latter half summarizes the beginning and digs into the rules and some clarifying questions.
Update from what was stated in the video: The students will be given 4 Petri Dishes of bacteria to count. There will be 2 General Bacteria Counts (lighter Agar) and 2 Coliform Bacteria Counts (darker Agar). The students will need to know which petri dish (agar plate) is used to count general bacteria and which one is used to count Coliform bacteria.
Fast forward to: Logging in and setting up teacher profile and classes (starts at 3:15); Adding students (starts at 8:30); Student profile (starts at 20:00); Adding student experiences (starts at 30:00); Managing placement experiences (starts at 32:00); Managing entrepreneurship/production experiences (starts at 45:15); Misc AET features (reports, text/email students, & more) (starts at 1:23:00)
As agriculture teachers, we’re also math teachers, English teachers, science teachers, etc. Check out this turn-key professional learning experience designed to enhance instruction in English Language Arts across all disciplines. Currently, three foundational webinars are posted (Core Instructional Model, Formative Assessment and Monitoring and Adjusting Instruction). Most recently, the first strategy specific webinar (Close Reading) was posted. Over the next few months additional strategy-specific resources will be developed and posted. The strategies include: RAFT, Text Coding/Think-Alouds, Self-Check Paragraph Writing, Peer Editing, Class Glossary Mixer, QAR, Inquiry-Research Process Writing, Informative Speaking, and Infographics. The resources are located here.
For more information about this experience, please contact Cory Epler (cory.epler@nebraska.gov).
Online, In-Person, and On-Site, Throughout the School Year
Nebraska Team Ag Ed offers professional development and support for teachers new to teaching agriculture in Nebraska throughout the school year. This support includes:
Monthly Zoom online meetings hosted by UNL beginning in September
Regular mentor support organized by NAEA
Fall Meeting at Ag Ed Symposium in Grand Island on Saturday, November 4; hosted by NDE
Spring Meeting at Leverage/Activate Conference in Kearney on Saturday, March 17; hosted by UNL
Beginning Teacher Institute (last week in July, dates TBD) in Lincoln hosted by NDE (recommended but optional)
Monthly Meetings
Monthly meetings are designed around a "just in time" philosophy based on the needs and upcoming events of a beginning agricultural education teacher. Each month, you can choose one of the two available Zoom dates to attend a meeting based on your schedule. The meetings on Monday of each month will begin at 4:00 CT, while the Thursday meetings each month will take place at 4:30 CT.
Beginning teacher monthly meetings are hosted using Zoom meetings as a free service. Join by computer, iPad, iPhone or Android phones. (Speakers and microphone are required for computers. Most laptops have these built-in. A webcam is preferred, but not required.) When joining your first Zoom meeting, it's recommended to connect 10 minutes early to be sure audio is working properly.
Can't connect via Zoom, or having audio issues?
You can dial-in by calling 415-762-9988
and entering Meeting ID 4026-1714-19.
Can't connect via Zoom, or having audio issues?
You can dial-in by calling 415-762-9988
and entering Meeting ID 4024-7100-15.
It's preferred that you connect via computer so that you can see the screen and participants.
Questions? Contact us!
Matt Kreifels Beginning Teacher Program Coordinator matt.kreifels@unl.edu 402.617.1419
Locations: Younes Conference Center and Kearney High School
Cost: $300, Check with your school admin about using Perkins or other district funds!
Participate in the annual gathering of Agricultural Education and other CTE teachers at the Younes Conference Center in Kearney!
NCE Registration Information
Tip: Be sure to talk to your administration early to explore the potential of securing Perkins or district funding for the conference. Hotel reservations are also the responsibility of the school/teacher.
Dates: Varies based on the workshop (see registration)
Locations: Central CC, Mid Plains CC, Northeast CC, or Southeast CC
Cost: Free
The Technical Skill workshop offerings provided this summer are set and we are excited about the training you will receive. Registration is open and ends on May 4th.
