Ag Ed 532 Class Blog

Respect Yo Mama-Ashley Abrams

2009-06-11T09:50:00.000-07:00

I was sold when I saw the name. Respect Yo Mama is a video about conservation and better caring for the earth. This 35 minute video costs just $13 and is appropriate for 7-12 grades.

Listening Center-Ashley Abrams

2009-06-11T09:44:00.000-07:00

This 6 Station Deluxe Stereo CD/Cassette Listening Center is a great classroom tool. Students can listen to convention speeches, podcast, and so much more. This is also a great tool to have for students on IEPs. This product costs $190.

Easy Grade Pro-Ashley Abrams

2009-06-11T09:41:00.000-07:00

This computer software system is a blessing when grades are due. It helps to manage student data by assignment, score, standard, and attendance. It is only $45. A great deal!!

Tuff-Cam Ashley Abrams

2009-06-11T09:35:00.000-07:00

Tuff-Cam is a student friendly video camcorder. It is durable, nearly indestructible. It has 3 mega pixels. It features a SD card slot and playback. It is suitable for Macs and PCs.

Classroom Jeopardy-Ashley Abrams

2009-06-11T09:29:00.000-07:00

Classroom Jeopardy is a great way to get students involved. This kit is perfect for reviewing before a unit test. Regularly priced at $550, it is available now for just $4oo. The kit includes "Think Music", a computer program to format as many games as you would like, three joysticks and three monitors.

Wish list for the classroom Dave Green

2009-06-11T07:05:00.000-07:00

This little beauty would be great to have in a class room, but when we dive into the legalities is gets a little sketchy. This is a cell phone jammer. Just think no more worries if students are texting each other the answers. Or distracting rings during class. Maybe someday it will be standard in schools for a jammer to be present and solve all of the cell-phone problems. Until then, be diligent, be watchful, and most of all.... Call your students during class to see who has their cell phone on and with them.

ELMO Dave Green

2009-06-11T06:55:00.000-07:00

We used this is class a lot but never really heard any background on it. Here it is, the ELMO. On the website you can see many different designs, other than the style we used here at school. I personally like the handheld wireless one that you can walk around with. That would be great to say "Everyone take a look at Billy's Paper, this is how you do #5.

Bilingual Training Dave Green

2009-06-11T06:43:00.000-07:00

Language Links, LLC has developed software for the dairy industry that is specifically for training employees that speak a different language. The software uses animations to help explain directions better. It designed to set up a milking routine and for everyone to understand it. It highly suggest you checking out their website. The video of the software running is very neat to watch.

Frontier Equipment Dave Green

2009-06-11T06:36:00.000-07:00

John Deere's line of Frontier equipment is proud to announce their new Grinder Mixer the GX1117. The GX is similar to other grinder mixers except for one major development. John Deere has removed all the mechanical drives for the augers and replaced them with hydraulic motors. This is sure to increase the down time due to chains breaking and belts loosing tension. The new hydraulic motors are sure to last a long time. The augers can now be driven as various speeds since they are now hydraulic ran.

CWT hoggy style -Dave Green

2009-06-11T06:29:00.000-07:00

A group of hog producers is currently working to form their own version of CWT (Cooperatives Working Together) for the hog industry. The CWT is a program for dairy cows that help stabilize the market by retiring cows. The hog industry currently does not have a program and Sows must be sold at slaughter prices rather then breeding prices. The new Swine CWT would help pay a higher value for the animals by members contributing $20 per Sow to the program.

Cows of the future - Dave Green

2009-06-11T06:10:00.000-07:00

We all know about "smart" phones, boards and other tools we use. But have you heard about "Smart" Cows? That exactly where the future of the dairy industry is heading. DeLaval is leading the way in this new and exciting technology. They hope to develop new automatic feeding systems that adjust to the cows needs, better milk quality monitoring tools, and more management tools to help herdsman's monitor larger herds. This technology will certainly help reduce many of the diagnosing problems associted with sick cows and can only improve our milk quality.

CNC Plasma Cutter -Dave Green

2009-06-11T05:59:00.000-07:00

A great tool that is well worth the money for the metal shop is a CNC machine. This is a plasma cutter hooked up to a computer that can do very intricate cuts. It allows your students to do great art work and pieces that they would have previously been unable to do. To get the full effect check the videos out on the website

Corn that isn't so thirsty -Dave Green

2009-06-11T05:39:00.000-07:00

Monsanto has done it again. Through their hard work and dedication to improving the agriculture industry Monsanto has discovered a naturally occuring gene that allows the corn to be drought resistent. They plan on breeding it into their drought resisitent line of corn as soon as possible.

Dealing with a diverse classroom-Megan Erf

2009-06-08T12:01:00.000-07:00

I know several of the "blockers" have expresses concern about dealing with special needs. This website is just the resource you need. On the web page there are several contributors you may deal with in your classroom including disabilities, gender, multi-cultural, special needs and more. Under each category there are several examples of qualification for that heading. You select a topic such as religion than there are several web pages and resources that can help inform you and give you ideas of how to include a student with those needs. As a teacher we need to treat everyone equally and we should do everything we can to help all of our students succeed.

Teacher Tacklebox-Megan Erf

2009-06-08T11:52:00.001-07:00

This is a great website with fun facts, general information and lesson ideas related to Agriculture.All you have to do is pick you topic :
Crops and Pest Management
Land and Resource Management
Livestock and Poultry
and The Farm
Under each topic there are more specific concepts that link to interactive web pages with fun and interesting ideas and information. This would be a great website to use as an introduction for your students to explore or if you have to teach a subject you are unfamiliar with you could also gain information from this site.

Notes Home-Megan Erf

2009-06-08T11:39:00.001-07:00

All teachers want active and involved students and parents. The question is how do you maintain communication with parents. This website has templates for all kinds of parent-teacher communication. There are templates for thank yous, field trip permission forms, progress reports, parent teacher conferences, and many more. The best way to prove to parents that you are there to help their child is communication. You need to be aware of this fact and do everything you can to help keep parents involved.

John Deere North American Farmer Game- Tara Z.

2009-06-07T20:12:00.000-07:00

Chances are most of the students we will be teaching enjoy video games of some sort, whether it be playing a Wii, PS3, or PC gaming. Amazing enough as it sounds, as teachers we can infiltrate this domain and make it educational. One game example is John Deere North American Farmer. This is a farm management game, where players choose livestock and crops to raise for profit. Players must also buy farming implements and buildings as well as other common farm costs. Factors like rain, timing, and quality of help will effect how successful your farm is.

This game could be used when talking about production agriculture, letting students get an idea about what it takes to manage a farm and have fun learning it. Of course, any game should be used in moderation, and the teacher should test the game out first to see what educational quality it has.

Agricultural Research Manager (ARM) - Tara Z.

2009-06-07T19:56:00.000-07:00

Have you ever thought about incorporating research trials for students to conduct in your class? A big part of any research project is data collection and organization. A great program designed specifically to analyze and set up agricultural research trials is a program called ARM, or Agricultural Research Manager.

