Posted: 12.05.2011

An agriculture instructor from Oregon High School wants to harness technology - and spread agriculture education into other classrooms!

Jillian Beaty of Milton is well aware of Wisconsin's current reputation with how it supports education - but it doesn't deter her from having a positive game plan for the future of her agriculture education classroom.  Beaty is currently pursuing a master's degree in instructional design and on-line learning.  She tells Pam Jahnke that one of her goals with this additional education would be to reach out to areas like metropolitain Madison.  Right now there's currently no agriculture education at all in the Madison school district but Beaty believes in the future she could offer a fully on-line agriculture education compliment that Madison students could access.

Beaty says she also watches methods used on the collegiate level to reach students.  "We need to develop programs that allow kids to use their I-Pods, their laptops, their smart phones - whatever technology it is  - we need to work with students in methods they use." 

Beaty says she stays encouraged about where Wisconsin's going with ag education by the recent decision by the Department of Public Instruction to allow agriculture education credits to also count as science credits with approved curriculum.  She says she also spends time selling her program back to administrators, school board members and parents.  "In 12 years of teaching I've had so many amazing students that have come through my class.  Some may gravitate toward agriculture or agribusiness others may go into business and never engage in the field - but I use all of them as an example of leadership."

Beaty is a former State FFA officer and current Institute Class V member.  She'll advance to national competition in January at the American Farm Bureau Federation convention in Honolulu.

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