Click this button to see all the workshop offerings and details and begin your registration:
The State Department of Education is supporting your training by paying for the registration fee. If you have a change in plans, ALL CANCELATIONS without penalty must be done prior to May 18. If you cancel after May 18 or do not show up there will be a $50 Cancelation fee. There is a required number of registrants to offer a workshop in order to pay for the instructor and any materials used. Cancelations put us in a real bind so please follow the established guidelines.
If you want OPTIONAL graduate credit you can register now but the registration expiration date is July 9th. You will need to acquire a registration permission code from Jennifer Greenlee. Her e-mail address is jgreenlee2@unl.edu. You will need to provide her with the UNL course (ALEC 893) and section number you wish to enroll in. The section numbers are on the registration form. Once you have the registration code and you are a current graduate student you can enroll.
Here is the link to register to be a graduate student.
Location: Blue Hill Agricultural Education Welding Lab, Blue Hill, NE
Cost: $25.00, payable on-site
Instructor: Melissa Bonifas
"Questions about welding, but uncertain what to ask?” In previous summers UNL/ALEC and Melissa Bonifas have offered a unique 2 day welding workshop designed to ask those questions, and follow-up on practice welding technique for which participants are not certain or confident.
Melissa Bonifas and her father, Jon Moore, an accomplished welding entrepreneur, conduct the workshop and explore and discuss questions you need answered. Significant hands-on time is spent in the areas of SMAW, MIG and O/A welding to practice technique and build confidence. This workshop will be limited to the first 12 applicants and designed for both pre-service (undergraduates) as well as in-service instructors desiring to enhance basic welding instructional confidence. Opportunity may be available for graduate credit but will require independent study activity in addition to workshop completion.
Please register by Wednesday, April 25th.
With questions, please contact me.
Lloyd
Lloyd Bell, Professor
Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education & Communication
Teachers will receive curriculum that provides a framework for students to understand the complex crop systems involved in food production. This will help prepare students to make future personal decisions related to environmental sustainability. Teachers will receive a stipend and free agriculture sustainability curriculum. The program will take place in Grand Island. Specific location TBD.
Hosted by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the Nebraska Department of Education
Location: Waverly High School
Cost: $2,500 (and includes room & board)
Scholarships: Up to 20 partial scholarships are available for NE teachers through the Nebraska FFA Foundation. Scholarship application available on the Nebraska CASE Institute page.
Want to "up your academic game" in the agriculture classroom? Come immerse yourself in CASE, a nation-wide curriculum that integrates core academics and STEM principles into agricultural education.
From an email forwarded by Brent Nollette, NAEA President on 12/8:
NAAE Region III State Presidents,
I am sending this email to update you on 2018 Region III Conference plans. Please share with your membership.
The 2018 NAAE Region III Conference will start on Monday, June 18 and end on Wednesday, June 20th. We will be hosting the conference at The Hotel at Kirkwood Center on the Kirkwood Community College campus in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
We will be hosting a full day of workshops on Monday and at this time we are seeking proposals from ag teachers from all six states. Attached is the link to complete your workshop proposal for the planning committee to consider: LINK. Workshop proposals are due January 15, 2018. We will send out the list and description of selected proposals on February 1st.
We are currently verifying the hotel room reservation as well as the conference registration link and process and we should have that available at the Region III meetings at the ACTE/NAAE Convention in a couple of weeks. We will have four tour options (Tuesday afternoon) and they too should be confirmed by the time we get to the ACTE/NAAE Convention. Region III Conference participants will need to register for a tour option as a part of their registration so we can plan for transportation to the various tour locations. If an ag teacher is driving a van and would be willing to volunteer their van to a from a tour location please email me at blemmer@linnmar.k12.ia.us with your positive response.
Hopefully, in the next couple of weeks the planning committee will also have all information posted on the NAAE Region III webpage and social media to assist you and your membership with plans to attend the 2018 Region III Conference.
Location: Rock Springs Ranch 4-H Center just south of Junction City, Kansas
Time/Dates: Wednesday, June 27 starting at Noon through Friday, June 29 at 2:00 PM
Cost: Free—meals, room and board are included!
