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The Settings Where ALEC Professionals Work |
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.
Graduates are prepared to work in newspapers, magazine, television, radio, World
Wide Web, public relations, advertising, or multimedia. Some will work in fields
of digital cable and satellite communication. Texas A&M agricultural journalism
graduates include editors and writers for the Quarter Horse Journal, the Farm Journal,
Progressive Farmer, and MSNBC. Two agricultural journalism
graduates have been elected to the Former Journalism Students Association Hall of
Fame: Tom Hargrove, author and freelance agricultural editor, and Leroy Shafer,
assistant general manager at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Jobs for graduates
are available as writers, photographers, and designers with agricultural publications
and broadcast outlets such as breed and commodity associations and public relations
agencies.
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.
A MAgr in Agricultural Development is available online, and a Joint EdD with Texas
Tech University is available in a distance education format to cohort groups. We
offer an eLearning Certificate with 14 hours of academic or continuing education
credit.
Graduates with expertise in this area work primarily as teachers, consultants, instructional
designers, and media experts in a variety of applications including school districts,
universities, Extension, government, international, and business/industry settings.
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.
Students graduating with expertise in this area may seek several career options
including Extension agent, 4-H supervisor, state government official, environmental
specialist, and international trainer. All new TCE faculty members in Texas are
required to earn a master’s degree within seven years of their employment. Extension
is a constantly changing field, so it is imperative that the individual continue
to learn and devote time to personal and professional development.
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.
Students graduating with expertise in this area are marketable in the work force.
They have careers that include lawyers, community service agents, sales persons,
teachers, county Extension faculty, international development specialists, and communication-oriented
representatives.
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.
Though professional preparation for this context is aimed specifically at creating
the finest agricultural science teachers, other career areas often benefit from
the educational preparation in scientific agriculture and people. Students prepared
in this context typically accept positions in a variety of areas including agricultural
science and technology teaching, but there are many opportunities as training, development,
communications, or educational specialists that are related to agriculture and human
performance.
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.
Students acquire depth in their own areas of specialization within both the agricultural
and social sciences. Professionals who apply their knowledge base within this multinational
arena should be familiar with cultural values, trends, language, settings, roles,
and consequences that affect adoption and diffusion of innovation.
Successful professionals work at the juncture of agricultural science and technology
with formal and informal training and education, including participatory programming
that appreciates experiential education and indigenous knowledge. Professionals
may work in various positions as short-term specialists, resident advisors, or in
multinational work teams.
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