Item No. 1 of 1

INVESTIGATOR: Milakovic, A.

PERFORMING INSTITUTION:
BISMARCK STATE COLLEGE
1500 EDWARDS AVE
BISMARCK, NORTH DAKOTA 585011276

NORTH DAKOTA AGRICULTURAL GEOSPATIAL EDUCATION TRAINING (ND-AGGET)

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: There is a huge potential for the application of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) technology in Agriculture. One such application is in accurate and evidence-based forecasting of farm produce using spatial data collected by the UAS. Utilizing the information gathered, farmers can provide fast and efficient solutions to detected problems and issues, make better management decisions, improve farm productivity, and ultimately generate higher profit. The primary goal of the ND-AgGET project is to provide an intensive K-14 teacher professional development training in agricultural applications with Unmanned Aerial Systems in North Dakota. The measurable objectives to reach this goal include: (1) by the end of year three, 40 K-14 teachers and faculty will complete the onsite summer professional development workshop for learning hands-on UAS technology use in agronomy; (2) by the end of year four, a minimum of 30 lesson plans for teaching UAS technology in the classroom will be posted on the Bismarck State College Geographic Information Systems Technology website; and (3) by the end of year four, 100% of the teachers participating in the train-the-trainer workshops will have increased knowledge and hands-on skills training in the use of UAS in agricultural science education and STEM careers. The ND-AgGET project will meet the project goal by using the USDA PDAL funding to increase the number of teachers and their students who will gain skills, experience, and expertise in state-of-the-art, immersive agricultural science education and technology.

OBJECTIVES: The primary goal of the North Dakota Agricultural Geospatial Education Training (ND-AgGET) is to provide an intensive K-14 teacher professional development training in agricultural applications with Unmanned Aerial Systems/UAS in North Dakota. This training will culminate in teachers developing lessons plans that will be available as OER to teachers across North Dakota.Potentially thousands of students across North Dakota and beyond will benefit from this teacher training as the lesson plans developed by teachers will be hosted online at the Bismarck State College (BSC) website for free download and use by anyone seeking curriculum to teach students about drone technology and agriculture. Teachers participating in the training will use the drone technology knowledge gained to capture raw imagery for students to analyze. K-14 students will gain a knowledge of the STEM careers available in the agronomy industry.