ARM, according to its website, is "software for establishing, managing, and summarizing of herbicide, insecticide, fungicide, seed/variety, and fertilizer on single field or greenhouse trials. ARM produces the reports required for successful and timely trial management. Summary reports include integrated statistical analysis that automatically selects appropriate analysis of variance according to selected statistical design. Respected standard throughout crop protection industry in over 70 countries, many companies and hundreds of universities".

Using this program would help ensure correct analysis of tests performed, while also giving students a chance to use a data computer program and learn about statistics.

T. Fleischer - SeedTech Mobile Seed Cleaning Cabinet

2009-06-07T17:22:00.000-07:00

A breakthrough in cleaning and upgrading! A machine that literally pays for itself by being so sensitive in calibration that it can separate seed based on moisture and tissue development of the seeds density~ and thus dramatically improves seed germination. The STS-MC3 Air Separator uses a pressurized vacuum method to provide high efficiency cleaning and precise upgrade separations. Its mobile cabinet feature provides a portable & locking caster wheel operation. In addition, the STS-MC3 Air separator provides a vacuum system built-in the mobile cabinet for a quieter operation when in use. Whatever air velocity the operator chooses when seed enters the feed chute, the light, split, and other debris are lifted by air flow up through the column and are separated into 2 or 3 batching compartments.
Seed Separator Features
Built-in computer operated vacuum system
Portable and locking wheel control panel and cabinet
Permanent continuous feed separation
Virtually hands free operation
Responsive air and product control, LCD digital keypad operation
Total visibility of all product movement
Safety flow relay switch prevents seed contamination
User friendly
Calibration is fast and simple
No mechanical maintenance required
Environmentally clean
Fits into small areas
680 CFM (vacuum)

T. Fleischer - Dosatron Fertilizer Injector

2009-06-07T17:16:00.000-07:00

Sustainable fertilizer injection solutions for greenhouses, garden centers, and nurseries
For beautiful, healthy plants and blooms, professional growers have been turning to Dosatron for over 35 years. With Dosatron, your plants get the right amount of nutrients every time. Our versatile fertilizer injectors are the industry gold-standard for quality and reliability.
Our injectors are great for:
Fertilizers
Insecticides
Fungicides
Algaecides
Acids
Wetting Agents
Disinfectants
Compost Tea
Hydroponics
Dosatron fertilizer injectors can be used in a variety of installations and configurations; mount them on booms or benches, or use them in conjunction with our portable DosaCart system for fertigation dosing on the go. Increase your flow with parallel installations, or inject multiple nutrients with series installations. It’s all up to you!

T. Fleischer - Digital pH meter

2009-06-07T17:12:00.000-07:00

pH meters measure acidity/alkalinity. These units are accurate enough for testing the pH of fountain solution of printing presses, yet inexpensive enough to use at work or home for testing soil, water, food service compliance with HACCP regulations, tropical fish aquariums, aqua culture, hydroponic gardening and farming, winery/brewery process control, and swimming pools. They are even used by sushi restaurants to make sure the rice meets health department guidelines!HINTS: To test the pH of soil in gardens and lawns, mix two parts of distilled or de-ionized water per part of soil, let the solids settle to the bottom, and measure the pH of the solution at the top. To test rice, add enough distilled or de-ionized water to make the rice moist enough to measure. When checking cooked food, allow it to cool to room temperature, so the pH bulb will last longer. In such instances, a temperature compensating meter, such as the HI98127 or HI98128 will give more accurate readings.Conductivity meters measure either electrical conductivity (EC) as expressed in "micro-siemens" or total dissolved solids (TDS) expressed in parts per million (ppm), so you can determine solution strength without regard to "buffers" and other chemical agents added to maintain pH. Conductivity is important for water conditioning and treatment, environmental, and electro-plating applications. In hydroponic gardens and farming, greenhouses and aqua culture, measurement assures the proper level of fertilizer is being dosed. All units are rugged, pocket-size, battery operated (batteries are included), and have LCD displays. They measure directly with no need to remove messy samples.

T. Fleischer - Argus Environmental Control

2009-06-07T17:07:00.000-07:00

The Argus System is designed for comprehensive control in a wide range of agricultural, horticultural, and other protected production system applications. Its extensive features include: sensor measurement, equipment control, data logging, monitoring, and alarms. Standard system features include comprehensive software modules for controlling environment, irrigation, and nutrient management, as well as many other types of equipment control.
Each Argus System consists of:
a fully integrated environmental and irrigation control system
an advanced data recording program
a sophisticated and highly configurable equipment monitoring and alarm system For maximum safety and reliability, Argus uses dedicated control hardware and software. The PC that is used to access the Argus System does not control the greenhouse. All control programs and settings are located and run on dedicated Argus controllers that have been specially built for this purpose. They provide reliable, real-time operation in dynamic horticultural environments. Whether your PC is directly connected or operated remotely, dedicated Argus controllers are constantly monitoring and managing your equipment. In this way, even if your PC is turned off or breaks down, the controllers continue to do their job. With distributed control, each controller on the network maintains its own settings and programs, and keeps working even if there are problems with other components of the system.

T. Fleischer - Batwing Mover

2009-06-07T16:55:00.000-07:00

The Multicut Batwing Mower is manufactured using state-of-the-art design criteria and highly modern construction techniques. The device consists of three rear lawn mowers with vertical axels, each 150 mm, mounted on a single chassis which can be connected up to any 60 HP tractor.
A perfect combination of speeds of 10/15 km per hour, reduces the number of cutting operations, work times and labor costs while making each lawn mower three times as efficient. The result is lowered fuel consumption and less pollution from the tractor.
The batwing mower is also extraordinarily easy to transport. The machine uses a three cylinder hydraulic system designed to fold the mowers vertically when work is complete, reducing the width of the device to just over 7 feet.
$8700.00

T. Fleischer - Proven Winners

2009-06-07T16:47:00.000-07:00

Woo-hoo! There is nothing more super than Superbells. If there was a word that meant extra, extra super it still wouldn’t be as super as we are. Calibrachoas are a new type of plants that sort of look like little Petunias, which makes sense seeing as we’re related. Only Superbells aren’t sticky, perk right back up after it rains, and stay compact and bushy even when we’re stressed. Superbells are Proven Winners’ newest Calibrachoas. We’re the ones covered with hundreds of flowers from early spring all the way through those first light frosts. Just 6 - 10 inches tall, our long, long, trailing branches cascade over the sides of hanging baskets and other containers, and spread over flower beds. Hummingbirds are cuckoo about us. Vigor, heat tolerance and resistance to disease are traits we all share. So is being an annual except in zones 9 - 11. You don’t have to deadhead old flowers or pinch back stems. Water only when the top of the soil feels dry. Too much water makes our roots rot (Ick). Full sun. Fertilize once a month. How extra double super easy is that? "A Real Simple magazine – Top 10 goofproof Plant"

T. Fleischer - Coffee Harvester

2009-06-07T16:35:00.000-07:00

This machine makes coffee harvesting easy. The plants go through the harvest area, staying alive, and the beans are knocked into a hopper. The only downfall is that it cannot dintinguish between ripe and unripe coffee.

