Teaching and Learning Approaches in Agricultural Education

CONSULTANT BRIEFING

Teaching and Learning Approaches in Agricultural Education

A Consultant Briefing for Hiring Decisions

Demi Striglos

Educational Consultant

April 13, 2026

School District Board & Administration

Image credit: Talbert et al., 2022, p. 224

SLIDE 02

Introduction – Context & Purpose

Why This Matters

<div style="display: flex; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="color: #D4A017; font-size: 30px; line-height: 1.2; margin-right: 18px;">&bull;</div> <div style="flex: 1;">Your district is considering adding agricultural education</div> </div> <div style="display: flex; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="color: #D4A017; font-size: 30px; line-height: 1.2; margin-right: 18px;">&bull;</div> <div style="flex: 1;">Ag ed uses a unique three-circle model: Classroom, FFA, SAEs (Talbert et al., 2022)</div> </div> <div style="display: flex; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="color: #D4A017; font-size: 30px; line-height: 1.2; margin-right: 18px;">&bull;</div> <div style="flex: 1;">Effective teaching requires matching methods to learning goals</div> </div> <div style="display: flex; margin-bottom: 0;"> <div style="color: #D4A017; font-size: 30px; line-height: 1.2; margin-right: 18px;">&bull;</div> <div style="flex: 1;">Your teacher must understand how students learn, not just what to teach</div> </div>

Purpose of This Briefing

<div style="display: flex; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="color: #D4A017; font-size: 30px; line-height: 1.2; margin-right: 18px;">&bull;</div> <div style="flex: 1;">Identify 3 research-based teaching approaches</div> </div> <div style="display: flex; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="color: #D4A017; font-size: 30px; line-height: 1.2; margin-right: 18px;">&bull;</div> <div style="flex: 1;">Explain when and why to use each</div> </div> <div style="display: flex; margin-bottom: 0;"> <div style="color: #D4A017; font-size: 30px; line-height: 1.2; margin-right: 18px;">&bull;</div> <div style="flex: 1;">Provide hiring guidance for your new ag teacher</div> </div>

Agricultural education isn't just 'farming class.' It combines classroom learning, leadership through FFA, and hands-on projects called SAEs.

SLIDE 03

Three Recommended Teaching Approaches

APPROACH

PHILOSOPHICAL FOUNDATION

BEST USED FOR

Problem-Solving (Progressive)

Learning by doing; experience-based (Elias & Merriam, 1980)

SAEs, community projects, FFA activities

Skill Training (Behaviorist)

Practice, feedback, mastery (Talbert et al., 2022)

Technical skills, safety training, CDE prep

Student-Centered (Humanistic)

Self-direction, personal growth (Gailbraith, 1990/1991)

Leadership development, student-led learning

Source: Elias & Merriam, 1980; Talbert et al., 2022; Gailbraith, 1990/1991

APPROACH 01 OF 03

Problem-Solving (Progressive)

Philosophical Foundation: Learning by doing; experience-based (Elias & Merriam, 1980)

Students identify a real issue (e.g., soil erosion, food insecurity)

Group researches solutions using scientific method (Parr & Edwards, 2004)

Students test ideas and share results with community

Connect learning to real-world impact

Promote social change through experience-based education (Elias & Merriam, 1980)

Advantages

Highly engaging; builds critical thinking

Connects classroom to community needs

Aligns with SAEs and FFA projects (Talbert et al., 2022)

Disadvantages

Takes more time to plan and facilitate

Outcomes can be unpredictable

Requires skilled classroom management

APPROACH 02 OF 03

Skill Training (Behaviorist)

Philosophical Foundation: Practice, feedback, mastery (Talbert et al., 2022)

What It Looks Like

Step-by-step demonstration (e.g., welding, animal handling)

Students practice with immediate feedback

Mastery measured through performance checks (Talbert et al., 2022)

Purpose

Ensure safety and competency in technical tasks

Promote behavioral change through practice and reinforcement (Elias & Merriam, 1980)

✓ Advantages

✓ Efficient for teaching concrete, high-stakes skills

✓ Provides clear, measurable outcomes

✓ Aligns with industry certifications and CDEs

✗ Disadvantages

✗ May not encourage deeper critical thinking

✗ Students may learn the "how" without the "why"

✗ Less engaging for complex, open-ended topics

APPROACH 03 OF 03

Student-Centered (Humanistic)

Philosophical Foundation: Self-direction, personal growth (Gailbraith, 1990/1991)

What It Looks Like

Students set personal learning goals for their SAE

Teacher acts as coach, not director

Reflection and peer feedback built into activities (Gailbraith, 1990/1991)

Purpose

Support personal growth and self-directed learning

Facilitate self-actualization through freedom and choice

Advantages

Empowers students to take ownership

Adapts to diverse learner interests and goals

Develops leadership and lifelong learning skills

Disadvantages

Can lack structure if not well-facilitated

Harder to assess with traditional grading

Requires teacher to trust student direction

SLIDE 07

Matching Method to Purpose

Guiding Questions for Lesson Design

What is the learning goal?

(Skill? Awareness? Change?)

Who are the learners?

(Experience level? Interests?)

What resources are available?

(Time? Budget? Facilities?)

Practical Examples

Learning Goal

Recommended Method

Example

Teach safe tractor operation

Behaviorist

Demonstration + practice + competency checklist

Address local food waste

Progressive

Problem-solving project: research, design, implement

Develop FFA leaders

Humanistic

Student-led meetings, self-directed projects

Source: Adapted from Talbert et al., 2022; Parr & Edwards, 2004

SLIDE 08

Hiring Recommendations

What to Look for in Your Ag Teacher

Candidate Checklist

Interview Questions to Ask

Understands the three-circle model of ag ed (Talbert et al., 2022)

Can facilitate projects, not just lecture

Assesses student needs before designing lessons

Adapts methods to context (Progressive, Behaviorist, or Humanistic)

Values student experience and community connection

Q1: "Describe a time you helped students solve a real problem rather than giving them the answer."

Q2: "How do you balance teaching technical skills with developing leadership?"

Q3: "Tell me about a lesson that didn't go as planned. What did you learn?"

SLIDE 09

Summary & Key Takeaways

Key Takeaways

Agricultural education serves diverse learners with unique goals

No single teaching method fits all situations

Progressive, Behaviorist, and Humanistic approaches each have strengths

Your teacher should be a flexible facilitator, not just a lecturer

Next Steps

Include instructional flexibility in the job description

Ask scenario-based questions in interviews

Support ongoing professional development in facilitation skills

"Learning is a permanent change in behavior as the result of an experience."

— Talbert et al., 2022, p. 212

Thank you for your time and for the important work you do preparing students for the future.

CONTACT

Demi Striglos

Educational Consultant

[Email Address]

[Phone Number]

References

APA 7TH EDITION

Elias, J., & Merriam, S. (1980).

Philosophical foundations of adult education.

Robert E. Krieger Publishing Company.

Gailbraith, M. W. (1990/1991).

Adult learning methods

(with corrections). Krieger Publishing Company.

Parr, B., & Edwards, M. C. (2004). Inquiry-based instruction in secondary agricultural education: Problem-solving – An old friend revisited.

Journal of Agricultural Education, 45

(4), 106–117. https://doi.org/10.5032/jae.2004.04106

Talbert, B. A., Croom, B., LaRose, S. E., Vaughn, R., & Lee, J. S. (2022).

Foundations of agricultural education

(4th ed.). Purdue University Press.