Pennsylvania

Supervised Agricultural Experience

Practicum Skills

What are Practicum Skills?

Practicum Skills Enterprises allow students to gain knowledge through:

*School related skill development activities.

*Non-experimental research

*Exploring various areas of agriculture

*Exploring agricultural careers.

School related practicum skills example:

• Keep records of what you do each day in your agriculture class, ag mechanics shop, greenhouse, floral shop, land lab, etc.

• Work in the school greenhouse or land lab • Serve as a school lab assistant. • Develop and or maintain the FFA chapter

website.• Develop and/or participate in a recycling or litter

pick up program• Plant a butterfly garden at an elementary school

Creative Practicum Skills Examples:

• Develop a marketing plan for an agricultural commodity

• Write a series of newspaper articles about the environment

• Design a land use plan for your school district• Develop a landscape design for a community

facility• Design an advertising campaign for an

agribusiness• Attend a county or state conservation camp

More practicum skills examples:

• Observe and/or assist a florist• Grow plants in a milk jug "greenhouse"• Assist on a horse farm for a day• Interview an agricultural loan officer in a bank• Prepare a scrapbook on the work of a veterinarian• Attend an agricultural career day• Volunteer at a zoo

Every Practicum Skills Record Book begins with

Your enterprise name and number should be the same as

you entered in the second column on your common

pages title page.

Your enterprise name and number should be the same as

you entered in the second column on your common

pages title page.

This page should be completed at the beginning of the project year in blue or black ink.

This page should be completed at the beginning of the project year in blue or black ink.

Enter your name the same way as on the Common pages cover page.

Enter your name the same way as on the Common pages cover page.

Enter your teacher’s name and your school name.

Enter your teacher’s name and your school name.

Enter the date you and your teacher agree that you will begin your practicum skills project. (If you are doing a school based enterprise, you may elect to keep your records on a school year basis.)

Enter the date you and your teacher agree that you will begin your practicum skills project. (If you are doing a school based enterprise, you may elect to keep your records on a school year basis.)

ENTERPRISE NAME ENTERPRISE NUMBER

PRACTICUM SKILLS PROJ ECT AGREEMENT

This agreement is made on the day of the month of , (year), by and between

(student), and (teacher), of

(School).

Ag Shop 1

Jan.1st

Andrew Educator

Your School High School

Joseph Scholar

20XX

Continuing with

The teacher agrees to permit the student to conduct and complete the practicum skills project beginning the

day of the month of , (year), and ending the day of the month of

, (year).

,

Enter the date of the first day you will enter data into your record book. This date should be determined in conference with your teacher. (Practicum skills enterprises conducted at school are often kept on a school year basis rather than a calendar year basis.)

Enter the date of the first day you will enter data into your record book. This date should be determined in conference with your teacher. (Practicum skills enterprises conducted at school are often kept on a school year basis rather than a calendar year basis.)

Jan.1st 20XX

Dec.

31st

20XXEnter the date of the last day you will enter data into your record book. This date should also be determined in conference with your teacher.

Enter the date of the last day you will enter data into your record book. This date should also be determined in conference with your teacher.

The next section explains the expectations of each person listed on the agreement. The next section explains the expectations of each person listed on the agreement.

The student agrees to conduct himself/herself in accordance with the instruction in agriculture and the program plan. The Student also agrees to record all entries accurately and truthfully, in the spaces provided in this book. The teacher of agriculture agrees to advise the student in the planning and operation of this practicum, and to supervise the student as needed.

Other special arrangements made between parties:

Student will provide his/her own safety glasses, coveralls and safety shoes.

This page should be completed at the beginning of the project year in blue or black ink

Agricultural Laboratory and Facilities

Give a brief description of the laboratory(s) and facilities in which practicum skills will be gained in terms of size, equipment available, number of students using the laboratory and type of work performed.

Give a brief but complete description of the agricultural laboratory.