Teacher Tools-Megan Erf

2009-06-07T16:11:00.000-07:00

This website has all kinds of different templates to make worksheets, crosswords, word searches, awards, and more. All you have to do to make one of these documents is pick what you want to make, and enter your information and preferences. There are also several resources including educational games, calculators, and web site makers. Almost any type of document or tool you could want when you teach can be found on this website.

Online woodworking plans-Megan Erf

2009-06-07T11:21:00.000-07:00

This website is a great resource for both you and your students. If you are trying to come up with a new woodworking project for your students or if your students can't come up with a project of their own. Use this website that has over 700 plans for woodworking projects. This website has plans for everything from bird feeders to beds and workbenches to jewelry boxes. All of the plans include a materials list and detailed drawings of the projects.

Lesson Plans-Megan Erf

2009-06-07T10:24:00.000-07:00

Having trouble creating a lesson plan that introduces the concepts you want your students to know. This is a great website that has lesson plans and PowerPoint's for almost any topic you would want to teach. The resources are organized according to the headings of Animal Science, Plant Science, Ag. Mechanics, Ag. Business, FFA/Leadership and Misc. This website was developed by Agriculture educators, and Business men around the Nation. This is a great website to help you get ideas flowing and to just look around at resources other Ag teachers use. You can also download the PowerPoint sand worksheets and edit them to fit your lesson.

Webcam Learning- Tara Z

2009-06-07T10:05:00.000-07:00

Webcams can be used for different applications besides just chatting to someone face to face. Did you know that zoos use webcams in their exhibits? If you search online you may be able to see different animals involved in their daily activities.

Another great idea in using webcams is for SAE projects. Install a webcam into a brood mares or another breeding animals stall. The student can monitor the progress of their animal indoors and the footage could be used in the classroom to teach about reproduction. Students can watch how pregnant animals behave before giving birth and see the process. If a vet is required, students can also see what steps they take and what tools are necessary for a successful birthing. For ideas on lesson plans with webcams or other ideas, visit ReadWriteThink.

SAE's-Megan Erf

2009-06-07T09:59:00.000-07:00

How can I introduce SAE's to help students better understand but without shoving loads of information down their throats. This is a great video in You Tube that introduces SAE's. This video helps to introduce fundamentals including what the diff rent types of SAE's are, What activities could be considered an SAE, what skills you can get out of a SAE, and much more.

I would use this video as an introductory approach to teaching SAE's. I would then go more in depth on SAE's and what you as a teach expect from your students in regards to their SAE.

Interactive Farm Safety-Megan Erf

2009-06-07T09:49:00.000-07:00

Even though a majority of your students do not live on a farm it is still important to educate your students about farm safety. This is an interactive website where students can dive a tractor through a farm and click on hazards that can be found around a farm. students will learn about animal safety, PTO safety, hazardous material safety and more. Not only do students get a chance to interact and find the dangers once they click on the danger the website shares facts about the specific dangers.

I think this website would be a fun and interesting way for students to explore and learn about farm safety on their own. After each student has gotten a chance to explore the website you could host a class discussion about the findings.

Got Milk Vending? - Tara Z.

2009-06-07T09:03:00.000-07:00

Milk... it does a body good. But did you know it can do your agricultural education program good too? Different agriscience programs across the U.S. have become a part of the milk vending program. The ag department can receive a grant for the purchase of a milk machine, where students will be in charge of ordering products, stocking the machine, and keeping the budget. The profits can be used for scholarships, classroom materials, or trips.

Milk in school is important and a great alternative to pop. According to Wisconsin Dairy, "calcium is especially important for adolescents. Nine out of 10 girls and 7 of 10 boys are not getting the calcium they need to build strong bones and reach maximum growth. Flavored milks, featured through milk vending machines in schools, are great alternatives to empty calorie carbonated beverages and sports drinks since they contain all the same nutrients as regular milk and have half the added sugar found in soft drinks and many juice drinks".

Ideas for your Reporter- Tara Z.

2009-06-07T08:31:00.000-07:00

The reporter in an FFA chapter has been in charge of taking pictures and writing newspaper articles for years. Why not update this position with technology? As popular as the Internet is today, as many people cannot live without it, use this tool for your advantage. Use the web to showcase your FFA and classroom activities.

When going through the officer selection process, it might be wise to have a reporter and an assistant reporter who is tech savvy. Between the two of them, great photographs will be taken of events, dazzling newspaper articles published, and a bright website to give your chapter the polish it needs. Upload photos onto the website letting the community and parents see what their young people are doing. A website can be built in different ways. First, ask your school about their server and how their website was created. See if you can pony onto their site. Or, another example is creating one online through a site like Web Piston. This site has different formats and ideas to choose from and lets you build a website before paying any fees. Needless to say, having a website is a great idea to reach out to the local community and abroad to let them see what great things your chapter is doing.

Fish in the Classroom- Tara Z.

2009-06-07T08:13:00.000-07:00

If you want to broaden your horizons in the classroom, why not try aquaculture? Depending on the amount of space you have available in your lab, you can have a lot of versatility. The main things you need to get started are a tank, an aerification system, a water maintenance schedule, and your fish of choice. A cool program I read about from Trout Unlimited was called "Trout in the Classroom". Through this program students squeezed eggs from female trout and fertilized the eggs with milt from the males at a fish rearing facility. They were then able to take the eggs back to their home school to raise into "fingerlings". Once the fish were big enough, the students would release the trout back into streams to help the local fish population.

This would be a neat program to discuss wildlife management, life cycles, and maintenance of a large fish tank. Or, fish could be produced for consumption and students could learn about marketing their fish for sale, proper fileting, and food safety. A "fish cam" could be installed to watch and monitor the fish as well.

Portable Weigh Scales- Tara Z

2009-06-07T07:51:00.000-07:00

It's summer time... meaning one day we will be out and about doing our home visits for SAE projects. The question always comes up- what does my animal weigh? What should my feeding plan be for the next months to better prepare my project?

A great way to answer these questions is through a portable weigh scale. You can hook it up to the back of your truck of choice, I would choose a Ford myself, then haul it a students house who has a livestock production project. This scale provides accuracy in the field and easy manueverability to a barn door. Watch out weight tape! You can find out more information at Rusty's Weigh Scales.

Auto Darkening Helments-Felicia Quaintance

2009-06-03T06:33:00.000-07:00

Along the lines of safety. Welding can be extremely harmful to your eyes. For this reason, it is crucial to always wear a welding helmet when welding. However, with the older helmets it can be difficult to see your work to start and it requires removing your element to examine your work or move around. One of the newest technologies in welding is the auto darkening helmet that starts out clear and as you create an arc it darkens to protect your eyes. When your finished, it goes clear again. These are relatively expensive pieces of equipment but extremely handy to have.

