Selecting, Planning, Supervising, and Evaluating Student SAE Improvement Projects

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Selecting, Planning, Supervising, and Evaluating
Student SAE Improvement Projects
Modified by Georgia Agricultural Education
Curriculum Office July, 2002
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What are Improvement Projects

• Series of planned, supervised learning
  activities, related to classroom instruction in
  some way, and designed to produce educational
  value for the student

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Where Improvement Projects Fit In

• Supplements and compliments rest of SAE program
• Need not relate to primary SAE program of the
  student
• Should relate to some aspect of the ag ed
  instructional program

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What Does Not Fit In

• Not a major category of SAE. Should not stand
  alone
• Routine parts of larger SAE program do not count
• Ex. Maintenance of greenhouse for student whose
  major SAE project is producing greenhouse tomatoes

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Purposes of Improvement Projects

• Skill development (occupational and avocational)
• Practical application of classroom instruction
• Pursue interests with support guidance of
  teacher
• Application of theory
• Economic and aesthetic return

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Selecting Improvement Projects

• Related to career goals
• Related to in-class instruction
• Provide practical experience
• Contribute to self, family, or community
• Realistic and do-able

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Planning

• Select tentative projects at beginning of year
• Teacher uses student SAE plans in constructing
  teaching calendar
• Student uses SAE plans when selecting class
  assignments when options are available

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Supervising Projects

• Teacher supervision visits are important
• Visits build community and parental support for
  program
• Student gets personal attention

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Evaluating Projects

• Summative
• Were objectives accomplished?
• Did student learn anything?
• Credit for grade
• Normative
• Do we need to change the plan?
• Self-evaluation by student

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Examples

• Install a computerized recordkeeping system
• Plan and install landscaping for home
• Build a storage building for lawn equipment
• Construct a nature trail for the elementary
  school
• Organize a soil test program for neighborhood
  homeowners
• Conduct a monthly adopt-a-highway cleanup
  program

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Recordkeeping

• Page 26, Virginia SAE recordbook
• Appendix N, Experiencing Agriculture manual