The agriculture shop consists of an area approximately 1500 square feet. It includes 10 electric arc stick welders, 3 MIG welders and a TIG welder as well as a plasma cutter, a four station oxy-acetylene welding station as well as various metal working and bending jigs. There is also a weld testing station and two drill presses. Woodworking equipment includes a table saw, band saw, radial arm saw, belt and disk sander, planer, miter box saw, wood lathe and various hand and small power tools. We have stations for electricity and wiring, concrete and masonry, small gas engines and hydraulics. There is a safety cabinet, fire extinguishers and a cabinet to sterilize safety glasses. There is a fume exhaust system for the welders and small engines and a dust collecting system for the woodworking equipment.

Use complete sentences and proper grammar.

The parties involved in this project, agree to the terms stated above

Student's Signature Date

Parent or Guardian's Signature Date

Teacher's Signature Date

1Dec-04

Finally, sign the agreement yourself and secure the signature of your parent. Signatures should be in blue or black ink.

It is important to have your parent sign the agreement to verify that you have discussed this project with them.

Any successful SAE has the support of all parties involved in the project.

Joseph Scholar January 30, 20XX

Elizabeth Scholar March 30, 20XX

Andrew Educator January 30, 20XX

Your teacher will most likely sign the form only after you have secured your parental signature (and signed the page yourself, of course.)

STUDENT NAME

ENTERPRISE NUMBERENTERPRISE NAME

Your name, your enterprise name and number should be the same as you entered on your common pages title page. Enter this information

on every page of this record book.

Your name, your enterprise name and number should be the same as you entered on your common pages title page. Enter this information

on every page of this record book.

Ag Shop 1

Joseph Scholar

Task Area example: Shop Safety

1 4 7

2 5 8

3 6 9

Diary - Tasks performed example: I demonstrated the safe use of the table saw and passed the written test.

List individual task areas in the space below. These general task area names will be transferred to other pages of the record book, so they should fit in the spaces provided below. These task areas should not be confused with daily diary entries, which should be in sentence form and detailed. The number of task areas will vary by school, only use as many as you need.

TASKS PERFORMED TO DEVELOP OCCUPATIONAL SKILLS

Welding safety

Striking an arc & running a bead

Flat position, butt weld

Flat position, fillet weld

Horizontal up weld

Woodworking safety

Construct a saw horse

Construct a parallel circuit

Properly use a micrometer

You enter your TASK AREAS on this page. A task area is a general description of a skill. For example: welding; bedding plant production; animal health. You may add task areas during the enterprise.

There is room for fifty task areas on this page, but you may use as few or as many spaces as you need for your particular practicum skills enterprise.

Everything you do for this project MUST be assigned to a summary area.

STUDENT NAME

ENTERPRISE NUMBERENTERPRISE NAME Greenhouse production 1

Joseph Scholar

Task Area example: Shop Safety

1 4 7

2 5 8

3 6 9

Diary - Tasks performed example: I demonstrated the safe use of the table saw and passed the written test.

List individual task areas in the space below. These general task area names will be transferred to other pages of the record book, so they should fit in the spaces provided below. These task areas should not be confused with daily diary entries, which should be in sentence form and detailed. The number of task areas will vary by school, only use as many as you need.

TASKS PERFORMED TO DEVELOP OCCUPATIONAL SKILLS

Properly ID 25 greenhouse plants

Properly water plants

Mix fertilizer and apply

Do a soft pinch on a plant

Read seed containers & follow

Plant plugs

Transplant greenhouse plants

Prepare a marketing plan

Everything you do for this project MUST be assigned to a summary area.

While ag mechanics practicum skill projects are very common, this record book is useful for many other agricultural areas. Another example is:

Properly operate greenhouse controls

See additional examples of tasks lists at the end of this power point

STUDENT NAME

ENTERPRISE NUMBERENTERPRISE NAME Animal care 1

Joseph Scholar

Task Area example: Shop Safety

1 4 7

2 5 8

3 6 9

Diary - Tasks performed example: I demonstrated the safe use of the table saw and passed the written test.