Sawstop-Felicia Quaintance

2009-06-03T06:29:00.000-07:00

In agricultural education, safety is always a key factor in consideration. We want students to be able to have the best hands on experience in the safest environment. One of the best creations to help provide the environment in the shop is the SawStop. The saw is able to stop the blade within 5 milliseconds of detecting human skin. This is a significant safety factor considering older saws without such technology will cut anything in it's course.

TeacherTube-Meagan Laird

2009-06-02T20:16:00.000-07:00

We have all heard "don't re-invent the wheel!" Well, here is a perfect example of not doing that! Teacher Tube is like You Tube, but it contains educational content that is appropriate for a classroom. This would be a good source for interest approaches, etc. You could also have students upload content that is relevant to what you are discussing in class as a project!

http://www.teachertube.com/

Quotes to Inspire Students-Meagan Laird

2009-06-02T20:10:00.000-07:00

I found this website in route for quotes for my philosophy statement and thought that it was neat and would be good for students to find their favorite. It has a key word like (fire, courage, inspiration, etc.) that you can search. You don't have to sift through to find a good quote because they are all good! This could be used in the classroom for students to maybe develop their own philosophy statements!

http://www.motivational-inspirational-corner.com/getquote.html?startrow=11&categoryid=48

Educating Students Video-Bowersox

2009-06-02T16:26:00.000-07:00

I thought this video was really cool!!! Students in a Botany class are growing orgnic plants that are being used in the school cafeteria. Students outside of the ag. classroom are learning about sustaining the environment! It dosen' t stop there!!! Students are learning about the financial side of things as well as maintaining the safety of the envionment. I know this doesnt't extactly state any new type of technology, but I thought this was really cool to see another teacher educating students about agriculture.

Check it out Reusable lessons!!!!

Updated Video Camera-Bowersox

2009-06-02T16:12:00.000-07:00

Canon VixiaHF200 is a featherweight midrange camcorder, and its 2.8-inch-by-2.4-inch-by-4.9-inch dimensions. It fits comfortably into a jacket pocket and is very comfortable to grip and use. In addition to the usual--white balance, image effects, digital effects, video quality, and still-photo size, program, and a handful of scene modes--the camcorders offer real shutter- and aperture-priority shooting modes with a shutter speed range of 1/8. This would be handy to take on field trips, conventions, and such. Also students could utilize this camera to make videos for the class to use; for example record livestock for General Livestock CDE.

Touch. Learn. Together.-Bowersox

2009-06-02T16:00:00.000-07:00

Students are drawn to work and come together in hands-on, collaborative activities with the Smart Table!

The SMART Table is the first multitouch, multiuser interactive learning center that allows groups of students to work simultaneously on its surface. The table is designed to encourage collaboration and it gives teachers flexible content options. Teachers can use customizable, ready-made activities or create their own. And the table is ready to use instantly, so it's easy for both students and teachers.

SMART Audio-Bowersox

2009-06-02T15:56:00.000-07:00

SMART Audio, will insure that students will catch every word spoken in class.
This classroom amplification system distributes sound evenly throughout the room, so students can hear clearly, no matter where they’re sitting! SMART Audio includes speakers, wireless teacher and student microphones, a receiver and sensors.

You can take the SMART Classroom Tour to see how SMART Audio works.

Digital Note Taking-Bowersox

2009-06-02T15:28:00.000-07:00

DigiMemo is a digital notepad with a pen very similar to an ordinary ink pen. It senses the pen movements while you are writing or drawing on regular paper and saves this information as BMP, JPG, GIF or PNG format or as PDF file. DigiMemo stores this information in its built-in memory or in an optional flash memory for expandable capacity. The files can be transferred to a computer hard drive via USB port, or sent by cell phone. DigiMemo lets users digitally view, edit, organize, email and share their handwritten notes without having to scan them.

This technology would be very useful to students when having to take daily notes. Often students are worried about writing their notes down, rather than actually listening and making meaning of what the teacher is saying. With DigiMemo students can organize their notes after class and collaborate with others to fill in and get feedback on certain notes.

Quiz Tablet-Bowersox

2009-06-02T14:33:00.000-07:00

The Qwizdom Q7 Tablet combines RF technology, presenter controls, and response-system interactivity. Teachers can use this to enter a question into the Q7 tablet on the fly and see the statistics on that question on the tablet’s built-in LCD screen. The tablet use RF to communicate with a computer and the RF session is specific to each tablet, so no cross communication can take place between tablets. The keyboard template is built right into the top of the tablet. The tablet ca be customized for use with any software application and has a large backlit LCD that can show speaker notes and student response data.

Money-Management Teaching Tools-Bowersox

2009-06-02T14:18:00.000-07:00

Junior Achievement Creates Free Money-Management Teaching Tools

Junior Achievement Programs - Junior Achievement $ave, USA Materials created a new series of free, downloadable teaching tools to help teach children about smart money management. The lessons, called Junior Achievement $ave, USA, cover topics over budgeting, the importance of saving, understanding the cost of credit and how to use it, and planning how to pay for college.

This could be very beneficial to use in an Ag. Business classroom when teaching about budgeting and such.

Google Sketch Up-Bowersox

2009-06-02T14:15:00.000-07:00

Google SketchUp

“Students get excited about 3D modeling with SketchUp. Use 3D modeling to explore concepts and ideas!” Google For Educators - SketchUp

SketchUp is an example tool for teaching kids to assemble 3D models of buildings, trees, cars, and the like. As a teacher, you can use it as a “stand-alone tool, or in conjunction with Google Earth and the 3D Warehouse.”

“There are any number of lessons – from learning about area and volume to studying building and community design – whose concepts are best illustrated in 3D. Students can use SketchUp to visualize geometry and other mathematical concepts, create models to learn about architecture, and design everything from games and toys to models of spaceships and cars.”

This would be a fun tool for students to use in an agriculture classroom when working with construction. It is a very hands-on application that would show students relevance to class material and content.

Digital Storytelling-Bowersox

2009-06-02T13:52:00.000-07:00

“Pedagogy that resonates teamed with a practical road map for teachers exploring the digital frontier—the best new media guide for teachers by far!"—Suzi Gould, Director

This book is useful for teachers that are interested in utilizing tools of digital technology to teach students to be creative and powerful storytellers. This could be very helpful to use in the classroom to gather and maintain student interest. As educators we want to incorporate and build literacy skills in our students, and this tool could be a stepping tool to improve those skills.

http://http//www.corwinpress.com/booksProdDesc.nav?prodId=Book229157

32GB USB Flash Drive Has An eSata Connector On The Other End- Matt Bennett

2009-06-01T11:04:00.000-07:00

Holy Cow, are you kidding me, here they are offering a 32 GB flash drive that not only connects into the everyday USB drive but also has taken it a step further and on the other end you can attach it to an eSata port. That is freaking unreal. I like this idea. Sanwa has taken your normal, everyday USB flash drive and simply added an eSata connector to the other end, allowing for transfer speeds of up to 75MB/sec if your PC happens to have an external eSata port. The flash drives, which not surprisingly are only available in Japan, will come in 16 & 32GB capacities and will hopefully not cost much more than a similarly equipped USB-only flash drive, but don't count on it.

