AEC Undergraduate Course E-Booklet

UNDERGRADUATE COURSES

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATION

AEC 3030C

EFFECTIVE ORAL COMMUNICATION This Department of Agricultural Education and Communication course is designed for any student with interests in enhancing their public speaking abilities. The class is divided into two overarching components: lectures and labs. Lectures focus on strategies and techniques for achieving public speaking success, while labs provide a unique opportunity to apply material learned in lecture.

After this course, you will be able to: • Demonstrate capacity for audience engagement and relevance.

• Demonstrate capacity for application of public speaking within professional and relationship-building contexts.

• Demonstrate the key elements of effective oral communication via public speaking.

• Demonstrate perspectives articulating and prioritizing the art of public speaking and persuasive communication.

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RESEARCH & BUSINESS WRITING

AEC 3033C

This Department of Agricultural Education and Communication course focuses on strategic written communication for agricultural and life science industries.

Students can hone their writing skills and gain experience in effective professional and scholarly writing. Emphasis is placed on ethics, responsibility, accuracy, clarity and style, as well as English grammar and spelling.

After this course, you will be able to: • Write effectively in both business and scientific contexts.

• Write using clear, concise and effective prose as well as accurate grammar, spelling and punctuation.

• Communicate information tailored to the needs and expectations of target audiences.

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AEC 3070C

DIGITAL MEDIA PRODUCTION This Department of Agricultural Education & Communication course focuses on the role of digital media in agricultural and life sciences. Course topics include how agriculture uses digital media production.

Students are introduced to video shooting and editing, digital photography, print design, and Web design through hands-on experiences. Students will learn skills and knowledge in digital video production and editing, digital photography, web layout and design, and print layout and design.

After this course, you will be able to: • Plan and perform the digital media production process. • Produce digital media and materials to support instruction and communication.

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INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION

AEC 3073

This Department of Agricultural Education & Communication course seeks to increase knowledge of the sociological, anthropological, psychological and linguistic perspectives of intercultural communication and to improve skills and abilities in this area.

After this course, you will be able to: • Recognize the broad range of theoretical, philosophical, linguistic, anthropological and practical issues involved in intercultural communication and cultural competence.

• Describe the essential role that culture plays on people’s perceptions, beliefs, communication patterns and behavior.

• Develop a cross-cultural understanding of the US society and the rest of the world.

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AEC 3209

INSTRUCTIONAL & EVENT PLANNING This Department of Agricultural Education & Communication course features the instructional methodology that involves the selection and use of innovative teaching, presentation, event and meeting planning, and evaluation strategies for teaching agricultural subjects in various educational settings.

After this course, you will be able to: • Utilize a variety of instructional approaches and methods appropriate for teaching in non-formal learning environments.

• Develop an educational event using appropriate instructional and event planning techniques.

• Describe methods to assess and evaluate the effectiveness of a workshop/presentation or event.

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DEVELOPMENT & ROLE OF EXTENSION

AEC 3313

This Department of Agricultural Education & Communication course is designed to foster an awareness of the history of Cooperative Extension, common programs within Extension, the leadership of Extension, and opportunities for Extension employment. A survey approach is taken; many topics are covered. Learners are encouraged to tailor course assignments to reflect their own interests.

After this course, you will be able to: • Articulate the process and philosophy of non-formal education as organized and conducted in Cooperative Extension.

• Identify, analyze, and evaluate the importance of emerging issues that may alter Extension’s programming.

• Evaluate program plans related to relevant issues faced by Extension or event.

• Articulate appropriate strategies for teaching different types of learners.

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AEC 3413

INTERPERSONAL LEADERSHIP This Department of Agricultural Education & Communication course helps students to have a greater ability for self-reflection, a more integrated philosophy of leadership, and a more transcendent perspective on how they and others in organizational contexts create meaning. This course will have application for contexts within the fields of agriculture, natural resources, and beyond.

After this course, you will be able to: • Become aware of, apply, and reflect upon personal leadership capacities through selfassessments and experiential learning.

• Synthesize course material in developing a personal leadership learning statement.

• Identify and develop your personal powers through a personal growth project.

• Create a personal leadership vision, which reflects personal values.

• Identify ways to integrate personal leadership in interpersonal relationships.

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LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

AEC 3414

This Department of Agricultural Education & Communication course involves an understanding of the dynamic interactions of personal characteristics, technical skills, interpersonal influence, commitment, goals and power necessary for effective organizational leader and follower behaviors.