(Note, cancelling after June 23/no show teachers will be assessed a $300 fee.)
Exclusively for Ag Teachers from Nebraska, Colorado and Kansas...
Are you...
Trying to put the SAE puzzle together to fit in your program?
Struggling to figure out all the changes in SAE?
Wanting to discover how other teachers make SAE work for their students?
Looking for fellowship with Ag teachers from other states?
Craving fine dining, luxurious accommodations in a paradise resort setting?
If these questions (well, at least the first four) fit you, then look no farther than this year’s Tri-State Ag Ed Conference June 27th – 29th at the Rock Springs Ranch 4-H Center Resort in beautiful Central Kansas.
About the SAE Integration Conference
Year 5 of the Tri-State gathering is focused on helping teachers implement the new SAE for All program into their individual programs. If you’ve attended previous SAE workshops this past year or have never heard of the new concepts for SAE this conference is for you. Learn from fellow teachers about how they are implementing SAE into their programs for all students. Gain additional understanding of Foundational SAE, School Based Enterprise and the other changes made to SAE by the Council’s renewal project.
Register Now!
Registration is managed by the Smokey Hills ESC (Kansas version of ESU). Nebraska has 15 guaranteed spots and they will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis!
Cost: Free, including mileage, lodging, meals and parking!
The Career Education Beginning Teacher Institute will be held Monday, July 16 - 18, 2018 in Kearney. The Beginning Teacher Institute is designed for Career Educators who are finishing their 1st, 2nd, or 3rd year of teaching.
This event allows beginning CTE teachers to build positive, dependable, and supportive relationships among other CTE teachers in Nebraska. Additionally, the Beginning Teacher Institute will provide participants with practical skills that related to classroom instruction, student engagement, and classroom management. The participants will also explore ways to market and communicate the value of their Career Education program.
The expenses associated with participation in the Beginning Teacher Institute will be covered by the Nebraska Department of Education. This is made possible in part through the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006. This includes round-trip mileage to and from Lincoln, double-occupancy lodging (if more than 60 miles one-way from Lincoln), meals, and parking. Additionally, two graduate credit hours will be offered through the ALEC Department at UNL for those wishing to earn credits from their participation.
Because of the focused nature of this learning experience, a maximum of 35 participants will be able to participate. Once 35 participants have been confirmed, additional participants will not be able to participate this year.
Location: Briggs & Stratton Training Center – Milwaukee, WI or Field School
Cost: Varies
Hi Matt. We offer both a Beginner and Experienced Teacher School that is held at our training center in Wisconsin. We have also added options for you to attend one of our 3-day Field Schools if that would work better. Locations and dates are listed below as well as in our catalog that is attached. See pages 26-35 for more information and registration forms. We only have a few spots left in the June 11-14 Beginner School here in Milwaukee. Let me know as soon as possible if anyone is interested in this one so I can hold a spot on the roster.
Cost of the 4-Day Factory Beginner School is $1,000.00 and Experienced is $1,200.00, which includes 5 nights of lodging, breakfast and lunches on class days, all course materials, shuttle from the airport to the hotel and back, if needed, and shuttle from the hotel to our training center each day. You would be responsible for your transportation to/from Milwaukee. If you are able to attend, you may plan to arrive in Milwaukee any time on Sunday and depart Friday morning. Class runs from 8:00 am Monday through Thursday at 5:00 pm, with a dinner banquet at the hotel that evening. If your school is interested in purchasing our CE9001A Complete OHV Engine Kit (MSRP $9,246.00), then the teacher would be able to attend 1 of these schools at no charge, other than transportation.
Course fee for the 3-Day Field Schools is $500.00, not including lodging or transportation. This follows the identical agenda and you will receive the same materials as in the factory school.
Registration for the 4-day factory schools would be submitted to me and the field school registrations should go to the contact that is listed on each of those registration forms. Let me know if I can answer any other questions you might have.