LG Launches DTXTR Site To Translate Text Messages - Matt Bennett

2009-06-01T10:59:00.000-07:00

Holy Crap, Steve i saw this and immediately thought of you. This would be a great way to have your students keep texting you even though you have no idea what their codes mean. Now you can just enter them in the Teen Text Column and this DTXTR will translate what they mean in english. That would be very helpful, and as long as you keep it our little secret. The students will think you are hip and cool.

LSTM- Laughed Silently to Myself.

The Cocoon Laptop Case Featuring The GRID-IT Organization System- Matt Bennett

2009-06-01T10:49:00.000-07:00

Now Only $ 69.99
Now if you’re the type who just crams all of their toys in a bag and couldn’t care less about what happens to them, there’s a good chance you’ll have no interest in this post. But if you’re like me and need to be assured your stuff isn’t going to get dinged or scratched up in transport, you might want to take a few seconds and check out my hands-on look at the Cocoon laptop bag.

This would be great for like your ag sales, or ag communications teams, where the students know where everything is and that you can do a quick glance and know if they have everything that they are supposed to have.

THE WORLD’S FIRST AND ONLY PORTABLE BLU-RAY DISC PLAYER- Matt Bennett

2009-06-01T10:46:00.000-07:00

This would be great to take on trips with your students because you can have them entertained and they are behaving, and the blu ray discs are going to be around for a very long time, so you don't have to worry about them being all outdated and what not.

Designed to provide the ultimate High Definition Blu-ray experience for those on the go, the B15 features a high quality 8.9-inch WSVGA LCD screen and includes Panasonic’s VIERA CAST™ internet accessibility and BD Live functionality, as well as a SD Memory Card slot. The B15 will be available in June and will have an SRP of $799.95.

The DMP-B15 includes all the technology found in its stand-alone counterparts, the DMP-BD60, DMP-BD80 and the VHS-Blu-ray dual player DMP-BD70V. Image quality is of the highest level

Energizer Induction Charging System for your Wiimotes!- Matt Bennett

2009-06-01T10:43:00.000-07:00

By having a wii to start with would be great and they would be practicing their Healthy Lifestyles. But by not having to buy batteries, you could just take this along use it and then plug it in, right next to your cell phone. It is going to be a great way to entertain kids, and keep them from doing really bad things.

Sim Card Spy Ear - Power Extension Eight Sockets- Matt Bennett

2009-06-01T10:40:00.000-07:00

It's not ONLY a Normal Power Extension Bar, Slot your Sim Card and works as a Spy Ear!

Slot the Sim Card inside this Power Extension Socket, place it under the table and start your spy work! It is a Real Power Extension Bar support with 8 sockets. Also, the device can be recharged, it can still work for spy ear even not attach to the power outlet. You can place it ANYWHERE without notice by others!!This is a unique way to make sure that your students are behaving and that your substitute teacher is doing what they are told. Even better you can put this in a hotel room and make sure those students are not drinking. But make sure that your administration is ok with this, don't be using this the wrong way and get into major trouble.

Travel Honey GPS-S.ANGEL

2009-06-01T10:16:00.000-07:00

At 53.87 it is easy to see that this GPS could be a valuable tool in marking tress for a forestry lesson. Find a tree that needs fallen, mark it, and return to it later with this helpful and financially responsible GPS tool.

The last time we saw a simplified GPS homing device about, we weren't too terribly impressed. Sure, the premise was solid: press one button to lock in the position of your car (or the gold of Dresden), and it will return you to its location after your day at the mall (or after you've successfully evaded capture). But who wants to spend $80 on a glorified key fob? Not us, that's for sure. For a less pricey alternative, you might want to check out a little something called the Travel Honey. Distributed by Chinavasion, this bad boy not only functions as a stand alone unit, lighting up as you zero in on your target, but it can also connect to your PC via USB for use as a full-blown GPS unit (software not included). And if all that weren't enough, it will also log your various locations in a text file (perfect for keeping track of mileage and geotagging photos). Available now for $53.87.

Ultra-Powerful laser could make incandescent light bulbs more efficient- S. Angel

2009-06-01T09:54:00.000-07:00

Darren Murph wrote and posted this on engadget.com on 5-31-09.-Look, LED light bulbs are fanciful, great for Ma Earth and a fine addition to any home, barber shop or underground fight club. But let's be honest -- even the guy that bikes through blizzards to get to work and wears garb that he grew in his basement isn't apt to shell out $120 a pop to have what's likely the most efficient light bulb American dollars can buy. Enter Chunlei Guo from the University of Rochester, who has helped discover a process which could morph a traditional incandescent light bulb into a beacon of burning light without using nearly as much energy as before. In fact, his usage of the femtosecond laser pulse -- which creates a "unique array of nano- and micro-scale structures on the surface of a regular tungsten filament" -- could enable a bulb to increase output efficiency in order to emit 100-watts worth of light while sucking down less than 60-watts of power. Per usual, there's no telling when this new hotness is likely to hit the commercial realm, but one's thing for sure: we bet GE's paying attention.

Corkscrew Nanopropellers may one day deliver drugs internally-S.ANGEL

2009-06-01T09:46:00.000-07:00

According to Darren Murph-Clearly, vaccinations are so three years ago. As the race continues to find the best, most mobile internal transportation device for delivering drugs to remote places within the body, Peer Fischer of The Rowland Institute at Harvard University has teamed with colleague Ambarish Ghosh to concoct the wild creation you see to the right. The glass-derived nanopropeller was designed to move in a corkscrew motion in order to plow through syrupy, viscous liquids within the human frame. The device itself is fantastically small, measuring just 200 to 300 nanometers across at the head and 1 to 2 micrometers long. Fischer points out that each of these can be controlled with a striking amount of precision via an external magnetic field, though we don't get the impression that they'll be on to FDA testing in the near future. Ah well, at least our gra, er, great-grandchildren will be all taken care of.

Robot Experiment- S. ANGEL

2009-06-01T09:36:00.000-07:00

It's kind of strange, really, how we can see just how near the end is, yet these so-called geniuses employed within the realm of academia are totally oblivious to their own evil deeds. Take cognitive science professor John Long, for instance, who is currently conducting a Preyro robot experiment in a Vassar College lab that intends to "allow robots to mimic animals far better than before." To him, he's just hoping to study evolutionary patterns in order to better understand how certain tweaks to things like fins and tails affect performance in the place we call reality. Though, there's a very real possibility that this research could accelerate the impending robot apocalypse by at least a score. Oh, what we'd give to be incognizant of the truth.

Breeding Saddle AI Plus for Swine- S. ANGEL

2009-06-01T09:14:00.000-07:00

The A.I. Plus device easily slips on and is light weight and easy to use. The device is injection molded and virtually indestructible with its heavy duty strapping. This device allows for hands free operation which speeds up process. The A.I. Plus has a snug fit.