List individual task areas in the space below. These general task area names will be transferred to other pages of the record book, so they should fit in the spaces provided below. These task areas should not be confused with daily diary entries, which should be in sentence form and detailed. The number of task areas will vary by school, only use as many as you need.

TASKS PERFORMED TO DEVELOP OCCUPATIONAL SKILLS

Animal lab safety

Properly handle small animals

Calculate balanced rations

Clean and sanitize lab pens

Properly groom small animals

Clip nails on small animals

Keep animal lab records

Prepare & use a breeding plan

Prepare a marketing plan

Everything you do for this project MUST be assigned to a summary area.

Another example is:

See additional examples of task lists at the end of this power point

Example: 4 - completed task without supervision; can supervise others in performing tasks

3 - completed task without supervision; however needs additional practice

to improve efficiency,

2- completed tasks with minimum supervision; needs additional practice,

1 - completed task with much supervisory help,

0 - did not complete task

Use this scale to evaluate all tasks entered on pages 3-6. A student may repeat a job in order tobecome more proficient in achieving his occupational objective.

Enter on a daily basis, each task performed and the number of hours involved. When all tasks are performed within a job, the hours should be totaled and entered on the J ob Summary Sheet, page 7&8. The student and the teacher will each evaluate the job. This will be done by using a 4-0 scale.

This record book is designed as a tool for student and teacher to evaluate the work done on the project. They may or may not agree on the rating recorded.

This evaluation may be done at the end of the year or when recording summary information.

Enterprise name, student name and enterprise number must be entered the same as on the common pages cover page.

ENTERPRISE NAME ENTERPRISE NUMBER

STUDENT NAME

Other Required Date Sum. Daily Diary Than Lab

Area Required Time

DIARY - TASKS PERFORMED TO DEVELOP OCCUPATIONAL SKILLSNote: BE SURE TO LIST INDIVIDUAL TASK AREAS ON PAGE 2 BEFORE COMPLETING THIS PAGE.

Enter the summary area number (from page 2). Everything you do for this project MUST be assigned to a summary area.

Good diary entry.

Bad Example.

1/27/20XX 4 Mr. Educator demonstrated how to strike an arc and run a bead. Then we spent the rest of the class period practicing.

0.75

Be consistent with time units. Use the same minute or hour unit throughout your diary entries. If using the computer template, you MUST use hours.

Ag Shop 1

Joseph Scholar

Worked in shop 0.75

If you use minutes, you MUST convert the minutes to hours before entering your total time on the summary page 7 and 8.

Use “Other than required” column for work done outside of regular class time. This can include time before and after school, during lunch or study hall.

An example of a diary entry for a bedding plant production task area would be:

Other Required Date Sum. Daily Diary Than Lab

Area Required Time

DIARY - TASKS PERFORMED TO DEVELOP OCCUPATIONAL SKILLSNote: BE SURE TO LIST INDIVIDUAL TASK AREAS ON PAGE 2 BEFORE COMPLETING THIS PAGE.

Our begonia plugs arrived today so we spent the entire class planting begonias into four inch pots.

I learned to spot weld today. I could see my skills improve as I practiced.

“Welding” could be the task area name entered on page 2.

“Bedding plant production” could be the task area name entered on page 2.

Everything you enter on your diary pages MUST be assigned to a summary area listed on page 2.

3040

I also came to the ag shop during study hall to practice.1

2

An example of a diary (task performed) for a welding task area would be:

30

Your entries must be reasonable experiences and specific. Entries should be sentences. Entries should show a progression of skills – not repetition of the same activity for long periods

Other Required Date Sum. Daily Diary Than Lab

Area Required Time

DIARY - TASKS PERFORMED TO DEVELOP OCCUPATIONAL SKILLSNote: BE SURE TO LIST INDIVIDUAL TASK AREAS ON PAGE 2 BEFORE COMPLETING THIS PAGE.

