WAAE Conference

June 2014
Description: Professional development conference where agricultural educators
collaborate on curriculum, share lesson and activity ideas, as well as attend safety
certification workshops.

Alignment Reflection:
Wisconsin Teacher Standard Alignment:
Standard 9: Reflection Teachers are able to evaluate themselves. The teacher is a
reflective practitioner who continually evaluates the effects of his or her choices and actions
on pupils, parents, professionals in the learning community and others and who actively
seeks out opportunities to grow professionally.

This artifact relates well to Standard 9: Reflection because the WAAE conference is the
premier conference to attend to enhance teaching skills, gain new perspectives, as well as
build knowledge in areas of need. Communication is an integral part of teaching and
through the WAAE conference I can converse with other teachers on classroom topics that
range from lesson planning to management of time, rules, and life. Comparing myself to
veteran teachers and observing their success is mighty frustrating when I am unable to
mimic it on a day to day basis. Conversing with teachers who have less than ten years of
experience can more vividly relate back to their struggles as a starting teacher. Through the
experience of others I am better able to evaluate myself. Understanding that there are not
always black and white parameters to stay within and then figuring out how to navigate
through those ever frightening gray areas takes time. I must make sure that I constantly
look back on what I have done, note the changes to be made, make the changes, and then
move forward and leave the past as it stands while not forgetting it, dare I repeat it.

My main struggle is leaving the past and moving on because I feel so indebted to the
student, parent, colleague, or administration personnel who had to spend their time
correcting my mistakes. Though I know that it is not humanely possible for me to do
everything perfectly the first-go-round I still have that inkling of a utopia. WAAE allows me
to hone many of the skills that will provide me with guidance through the gray areas making
it a simpler step to move away from the past and use it as a learning stepping stone rather
than a stumbling block. Classroom management techniques can be studied. Lesson planning
methods can be tried and implemented. Lab protocols may be changed to enhance
efficiency. Educational resources may be shared for easier class preparation. As the list of
helpful assistance continues I can easily find my flaws but the great opportunity to grow
professionally is within my reach and I will take hold of it to become a better resource to my
students.

UW-Platteville School of Education Knowledge, Skill, Disposition Statement
KSD4.e. Grows and Develops Professionally: The candidate is aware of opportunities for
professional development to improve content knowledge and pedagogical skill and can take
an active role in assisting other educators.

WAAE is the most premier professional development opportunities for agriculture
educators. I will continue to attend the conference each year as I am able because the
workshops provide alternative teaching techniques for specific lesson plans while also
opening up a discussion where I could interject any ideas that I may have. Many teachers
from Wisconsin conduct workshops to show different unit plans, lab procedures, or hold
training for different certifications. One example is a workshop on how to prepare the state
required Professional Development Plans (PDP). This is a fantastic opportunity for new
WAAE Conference
June 2014
teachers to learn from those who have already created and finished a PDP. Educators
assisting educators in hopes that their knowledge is bestowed upon teachers such as myself
so that we may continue to pass along the information.

This artifact also relates to KS4.a.

Personal Reflection:
What I learned about teaching/learning?
A session about tools of inquiry led me to a book about how to incorporate writing and
language skills into lessons. In agriculture there is always a need for communication. By
learning how to enhance lessons that already contain correct content matter and
structuring it to encompass skills learned in other classes can create a more meaningful
learning experience. The workshops ranged from teaching methods to subject information
and are taught by fellow agriculture educators or leading business professionals in the
industry. Depending on what I may need or want to learn more about, I will be able to
attend a useful seminar or find a person who can point in the right direction.

What I learned about myself?
I learned that I am headed down the right path for a career in teaching agriculture
but there are many facets that I have not even touched. Making concrete decisions
will come easier by creating a sound knowledge foundation that I can continue to
build off of. I am in charge of my own future which includes making decisions for
myself. In order to make the decisions that will be most beneficial I need to make
every effort towards the most reliable and relevant education.