Some Newer,older technology at work. Some schools will have working farms with chain gilt programs. This devise can easily show students the proper method of A.I. in swine. Can also speed up the process if breeding multiple females at a single time. Cost from livestockconcepts.com is $45.70

Transcend StoreJet 25 Mobile (320GB, red)- S. Angel

2009-06-01T08:59:00.001-07:00

The bottom line: The Transcend StoreJet 25 Mobile stomps the competition and lives to fight another day, thanks to its rugged military-grade exterior. It also delivers chart topping transfer speeds and offers the cheapest cost per gigabyte on the market today. We fully recommend this tough little drive. As stated in the title, this small hard drive delivers 320 gigs and all at the very inexpensive price of $75-79.00. What a deal!

Canon Pixma MX330- ANGEL

2009-06-01T08:34:00.000-07:00

With the economy in the tank and every school disrtict looking to save $$$$$, this printer gives us flexibility with it being claimed the most versatile printer for under $150.

mojoRTK-Felicia Quaintance

2009-05-20T10:52:00.000-07:00

The mojoRTK is the latest technology for tractor systems. It has 6-8 inch accuracy and can even be used with sprayers which many have not discovered that capacity yet. mojoRTK is easy to install as it fits right into where a radio would normally be wired. Helps make your farming more efficient which is always important and saves money. :) For more information on the mojoRTK click here.

Lolaloo Baby Rocker-Felicia Quaintance

2009-05-20T10:42:00.000-07:00

Okay, so this has nothing to do with teaching or agriculture. However, many of us will one day try to balance being a teacher and having kids so here's an interesting new technology. Parents often have their hands full and so it becomes complicated to try to rock your kid to sleep along with the million other things you have to do. Hopefully you still find the time to rock your child to sleep; but in case you don't or you break an arm here's a gadget called The Lolaloo Baby Rocker that will do it for you!

Just a good Source- Meagan Laird

2009-05-20T09:44:00.001-07:00

"Tools for the TEKS"
This is a good source of how to incorporate different technologies into the classroom. I found it very useful. It gives examples of what other teachers have done, and what not.
http://www.wtvi.com/teks/

Clicker polling thingy! -Meagan Laird

2009-05-20T09:23:00.000-07:00

The technology used on the television show “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” to poll the audience is coming.
The technology consists of “clickers,” remote control-like devices that transmit an individual’s response via radio frequency to a reader. The reader plugs into the USB port of any computer, and collects and displays the responses.

http://news.plu.edu/node/1065

This is like the ones we use, but provide more opportunities for learning and it sounds like it will be easier to use. This can be used with any unit to quiz students! And "Who Wants to be a Millionare" game is pretty fun to play.

Classpad- Meagan Laird

2009-05-20T09:05:00.000-07:00

· Freedom to teach from anywhere in the classroom, Wireless operation of applications.· Ergonomic design and high performance with 30-foot range for unhindered movement and 20-hour battery life, One year Warranty. RM Classpad gives you the mobility you want, allowing you to move around the classroom and engage with your students. The stylus features a built-in laser pointer to help students follow the lesson. Use it as a wireless mouse to operate RM Easiteach, and other programs including Microsoft® PowerPoint®, Microsoft® Word®, and your Internet browser.

http://www.electronicwhiteboardswarehouse.com/rm_easiteach.htm

This could be used in the shop! Pretty cool stuff!

Field Trip Flags- Meagan Laird

2009-05-20T08:58:00.000-07:00

Tangible Flags are designed to support and encourage children to concurrently explore, collaborate and construct digital artifacts while they are immersed within mobile, hands-on environments, such as field trips. Children can use Tangible Flags to mark interesting points as they explore in an open environment. They can then create notes or drawings on a mobile computer and attach the digital information to the Tangible Flag with a physical action, by placing the computer over the flag. When they discover a Tangible Flag placed by another child, they can access the digital information with the same action and annotate that information in a shared space.

http://www.cs.umd.edu/hcil/tangibleflags/TangibleFlags.shtml

This would be really cool to use at farm science review! The only problem is that they would be easy to lose. Or you could get the different companies to help you and have students stop by the booths and the rep. there would have to give them the flag. It would be really awesome, but would require lots of planning!

Fun Pen Tablet-Meagan Laird

2009-05-20T08:51:00.000-07:00

Wacom’s Bamboo Fun Pen Tablets let you use your computer to draw, create digital paintings and artwork, edit photos and even write in your own handwriting. With easy controls on both the drawing tablet and wireless, pressure-sensitive pen, it’s simple to learn how to use this powerful tool with your home, classroom or office computer. Just hook the tablet up to your Mac or PC with the provided USB cable – all the software you’ll need to harness your creativity is included with the pen tablet. The tablet’s writing surface is textured to simulate a natural pen-on-paper feel, and its high resolution lets you write and draw with extreme accuracy. Wacom’s Bamboo Fun Pen Tablets come with Adobe Photoshop Elements 6.0, Corel Painter Essentials 4.0 and Nik Color Efex Pro 3.0 software for editing, retouching and enhancing your digital photos. Choose a small or medium tablet in your choice of four colors.

This would be usefull in the classroom for you and students to use during presentations. Instead of wrting on the board, which gets messy and a pain...you can edit and make your power points interactive where students have to come up and edit what is wrong in a statement and fix it or whatever! This is kind of like what is in 205 now, but cooler!

https://www.schooloutfitters.com/catalog/product_family_info/cPath/CAT1_CAT514/pfam_id/PFAM5921

Virtual Farm Game-Meagan Laird

2009-05-20T08:39:00.000-07:00

A cheap version of the sims farm game. It teaches time management, how to grow crops, money management, etc. You can test it for free for an hour and then its only 6.99 to download. So, you can have students try out the game and analyze it!

http://www.bigfishgames.com/download-games/3445/virtual-farm-game/index.html?afcode=af3189dbeebd&src=bfg12y09engsvirtf&sem=usgooglsvirtf&kw=virtual%20farm&adid=2430546952&gclid=CIrk2_WYy5oCFRK1FQodsEsY2w

A Really Small Computer - Fit-PC2---Bennett

2009-05-17T05:20:00.000-07:00

If you decide to purchase the Fit-PC2 you will get a personal computer that features a 1.6 GHz processor and 1 GB of RAM memory. The hard disk used is SATA and you will also get LAN and WLAN included. Combine this with 6 useful USB ports and you have a great computer for its size. The best part of this whole computer is that it only weighs 370 grams, and is so little that taking anywhere will no longer be a problem. You can take this mini computer anywhere and everywhere whether it be to contests, such as ag sales, or even taking on your officer retreat would work well also.

Timelapse Garden Video Camera---Bennett

2009-05-17T05:17:00.000-07:00

Timelapse Video Camera that allows 6 preset times that allows the students to have footage of their plants growing. That is right, this video camera allows the students to visually see what is happening in their garden and even catches those pesky pests in action. Storage is offered through a card of 2 GB, which can store a maximum of 1,800 pictures. The gadget works with the help of AA batteries and costs $159.95.