After this course, you will be able to: • Recognize prominent historical and contemporary leadership theories.

• Identify components of historical and contemporary leadership theories.

• Analyze leadership theory and models.

• Synthesize leadership theory as a philosophy.

• Model leadership skills in your life.

• Evaluate models in leadership theory.

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AEC 4031

THE COMMUNICATION PROCESS IN AG. AND LIFE SCIENCES This Department of Agricultural Education & Communication course demonstrates how effective communication is at the heart of successful operation in every enterprise in agricultural and natural resource-based industries. This course is designed to teach communication concepts and the knowledge of how to apply those concepts in the workplace. All discussions and activities are planned to involve you in “real world” ways.

After this course, you will be able to: • Write promotional, persuasive, and news pieces for various audiences (mass media, internal, and external).

• Search for jobs in communication and leadership development.

• Think critically about issues facing the agricultural industry.

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ADVANCED AGRICULTURAL COMMUNICATION WRITING

AEC 4035

This Department of Agricultural Education & Communication course is designed to expose students to a variety of writing and desktop layout and design assignments that mimic the “real world” of agricultural communication.

The goal is to broaden students’ experience and move them as close as possible to the professional level by stretching them to learn more and apply themselves. This course will build on skills and knowledge gained in AEC 4031 and AEC 3070.

After this course, you will be able to: • Effectively edit written materials.

• Write for promotional and informational purposes.

• Lay out and design print and Web materials based upon principles of design.

• Use industry standard software to create print and Web materials.

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AEC 4036

ADVANCED AGRICULTURAL COMMUNICATION PRODUCTION This Department of Agricultural Education & Communication course provides an overview of advanced digital media production techniques. This course is a “practicum-based” course, meaning you are going to do major projects for the course’s grade. This course’s main purpose is to create professional-quality videos for educational purposes. The course will build on skills and knowledge gained in AEC3070C. After this course, you will be able to: • Plan and perform the digital media production process.

• Produce digital media and materials to support instruction and communication.

• Develop informational videos.

• Critically think about research being conducted at the University of Florida.

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COMMUNICATION CAMPAIGN STRATEGIES FOR AGRICULTURAL & LIFE SCIENCES

AEC 4052

This Department of Agricultural Education & Communication course is designed to help students develop and hone critical thinking, technical and creative skills in the application of communication principles and techniques to campaigns. It is designed to strengthen students’ understanding of leadership, followership and strategic communication principles and to provide opportunities for practical application of those principles to help solve problems or meet opportunities facing agricultural and natural resource organizations.

After this course, you will be able to: • Understand leadership and strategic communication principles.

•Solve problems facing agricultural and natural resource organization • Understand the process of creating a communications campaign • Create and implement a communications campaign.

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AEC 4065

ISSUES IN AGRICULTURE & LIFE SCIENCES This Department of Agricultural Education & Communication course is designed to educate students about major issues in agricultural and life sciences (ALS) and to expose students to a variety of methods used to effectively communicate, inform, and influence decisions about these issues.

All discussions and activities are planned to involve you in “real world” ways.

After this course, you will be able to: • Recognize and analyze current issues in agricultural and life sciences (ALS).

• Recognize contentious issues in agricultural and life sciences and facilitate consensus building and conflict management.

• Recognize components of crisis and risk communication management.

• Develop a crisis communication plan for contentious issues in ALS.

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TEACHING METHODS IN AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION

AEC 4200

This Department of Agricultural Education & Communication course is an instructional methods course that focuses on the selection and use of teaching strategies, methods/approaches, and techniques; evaluating learning; and managing learning environments for teaching agricultural subjects in formal educational settings.

After this course, you will be able to: • Develop interest approaches.

• Identify effective teaching strategies for agricultural subjects in formal education settings.

• Manage learnings environments for teaching agricultural subjects in formal educational settings.

• Identify what it takes to effectively teach through instructor and self-evaluations.

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AEC 4202

CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT AND ASSESSMENT IN EMERGING AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGIES This Department of Agricultural Education & Communication course is designed to expose students to appropriate teaching techniques, curricula and resources.

Emphasis will be placed on new and emerging areas in food agriculture and the natural resource sciences.

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After this course, you will be able to: • Develop an instructional program plan.

• Create a course syllabus.

• Create a written assessment.

• Choose appropriate formative assessment strategies.

• Utilize student data to make curriculum decisions.

• Summarize how teachers can communicate effectively with parents.

