My name is David Chapman and I have been an educator in Oconee County since 2012. Agriculture Education has been my passion since I began working in the program during my K-12 education. It is my hope to provide students with experience in Agriculture Education that will provide rigor and relevance to their academic learning, as well as providing each student with an educational outlet to connect academic learning with real-world application. I strive to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through involvement in Agriculture Education and the FFA.

Oconee Middle Agriculture Education Mission: 

The Oconee County Middle School agricultural education program is designed to explore and stimulate interest in the agricultural industry through classroom and laboratory experiences, develop agricultural literacy, career awareness and personal development skills. Based upon the foundation of experiential learning, students will explore many areas of agriculture including: plant science, animal science, food science, forestry and wildlife management as well as be introduced to the National FFA Organization and the opportunities that it holds for students.

Personal Learning Values:

The Oconee County Middle School agriculture education program values…

• The three components of complete agriculture education program including classroom/laboratory instruction, personal growth (FFA) and supervised agricultural experience programs.
• The inclusion of academic subject areas within real-world experiences.
• Experiential learning as the foundation of the course.
• The importance of the agriculture industry as Georgia’s number one industry.
• Opportunities for student participation in curriculum based leadership development opportunities.
• Problem-based learning in preparing students for future success.
• Agricultural literacy in preparing informed consumers.

Personal Learning Principles:

1. Learning should address all learning styles.
2. Learning is most effective when based upon appropriate course objectives, essential question and transfer goals.
3. Learning is affected by learner motivation and attitudes.
4. Learning is enhanced by changing mental/physical interface with new material every twenty minutes.
5. Learning is enhanced through real-world applications of the concepts and subject areas.
6. Learning from peers and group participation increases motivation and accountability.
7. Learning is most effective when students gradually take more responsibility for their own learning.
8. Learning should prepare students to transfer knowledge to future environments and problems.

Personal Learning Goals:

1. Make informed decisions as future consumers.
2. Utilize problem-solving skills to solve problems beyond the course and in real-world experiences.
3. Plan and conduct an agricultural program and keep accurate records.
4. Exhibit leadership and professionalism.
5. Select high school courses that align with future career plans and goals.
6. Share the importance of agriculture with peers based upon learned animals and plant science concepts.