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INVESTIGATOR: Kox, A.

PERFORMING INSTITUTION:
NORTHEAST WISCONSIN TECHNICAL COLLEGE
2740 W MASON STREET, PO BOX 19042
GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN 54307

IMPROVING ON-FARM EDUCATION THROUGH SIMULATION

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: The demand for agricultural workers in Wisconsin is increasing as the agricultural workforce is projected to have more than 4,500 annual openings between 2016 and 2026. Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC) prepares students for careers in Farm Production - Agronomy, Farm Production - Dairy, Sustainable Food and Agriculture Systems, and Landscape Horticulture. However, the agriculture cluster's programs are at a disadvantage when providing experiences via hands-on instruction because the College does not own a working farm. Students are not getting the opportunity to readily practice technical skills, leaving some graduates underprepared for employment, according to feedback from local employers.NWTC's Improving On-Farm Education through Simulation project hypothesizes that integrating use of a tractor and combine simulator in program instruction will provide graduates entering the workforce with the skills needed to successfully and safely operate a tractor and combine. Existing curriculum in select agriculture courses will be revised to include simulated hands-on experiences to address gaps in student skillsets noted by industry. Student achievement will be assessed in relation to the established outcomes of each course, based on faculty input and simulation exercise assements, as well as industry/employer feedback indicating that concerns mentioned at the start of the project were adequately addessed by the new training method. This project will touch five program faculty across the four associate degree programs and their embedded pathway credentials, as well as an average of 68 students annually.

OBJECTIVES: Graduates of Northeast Wisconsin Technical College's Farm Production - Agronomy, Farm Production - Dairy, Sustainable Food and Agriculture Systems, and Landscape Horticulture programs enter the workforce with the skills needed to successfully and safely operate a tractor and combine.Objective 1: Increase student comprehension of safety and ability to maneuver a tractor and combine in the farm field.Objective 2: Improve employer satisfaction with graduates.

APPROACH: EFFORTS:Purchase equipment--NWTC will purchase a Tenstar simulator equipped with multiple machine types (i.e., tractor and combine) and motion base. The College's Facilities department will identify and prepare a space for the unit in NWTC's Agriculture and Natural Resource Center and oversee installation.Test exercises--NWTC program faculty will test the simulator's pre-set exercises to determine appropriate lessons for student use by course.Vet exercises--Members of NWTC's agriculture program advisory committees will be invited to experience the exercises and verify their applicability for desired skillsets of program graduates.Revise curriculum--With the assistance of NWTC's Teaching and Learning Center, program faculty will modify learning activities in program courses to include use of the simulator. Assessments will be integrated within the revised curriculum.Offer revised courses--Use of the simulator will be piloted in each of the four associate degree programs. Students will sign up to use the simulator in 15-minute increments. Based on student experience and learning pace, they will continue to sign up until they pass the competencies.Gather feedback from internships placements--Instructors will reach out to employers to gather input on student competencies during internship placements.EVALUATION:Student Assessment Data (Formative--January-May 2021, Summative--May 2021): Student achievement will be assessed in relation to the established outcomes of each course. Each of the course competencies have performance criteria that establish what successful mastery of each competency looks like. Assessment will be done at two different levels: 1) Formative Assessment allows students to practice the competency of learning and will be measured by Tenstar simulation exercise assessments. 2) Summative Assessment will be conducted at the end of the on-farm training exercise built into the courses and based on student performance. Program instructors will also observe learner behavior and evaluate how well they model responsible behavior. The syllabus for each class will indicate the core abilities relevant to that class and how demonstrating these abilities will impact the final grade for that class. Core abilities measured for the programs include Demonstrate Personal Accountability, Work Cooperatively and Professionally, Think Critically and Creatively, Communicate Effectively, Solve Problems Effectively, Value Individual Differences and Abilities, and Demonstrate Community and Global Accountability.Industry/Employer Feedback (Summative--June-July 2021): Industry input related to student gaps in skillsets will be gathered at the start of the project via interviews. It will be compared with a post-internship survey to see whether concerns mentioned at the start of the project were adequately addressed by the new training method.