Teaching collaboration brings Extension into the classroom

Extension specialists do a lot of teaching--at industry conferences, at public programs, and in the field--but rarely in a traditional college classroom. "It's kind of a shame, really, because there is a lot of teaching talent and expertise out there," said Stephen Nameth, ATI director and former Extension specialist himself.

When he had the opportunity this summer to return to teaching for a quarter, Nameth sought to break down some barriers and take advantage of a great resource right in ATI's backyard-- Extension specialist and plant pathology colleague Jim Chatfield. Nameth asked Chatfield to team-teach Plant Diseases of Ornamentals and Turf.

"I've done a lot of guest lectures, of course," Chatfield said, "but this is the first time I've had the kind of sustained contact with students that comes with a course that meets twice a week for five weeks. I loved it."

Nameth and Chatfield designed the course together, allowing each to make the best use of his areas of expertise. While both are plant pathologists, Nameth specializes in viral and bacterial diseases of herbaceous plants, while Chatfield's specialty is foliar diseases in woody plants and trees.

The students in the class were from a variety of majors--from greenhouse management to landscape to nursery and turf. Chatfield said it was particularly rewarding to get to know the students individually and understand how they might be using what they were learning in the classroom in their careers. "I'm out working in the green industry all the time," Chatfield said, "so I see the day-to- day disease issues that growers are dealing with and help them develop practical solutions. These are the kinds of issues ATI students will soon be facing as professionals."

The class was Nameth's return to teaching after a six-year hiatus, which began when he became ATI's director. "Most administrators I know say they would love to be able to teach again, but there's just not enough time," Nameth said. "Team-teaching made it easier for me to make time for the class, and I think the students really benefited from my and Jim's complementary styles and specialties."

-- Frances Whited

High-tech at ATI

The future is now thanks to $1.82 million technology grant

A professor steps into a classroom, clicks a remote, and a large image of a graphing calculator appears on a screen. Touching the projected image, he programs in a formula for a parabola. With a marker, he writes new coordinates on the screen, and the parabola changes shape to reflect the new coordinates.

It may sound like a scene out of some futuristic movie, but it's happening right now on Ohio State ATI's campus, thanks to technology purchased through a Title III grant.

ATI was awarded a grant from the U.S. Department of Education under the Strengthening Institutions Program of Title III in 2005. Over the five-year grant, ATI will receive more than $1.82 million to enhance instruction through technology.

Technology currently being used in ATI classrooms includes computers and ceiling-mounted projectors that allow faculty members to use PowerPoint for lectures or access resources on the Web and document cameras that can project real-time images of any static or moving object, such as insects or specimens of plant diseases.

Some of the technology being incorporated into classes is specific to a particular industry, such as radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology to track livestock and software that monitors feed mixtures for dairy cattle.

Laura Deeter has developed four horticulture classes that are delivered completely online, right through to the final exam. "My goal was to make our classes available to people who couldn't take them in the traditional format," Deeter said.

She makes the online resources available to her face-to-face classes, too. "Students can take practice quizzes online. I have put videos of plants on YouTube. It allows me to connect to students' different learning styles," she explained. "If they're visual learners, they can read it or watch the videos. If they're auditory learners, they can hear the narration I record." And because the materials are online, students can access them whenever and wherever they like.

ATI Associate Director Steve Neal is principal investigator of the Title III grant. He noted, "Our main objective with this grant was to create a contemporary learning environment for our students." Neal continued, "ATI faculty have made this happen by implementing web-enhanced instruction and by incorporating the latest technology into their courses. The improvements we have been able to make over the last few years have revolutionized the way we deliver instruction and greatly enhanced the student experience."

-- Frances Whited

ATI dairy judging team, Holstein herd earn kudos

What makes an outstanding dairy program? Outstanding students and excellent animals are surely two important factors, and ATI can boast of both this year.

ATI's dairy judging team, consisting of Sabrina Eick (Carrollton), Brent Hostettler (Wooster), Rob Watercutter (Anna), and Shawn Winner (Yorkshire), competed in a number of judging events in September. The team is coached by Royce Thornton, assistant professor and coordinator of ATI's dairy programs.

At the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield, Massachusetts, the team took first place overall, with Eick scoring as first individual and Winner as third individual. Team members also took home a fistful of awards in the individual breed categories and oral reasons. At the Invitational Youth Dairy Cattle Judging Contest at the Pennsylvania All-American Dairy Show in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, the team swept the Ayrshire breed category, with the team taking first overall, and Eick, Hostettler, and Winner placing first, second, and third in individual scoring.

But those were just warm-ups for the big one--the 2009 World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin. ATI placed first overall out of 17 teams, chalking up another national championship for an Ohio State team. Eick, Hostettler, and Winner qualified as All-Americans by finishing in the top 10 in individual overall scoring.

Like all ATI dairy students, the judging team members take classes in genetics and get first-hand experience in evaluating animals for breeding. "We select mate all our cows and are continually working to improve our herd," said ATI dairy herd manager Gary Crocker. This year marked the 11th straight year that ATI's Holstein herd was recognized by the Holstein Association USA as one of the top 500 genetic herds in the United States by receiving the Progressive Genetics Award.

"Students see how we pick bulls to try to get as sound an animal as possible," Crocker explained. "We teach them what we're striving to achieve and how we get there. Every dairy farmer wants to breed cows that will make him the most money." Down the road, that's a skill students can put to use in their careers in the dairy industry. And it's part of the recipe for success for a championship dairy judging team.

-- Frances Whited