The Turtle USB Hub Has Something to Hide-- Bennett

2009-05-17T05:07:00.000-07:00

This USB drive is a unique spin that allows for the single USB to adapt to attach 4 more USB drives as well, Which are at his feet. In addition to this unique turtle USB drive, it also includes a small compartment to keep things in as well. And these can be used in the classroom to get kids involved and you could have them keep their SAE projects and recordbooks on the drive.

Cows and Robots? -Dave Green

2009-05-11T19:33:00.000-07:00

Has the future come? I think so, Lely has introduced their new robotic milker, the Astronaut or A3 for short. Long gone are the days of being tied to the cows for milking. With the new freedom from milking, farmers are finding new ways to use their time. From herd health improvement, to better crop management, farmers can now put their time to areas that were often neglected.

No-Till Tips -Dave Green

2009-05-11T11:57:00.000-07:00

With no-till proving to be a cost effective way to plant beans and corn it is more important now then ever to be planting properly. The Farm Journal put together several tips to make sure the 2009 planting season is the best yet.

Add Row Cleaners - provide a consistent soil surface
Use starter fertilizer - 25-40lbs per acre
Planter in shape - check your planter over for loose fittings and weak hydraulic hoses
Slow Done - Speed can cause inconsistent plantings and inadequate down pressure
Stick it - Don't get down on yourself after only 1 year of no-till.

With these practices 2009 can be a great year for No-Till planting

Insecticide Fly Tags for Cattle-Felicia Quaintance

2009-05-11T09:01:00.000-07:00

RFID specializes in every imaginable type of ear tags for animals. One of the newest types of ear tags they have available is insecticide fly tags for cattle. They are using a new type of chemistry to inhibit possible harmful insects from investing an animal. This is an increasingly popular risk management practice as it can help prevent insects that possibly carry disease from inhabiting the animal.

Financial Games Megan Erf

2009-05-10T12:35:00.000-07:00

Here is a like to some financial games that could be used in class when you are teaching anything money and savings related. You cold also have your students play these are a sponge activity when they finish an activity. There is also a game that was made in collaboration with the NFL which may interest many of your students. In this game you make two teams and have the teams take turns answering the questions.

Get Engaged With Educational Games!- Meredith Gilbert

2009-05-06T09:02:00.000-07:00

Playing games isn't just for leisure any more! Your students can log on to classroom computers or at home and continue to learn. Free educational online games allow users to dive into problems facing our earth and work on fixing them. From learning about elections to climate change these games can engage students unlike a lecture could! These games could even serve as nice sponge activities when students get done early before others.

2009-05-06T07:43:00.000-07:00

STEVE ANGEL-Hey Class! Noticed that this just hit the pre-order store today! Amazon is trying to save the newspaper industry with this DX version of kindle. However, many of the reviews are wondering why they would pay $14.00 a month to read the paper when they can look at it on the web for free. Valid point but I see where they are trying to go.

Top Notch GPS- Meredith Gilbert

2009-05-06T07:36:00.000-07:00

One of the top notch products on the market today for GPS units is the hand held Garmin Colorado 400t. This sleek little number has an i-pod like control wheel, 3D and color screen, and is praised by reviewers as very easy to use. It is also reviewed as being on of the best hand held GPS units for the growing sport of geocaching which is like a GPS user's treasure hunt. A problem with the device is its large price tag. The product costs about $485. A very fun (but expensive) lesson could be had while learning to use a GPS and how they work!

See Through Birdhouse- Meredith Gilbert

2009-05-06T07:24:00.000-07:00

Although not incredibly "hi-tech" this item would be useful for agricultural education classrooms to biology and natural sciences classrooms. The product is a window nest box for birds. The instructor would simply place it on the outside of his or her window and wait for a bird to find it and the learning to begin. The side that come in contact with the window is see through, allowing the students to watch as the bird makes it's nest, lays eggs, and hatches out some baby birds! It would be an awesome addition to a wildlife or nature unit.

HTS-2000 Brazing Rods-Felicia Quaintance

2009-05-06T07:10:00.000-07:00

We all know welding aluminum can be extremely difficult but here's your solution:HTS-2000 Brazing Rod. It has more tinsel strength and elongation. It also does not require flux or mixes thus giving you a lot cleaner weld and reduces cost.

Epilog Laser Engraver-Felicia Quaintance

2009-05-06T06:58:00.000-07:00

One of the coolest things about being an agricultural educator is letting kids work in the shop. The Epilog Laser Engraver takes shop projects to a whole new level. This machine utilizes CO2 laser technology to create extremely detailed engravings in an extreme variety of materials and very easy to use. Click here to check it out!

Mag Cloud by hp - Meagan Laird

2009-04-28T18:36:00.000-07:00

Mag Cloud is a new online magazine publishing and printing resource that can be utilized by anyone! All you have to do is upload your pdf and Mag Cloud-hp takes care of the rest (like printing, mailing, subscription management, etc.).
The cost is quite minimal when you think about it. You are not charged to publish the magazine on MagCloud, but it costs 20 cents per page to buy it plus shipping. The company advertises that you can actually make money by doing this! You set your issue price and all proceeds that go above the base price (20 cents/page) goes to you.
And you can also browse and purchase other magazines made by other people.

This would be beneficial for students to utilize for public relations or for a class project!

http://magcloud.com/

Lesson Planner-Meredith Gilbert

2009-04-26T17:50:00.000-07:00

Lesson Planner from Echalk is a way to connect teachers and administration to ensure the best curriculum for students. Teachers can submit their lesson plans to principals and superintendents to get feedback and let them know whats going on in your classroom. It allows teachers to align their lesson plans to what will best benefit the students. It's an interesting thought but with everything that teachers are responsible for it would be interesting to see if this software could really work.

Digital Storytelling-Meredith Gilbert

2009-04-26T17:38:00.000-07:00

A new technology that is popping up across the nation is digital storytelling. Teachers use this teaching method to teach historic events or teach about another specific topic. There are several different software varieties that you can use to create a digital story to show your class. In agriculture, it might be interesting to use this to introduce a topic or use as an interest approach. It could be something that you could use year after year as a simple introduction.

Hydrogon Vertical Hydroponics- Tara Z

2009-04-26T09:45:00.000-07:00

Want to explore the world of hydroponics with your students? Want to baffle their minds that plants can grow without soil? Of course you do! There are several vertical hydroponics systems available from Octagon Hydroponics. These growing centers help save space in their design and would be ideal for learning about horticulture. There are several layouts available, some geared toward taller vegetables like tomatoes, others for low growing veggies like lettuce. The design includes nutrient delivery systems, including Ebb and Flow, NFT, and Drip and Mist systems. Students could conduct experiments on plant nutritional needs and which system delivers the best amount of nutrients to a plant. Plus, how cool would that be to go to your hydroponics station, pick your lettuce and tomato, find an unfortunate pig and have a BLT?