I constructed a wooden frame to hold pipes for a new hydroponics system..

I learned to spot weld today. I could see my skills improve as I practiced.

“Welding” could be the task area name entered on page 2.

“Woodworking” could be the task area name entered on page 2.

Everything you enter on your diary pages MUST be assigned to a summary area listed on page 2.

3040

I also came to the ag shop during study hall to practice.1

2

You may need to do multiple entries for each class period.

30

1-5

1-5

1-5 5 I updated my record book and took photos of several projects. 20

“SAE record book” could be the task area name entered on page 2.

Other Required Date Sum. Daily Diary Than Lab

Area Required Time

DIARY - TASKS PERFORMED TO DEVELOP OCCUPATIONAL SKILLSNote: BE SURE TO LIST INDIVIDUAL TASK AREAS ON PAGE 2 BEFORE COMPLETING THIS PAGE.

I added mulch to two flower beds and raked leaves from several paths.

I repaired the tire on the wheel barrow so I could use it, during study hall.

“Tool maintenance” could be the task area name entered on page 2.

“Landscape maintenance” could be the task area name entered on page 2.

Everything you enter on your diary pages MUST be assigned to a summary area listed on page 2.

40

.1

2

Another example

40

1-5

1-5

1-5 5 I updated my record book and took photos of several projects. 20

“SAE record book” could be the task area name entered on page 2.

Remember, all of these diary entries occurred on the same day.

ENTERPRISE NAME ENTERPRISE NUMBER

STUDENT NAME

TASKS PERFORMED TO DEVELOP OCCUPATIONAL SKILLS

Other Required Date Sum. Tasks Performed Than Lab

Area Required Time

XXXXXXX XXXX Total Carried Forward ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Total to be carried forward (A)NOTES:

1) IF DOING YOUR RECORD BOOK BY HAND, TIME MAY BE KEPT IN EITHER HOURS OR MINUTES (DO NOT MIX INCREMENTS) ON PAGES 3-6. IF USING MINUTES THIS TOTAL SHOULD BE CONVERTED TO HOURS FORTIME SUMMARY PAGES 7-8. IF DOING YOUR RECORD BOOK ON THE COMPUTER, KEEP TIME IN HOURS ONLY.

2) SUMMARY AREA REFERS TO GENERAL CATEGORIES ON PAGE 2.3 Dec-04

Continue entering your diary data – when a page is filled,

120 120

120 120

Animal care 1

Joseph Scholar

make sure you carry the totals forward to the next page.

ENTERPRISE NAME ENTERPRISE NUMBER

STUDENT NAME

TASKS EXPERIENCE SUMMARY SHEET

Other Required Student TeacherSummary Task Areas Than Lab Evaluations Evaluations

Code Required Time

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

On the summary pages, you have the opportunity to combine all summary areas so that you and your teacher can see how much time you spent on each summary area (from page 2).

Ag Shop 1

Joseph Scholar

Welding safety

Flat position butt welding

Horizontal up weld

Construct a saw horse using power tools

Layout and test a parallel circuit with 1 switch

Layout a circuit with 3 way switches

Trouble shoot a small gas engines following procedcures

List all task areas in the same order as on page 2.

Be sure to match summary code numbers

Total ALL summary code 1 time from your diary pages as you complete the tasks in the summary areas and enter that amount in these spaces. BE SURE TO CONVERT YOUR TIME TO HOURS IF YOU USED MINUTES IN YOUR DIARY.

2

1

4 10

2012

3

84

0 10

123

with areas from page 2.

FINALLY, evaluate yourself on a scale of 1-4

4 4

4

3 2

4 2

4 4

4 3

4 3

and have your teacher evaluate your work also.

3

It’s important to keep a photographic record of your practicum skills project.

It’s important to keep a photographic record of your practicum skills project.

Insert pictures here that document your practicum skills project.