• Develop a classroom management plan.

SPECIAL METHODS IN TEACHING AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION

AEC 4224

This Department of Agricultural Education & Communication course places emphasis on supervised agricultural experience programs, record keeping and related FFA awards.

Classroom management techniques, discipline and liability issues are also discussed.

After this course, you will be able to: • Apply strategies for effectively teaching agricultural subject matter.

• Develop and implement an effective behavior management plan.

• Integrate critical, creative, and evaluative thinking techniques into instruction.

• Teach in informal settings including field trips, FFA trips, etc.

• Identify strategies for using FFA activities and CDE’s as teaching tools.

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AEC 4228

LABORATORY PRACTICES IN TEACHING AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION This Department of Agricultural Education & Communication course is designed to introduce pre-service agricultural education teachers to laboratory integration into the agricultural education curriculum at the middle school and secondary school level. Emphasis will be placed on skill acquisition, developing knowledge of laboratory components in agriscience, laboratory utilization, facilitating student learning in the laboratory setting, appropriate teaching methods and techniques, curriculum applications, and classroom resources.

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After this course, you will be able to: •Assess the role of laboratory integration in agricultural education.

• Properly design and manage student agriscience projects.

• Develop a system by which to evaluate agriscience laboratory activities and projects.

• Develop and implement an agriscience laboratory safety instructional program.

DEVELOPMENT AND PHILOSOPHY OF AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION

AEC 4323

This Department of Agricultural Education & Communication course involves the analysis of evolving concepts and philosophies of agricultural education programs with emphasis upon the history, legislation and principles underlying organization and practice.

After this course, you will be able to: • Explain the philosophical foundations of agricultural education.

• Describe the need for agricultural education in the public school system.

• Describe the primary responsibilities of an agriscience teacher.

• Create methods for overcoming challenges of an agriscience teacher’s career.

•Establish and articulate personal beliefs related to a philosophy of effective instruction.

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AEC 4417

LEADERSHIP FOR PERSONAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE This Department of Agricultural Education & Communication course prepares students for addressing complex personal and organizational issues related to leading change. Students will develop a systematic means for identifying areas of change, minimizing concern or resistance related to change, and implementing change practices within the contexts of personal and organizational change.

After this course, you will be able to: • Identify the processes related to planned change at the personal and organizational levels.

• Define the role of the change agent in affecting change.

• Evaluate models of change for personal and organizational initiatives.

• Enhance the communication skills required when working with people in organizations and agencies facilitating change.

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COMMUNICATION & LEADERSHIP IN GROUPS & TEAMS

AEC 4434

This Department of Agricultural Education & Communication course is designed to examine leadership as it relates to group and team behavior.

Topics will focus on: components of a group and team, relationships of group and team members, effectiveness of groups and teams, communication in groups and teams and leadership of groups and teams. This course is designed for all students who are interested in positions of leadership and who want to learn more about making the groups and teams they work with and lead more effective.

After this course, you will be able to: • Describe effective leadership and membership in groups and teams.

• Examine group communication strategies and techniques.

• Determine group and team processes, which include how they function, influences, and the stages of development.

• Analyze problems associated with working in a group or team the stages of development.

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AEC 4465

GLOBAL LEADERSHIP This Department of Agricultural Education & Communication course assists learners in developing the personal and professional competencies required for effective leadership in an increasingly global society. It offers an integrated, practical, and dynamic framework for students to learn how leaders must think, act and mobilize people to develop global literacy and 21st-Century leadership competencies.

After this course, you will be able to: • Have a sound conceptual and theoretical understanding of effective leadership for today’s world.

• Define global leadership knowledge, skills, practices, and values.

• Develop effective global leadership techniques.

• Apply leadership skills in the global workplace and multicultural contexts.

• Understand and analyze the dimensions of global work.

• Recognize, analyze, discuss, and evaluate the competencies of recognized successful leaders from the private, public and social sectors.

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CURRICULUM AND PROGRAM PLANNING FOR AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION

AEC 4504

This Department of Agricultural Education & Communication course involves principles and practices used in designing courses of instruction for effective teaching and total program development.

After this course, you will be able to: • Describe the primary responsibilities of an agriscience teacher.

• Describe the impact of the three components of the Total Ag Ed program on student learning.

• Define & design FFA chapter components, SAE programs, and Classroom/laboratory needs.

• Define & design the mission and goals of an agricultural education program using the Local Program Success model.

• Develop and follow an FFA program of activities.

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