Virtual Pig Dissection- Tara Z

2009-04-26T09:31:00.001-07:00

Presenting... the virtual pig dissection lab! This online tool allows students to see the inside organs of a fetal pig without the mess. It is a free online tool, compliments of Whitman College. This application could be used as an introduction to monogastric digestion or animal systems in general, letting students explore a virtual model before digging into a real one. Or, if you wish to save time and money, not to mention the smell, you could use this tool as a substitution for the real squeal. Also included on the website are study guides for each system of the body, from digestive to reproductive, how to sex the fetal pig, and other anatomical references. There are also quizzes included.

Nuvi 880- Katie Day

2009-04-25T19:34:00.000-07:00

A navigation syaytem that has pre loaded maps, yea okay, but a navigation system that can tell you the weather or movies that are showing in the movie theater, now that is just crazy. There is now a new navigation system that will tell you all of this. This navigation system has oice-activated navigation, preloaded maps, hands-free calling and an FM transmitter — plus real-time local weather, traffic, movie times, gas prices, stock information, local news and events.

Pet Waste Disposal System- Katie Day

2009-04-25T19:20:00.000-07:00

The pet waste disposal system was used to be a self sustaining system. This contraption would use rain water to clean, literally scrub the yard after the pet uses it as a toilet. To charge the system, you do not plug it into the wall. The contraption has solar panels on it so you do not have to plug it into the wall. This machine will cost you nothing, except for what you spend yo buy it.

Skype in the Classroom-Ashley Abrams

2009-04-24T15:41:00.000-07:00

Tiny budget? Wanna take your students on a field trip but just can't afford it? Try using Skype as a virtual field trip. Skype is being used throughout the country. Even Oprah, Tyra and Dr. Phil are using Skype to communicate with people. It can be used in the classroom to have a guest speaker, millions of miles away. The speaker needs a webcam and microphone. The students can also be connected by camera and microphone or can communicate through typing. Skype is free and is becoming an important part of low budget programs.

Ohio Soybean Counsil is using Skype in an outreach program. High school students can interview a scientist while he works in his lab. The students get to see him at work without crowding or disrupting his lab.

Is Your Momma a Llama?-Ashley Abrams

2009-04-24T15:28:00.000-07:00

Is your momma a llama? The only way to find out is to fork out $93 and buy your class a "DNA on a Chain" kit. By "swishing" their favorite sports drink around in their mouths, students will loose cheek cells. They will collect them and test them using this kit.

Dissecting Kit-Ashley Abrams

2009-04-24T15:23:00.000-07:00

What dedicated ag ed student wouldn't want their own personal dissecting kit? For just $8.95 each, every student in your class could have the opportunity to dissect every dead squirrel they pass. This kit will allow students to discover digestive tracts in neighborhood cats, reproductive systems of their aborted piglets, and the chest cavity of their favorite roadkill pheasants.

"What's in the Soil" Kit-Ashley Abrams

2009-04-24T15:16:00.000-07:00

The "What's in the Soil" kit is used to test patterns in the soil. As most of us will be teaching a unit on soil, this $114.25 kit is well worth the money. Students will be given the opportunity to apply what was learned in class. This kit includes:dextrose, nutrient broth, methylene blue stain, culture tubes, alcohol, droppers, measuring cups and the worksheets for 30 students. It also includes a teachers manual.

Seeding Machine - T. Fleischer

2009-04-24T06:51:00.000-07:00

The 100EM Midi Low Drop Seed-Air-Matic allows rectangular plug trays to to be seeded up to 150% faster than it's predecessors by seeding rows the length of the tray rather than the width, providing high volume precision seeding to the grower. An on-board top dresser may be regulated to deliver a light or heavy covering of either vermiculite or dry plug mix as required. An optional watering bar is also available which gives thegrower the ability to accurately inject controlled doses into each cell at various stages of seeding. The different sizes of seed suction needles allows seed of all shapes and sizes to be sown (including Petunia, Marigold and Tomato). Seeding directly into flats or plug trays singly or in multiples can be carried out simply by replacing single needles with multiple needles (up to 4 per cell). Minimized seed bounce by placing seed directly into dibble cell tray. No droptubes!

Potting Machine - T. Fleischer

2009-04-24T06:43:00.000-07:00

In-Line Potting machines provide nurseries the production efficiency and flexibility they need. Variable speed controls for the soil hopper and planting conveyors allow the pace of production to be set and maintained. Features like sealed bearings, self-tracking belts, direct-drive transmissions, and heavy-gauge steel construction provide a machine that is both durable and easy to maintain. A modular design also allows for customization to address specific requirements, such as the need to achieve higher production numbers or to meet space limitations.

Solar Power Oven- Katie Day

2009-04-22T09:30:00.000-07:00

This oven is complied of two cardboard boxes and acrylic cover. When you assemble the oven you paint the out side of the box black and place foil on the inside of the block. The trapped rays create enough heat to bake casseroles and even pies. This invention also eliminates developing countries cutting down trees for fire wood. This oven also is able to boil water which would save thousands ov children from dehydration.

Compost Tea Brewer - Tim Fleischer

2009-04-19T14:19:00.000-07:00

Wouldn't it be nice to fertilize your garden, houseplants and hanging baskets with an organic, environmentally friendly solution made from your yard waste and table scraps? Well now you can with Keep it Simple Incs. portable simplici-tea brewer. The compost tea brewer is a unit that can turn your compost into a solution teeming with beneficial soil and plant health microbes. Compost tea can be added to the soil as fertilizer or sparyed directly onto foliage as a disease and pest control. Compost tea can:

Increase nutrient cycling in the rhizosphere Suppress disease
Help extend root systems
Increase water and nutrient retention
Create healthier plants
Help breakdown of toxins in the soil and on the plants
Enhance the taste of fruits and vegetables

and compost tea is completely safe!

Turn It In Writing Cycle-Meredith Gilbert

2009-04-16T16:51:00.000-07:00

Do you hate checking and grading writing assignments? Turn it in writing cycle allows for teachers to do all of their grading and checking online. The writing assignments are turned in electronically and teachers can mark them up as desired and return them for a second round. What's really interesting is that the teacher can check easily for plagiarism by checking for web matches. Students can also peer review their work (beware of this- inappropriate comments can be made by immature students). This web service is not free and cashes in at $2/student/year.

USB Duplicator- Meredith Gilbert

2009-04-16T16:42:00.000-07:00

What if you could send your power points home or lessons home with your students to review? Now you can! With the Educast USB Duplicator one USB can be copied to each of the students own USB device (up to 15 students). The chore of getting projects, presentations, songs or other items doesn't have to be painful anymore. All thats needed to do by you as the teacher is plug in the device and press a button while all the USBs are in the base. The cost is a little high at $1,400 for the base and 16 devices.

Boring Experiements Made Fun!- Meredith Gilbert

2009-04-16T15:45:00.001-07:00

Among the new technology to use in the classroom is the SPARK Science learning system. This awesome new technology that costs around $400 is an interesting way to get the students excited about experimenting and research. The system has a color screen and finger touch navigation. The system allows students to record the data, hold background information, create analysis and even give assessments. The SPARK system comes with many different activities ranging from biology, chemistry, earth science, etc and could of course be applied to agricultural education!