Agricultural Communications/Agricultural Journalism
Agricultural communications focuses on the exchange of accurate information about the agricultural and natural resources industries through the most effective and efficient channels available using appropriate communication techniques and theories. Agricultural Journalism has been a program at Texas A&M University since 1918. Students in agricultural journalism take a core of courses including writing and editing. Students select from agricultural journalism electives in electronic media, public relations, publishing, and photography.
eLearning and Professional Development
A professional in this field should be competent in the foundations of teaching and learning in electronic-mediated settings, including adult learning theory, communication and facilitation techniques, knowledge and skills of technology interfaces and interactions, and administrative policies and procedures to support faculty and students. Designing and creating instructional materials that may be distributed via interactive video, Internet, World Wide Web, CD-ROM, and using Web course tools such as WebCT is important for providing access to education and professional development. Technology-enhanced instruction may include visualization tools such as streaming media, animation, simulation, and Web-based materials.
Extension Education
To be successful in change efforts, Extension educators must consider the whole educational process. Effective Extension education is based on clear understanding of potential program situations and clientele needs, strategic and tactical planning and goal setting, implementation of plans through appropriate methods and delivery techniques, and evaluation and interpretation of progress and outcomes. A longstanding Extension approach has been to involve local stakeholders, both key leaders and potential learners, in deciding the priority areas of Extension education and how Extension educators carry these out.
International Agricultural Education
We live in a global 21st Century-interconnected by culture, economics, environment, knowledge, technology, and social relationships. Forecasts point toward increasing global connections and expanding applications of intersecting educational technologies and networks.
International agricultural education, as a context, focuses on applying and balancing appropriate knowledge, skills, technologies, and policies in educational strategies associated with food, natural resources, environment, and quality of rural development. Interwoven throughout this contextual area is the development of cross-cultural understanding and cultural sensitivity while working with or teaching people who have diverse backgrounds, values, and ethics.
Organizational and Community Leadership
In studying leadership theory, one must realize that there is a difference between socialization of a leader and leadership theory education. Many successful leaders obtain their leadership skills from practice; in other words, they are socialized into leadership as they have learned from their experiences. The conceptual applications for leadership and community education include collegiate leadership education theory courses, student organizations, laboratory practice situations, and practical employment situations. In each of these leadership and community education contexts, students learn leadership process theories and they use analysis and evaluation techniques to synthesize theories into practice. This contextual application is applicable to any field in which the individual works with or affects people.
Teacher Education
The context of teacher education focuses on classroom applications or other formal education applications that require certification or licensing. Professional practitioners focus on curriculum development and program planning as related to classroom and teaching situations, educational technologies used to enhance instruction, and research related to teacher effectiveness and learner success. In the United States, more than 12,000 teachers of agricultural education are in public and private schools. Additionally, the context includes professionals employed as teachers of agriculture in community colleges, junior colleges, and technical schools.