2017 ASHS Annual Conference

For my TPSS 300 Tropical Production Systems course, the graduate teaching assistant (TA) and I collaborate as "co-instructors" in planning the course. We go over the specific topics to be covered, adding or deleting topics, and setting the sequence of the topics. The TA is required to present four lectures and two laboratories on topics of their choice. They develop their own notes for the lectures and plan their own activities for each laboratory. Small group discussion is the primary teaching technique that is used in this class in addition to lectures and class discussions. This helps facilitate peer teaching because the students are more apt to speak up and share knowledge and experiences than in a class discussion. Students do a virtual field trip assignment in which they select a farm or nursery, interview the owner or manager, take pictures, write a report, and give a PowerPoint presentation about the farming enterprise. Students can work individually or in pairs on this assignment, which promotes student cooperation and collaboration. I have guest lectures by graduate students, extension agents, and former students. Graduate student speak on their research or an area of their expertise or personal horticulture experiences. Graduate students gain some teaching experience, which is needed because our department has only two graduate TAs. This helps fulfill the requirement of graduate students having to present a lecture in a course—one lecture for MS students and three for PhD students. Guest lectures by extension agents have been introduced in the class because of their expertise and students having a career interest in being an extension agent. Extension agents, especially junior extension agents, gain some experience in teaching students besides their typical stakeholders. Former students in my class who are working in the horticulture industry are invited to come back to guest lecture in my class. This not only provides information about their enterprises but also insights and tips for current students on preparing for employment.