SAG 2008 Winners

AgrowKnowledge, the National Center for Agriscience and Technology Education

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Project Goal

AgrowKnowledge, The National Center for Agriscience and Technology Education provides resources for community colleges with agriculture, food, and natural resource programs across the US to enhance teaching of geospatial technologies. Partly funded by the National Science Foundation as a national center of excellence, AgrowKnowledge offers national and regional workshops, a model program of study in ag geospatial technology with course outlines and lesson plans, an online clearinghouse and wiki. Resources are available nationwide to members.

Partnerships are a key component to developing rigorous resources that help produce a graduate prepared to work in the agricultural geospatial industry. Eighteen community colleges are the lead partners in AgrowKnowledge; four university council members provide a linkage to the university system; a 14 member industry council provides support and guidance; and an eight member National Visiting Committee provides a national viewpoint and direction
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Business Problem Solved

Agricultural industries are in a need for graduates with geospatial skills after experiencing an exponential growth in the use of geospatial tools by farmers. The demand for automated guidance systems, application control technology, and basic mapping and recordkeeping systems has created a demand for employees to install, update and provide technical support for these systems. AgrowKnowledge’s resources provide a means by which community colleges can create the graduate and employee that these companies need.

AgrowKnowledge recently changed the management structure in order to involve the partners and member more directly in the development of geospatial resources. Technology Resource Teams were formed, made up of partners and members. The Geospatial Technology team has experienced instructors, industry representatives, and university experts that help determine the geospatial activities. They help coordinate the workshops and instructional materials to be developed.

Technology Implemented

The main objective of AgrowKnowledge is the development of resources for education of geospatial technology skills, and promotes the use of geospatial technology as an instructional tool. Resources are disseminated through an electronic clearinghouse that allows members to submit instructional materials, staff to review the materials, and members to search and download the materials.

To promote geospatial technology as an instructional tool, there are materials offered through AgrowKnowledge that use GPS and GIS to teach math, science, and technical concepts. An example of this is a module on Data Collection that can be used within science or other natural resource course. The module uses simple GPS and GIS techniques to collect and map x, y coordinates and attribute data related to the science concept. This module is offered as a CD and basic material offered in a regional workshop.

Development Team Biography

Carmel Miller, Instructor, Bismarck State College; geospatial resource team leader
Rick Parker, Director, AgrowKnowledge
Terry Brase, PI, AgrowKnowledge.