Insert pictures here that document your practicum skills project.

Insert a picture no larger than 4 inches by 6 inches.

Insert a picture no larger than 4 inches by 6 inches.

Make sure the picture is well focused and all safety practices are being followed.

Make sure the picture is well focused and all safety practices are being followed.

Enter the date the picture was taken and the location.

Enter the date the picture was taken and the location.

1/6/XX

Joseph Scholar

Today I passed the safety test for the band saw and was allowed to use the saw for the first time. I was sure to wear safety glasses, because if I had forgotten I would have failed the final part of the safety test.

In this example, passing the band saw safety test should also be documented in the student’s diary entries

In this example, passing the band saw safety test should also be documented in the student’s diary entries

Finally describe the photo in fifty words or less.

Finally describe the photo in fifty words or less.

Your School High School

24

The scorecard will help you understand what we are looking for when practicum skills records are judged at the state FFA record book competition.

Keystone Degree Notes

• Data from your practicum skills enterprises is entered on page 6 of your Keystone degree application.

• To qualify for the Keystone degree with practicum skills enterprises you must accumulate at least 600 hours – at least 300 of these hours must be other than required lab hours. This MUST be shown in your record book.

This concludes the presentation on the practicum skills record book. You may want to go back and review this presentation at the end of the project

year for help in closing out your record book.

We’ll be looking for your record book at the Pennsylvania Record Book CDE in February.

Additional Example of a task list

1. Project Book2. Ag Mechanics3. Ag Resources4. Agriculture Technology 5. Animal Science6. Aquaculture7. Bedding Plants8. Chrysanthemum9. Easter Lily10. Environmental Science11. Food Science12. Fresh Floral Designs13. Greenhouse Maintenance14. Grounds Maintenance15. Hanging Baskets16. Hydroponics17. Intern Management18. Planning Landscapes 19. Landscape Drawings.20. Landscape Maintenance21. Pruning, Mulching, Fertilizing Plants

22. FFA Activities23. Growing Woody Plants24. Miscellaneous Floral Designs25. Miscellaneous Potted Plants26. Geraniums, Hibiscus, Impatiens, etc.27. Pesticide Application28. Plant and Soil Science29. Farm Crops30. Fruits & Vegetables 31. Soil Testing32. Plant Tissue Culture33. Poinsettia Production34. Silk Floral Designs35. Spring Bulbs36. Sympathy Designs37. Trial Gardens38. Turf grass Management39. Mowing, Fertilizing, etc.40. Water Gardening41. Wedding/Prom Designing42. Window Merchandising43. Miscellaneous

This list is used in an Agriculture Department in a Pennsylvania high school.

Additional Example of a task list

1. Occupational orientation2. Plant names, parts and functions3. Environmental requirements of plants4. Plant growth stimulants5. Diseases that affect plants6. Biological controls 7. Use pesticides safely8. Insecticides, herbicides, etc9. Shop Safety10. Maintain shop tools 11. Electric arc welding12. Oxy-acetylene welding13. Wood construction 14. Masonry construction 15. Small engines16. Tractor safely17. Greenhouse structures 18. Grow cut mums19. Grow snapdragons20. Grow roses and orchids21. Grow potted mums22. Grow a poinsettia crop23. Grow Easter lilies24. Produce bedding plants25. Grow foliage plants

26. Force bulb crops27. Grow other crops28. Landscape establishment29. Landscape maintenance30. Read a landscape plan31. Animal feeds and nutrition32. Trees, plants and shrubs33. Garden store advise34. Customer services35. ID florist items36. Construct corsages 37. Construct floral designs 38. Holiday designs39. Floral wire services40. Merchandising41. Use the computer 42. Construct floral displays43. Leadership in horticulture44. FFA activities45. Communication and P.R.46. Employability skills47. Citizenship48. Research skills49. SAE50. Cooperative education

This list is used in a Career and Technology Agriculture Department in PA