MSU faculty turn farms into classrooms for Michigan teachers

By Andi Anderson

The Michigan NGSS on the Farm STEM Dairy Immersive Experience, sponsored by The United Dairy Industry of Michigan, was attended by teachers from across Michigan to learn how to incorporate agriculture and dairy farming principles into STEM teaching at Michigan State University (MSU).

The event, which targeted The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) for district curriculum directors, administrators, and science educators, introduced teachers to the foundational principles connecting agriculture with STEM learning.

During the three-day program, teachers were exposed to the way agriculture and dairy sciences overlap with basic biological and scientific principles by MSU experts.

Craig Rebich, a senior learning strategist for Vivayic, Inc., emphasized the importance of developing the next generation of agriculture and dairy professionals through such exposure to agricultural processes, which helps them teach STEM principles effectively.

The program, now in its second year, covers topics such as forage and row crop farming, soil health, and weed management.

Participants, including middle and high school teachers, toured the MSU Agronomy Farm to learn how various STEM disciplines are used in farming. Many teachers expressed concerns about their students' lack of understanding of how food reaches their plates.

Tasja Bovee, a culinary health and sciences teacher at Lincoln King Academy in Detroit, appreciated how the program helped her answer her students' questions about food sources.

MSU faculty members Erin Burns, Kim Cassida, Maninder Singh, and Barret Wessel demonstrated how STEM principles factor into their research and teaching, showcasing farm techniques that can engage students in learning.

Kayleigh Schneider, a sixth-grade science teacher from Kalamazoo, found the hands-on applications practical and relatable to students’ experiences.

Angela Gulotta, a learning analyst at Vivayic, highlighted the event's role in deepening educators' understanding of agriculture-related curriculum. “The key takeaway is having teachers equipped to do phenomena-based learning in their classrooms,” Gulotta said.

Overall, the event aimed to generate exciting and interesting interactions with students, helping them connect classroom curriculum to real-life agricultural practices.

Photo Credit: michigan-state-university-msu