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Agriscience teachers adjust to hybrid classrooms

Doing to learn has come with its challenges for agriscience teachers trying to navigate the coronavirus pandemic.

Michigan Association of Agriscience Educators president Brian Kiesling tells Brownfield networking and sharing resources amongst his fellow teachers has helped eliminate feelings of isolation over the past year.

“We’re all in the same boat together,” he says.  “We’re all trying to do what’s best and that’s help promote agriscience education and work with kids.”

Kiesling is the agriscience and FFA advisor at Corunna High School in Mid-Michigan and says teaching in a virtual format has been problematic at times.

“How do we make sure the online students have the same experience, or try to represent the same experience for them, in a greenhouse or in a barn, or when we’re outside doing something—that creates a problem,” he says.

This past week his says National FFA Week has brought a lightheartedness to his school as students have competed in Ag Olympics, tested teacher knowledge on agriculture, and taken advantage of volunteer opportunities.

Kiesling has been in-person teaching with in a hybrid learning system since the end of summer.