Current through Reg. 49, No. 38; September 20, 2024
(a) General
requirements. This course is recommended for students in Grades 11 and 12. The
practicum course is a paid or unpaid capstone experience for students
participating in a coherent sequence of career and technical education courses
in the Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources Career Cluster. Recommended
prerequisite: a minimum of one credit from the courses in the Agriculture,
Food, and Natural Resources Career Cluster. Corequisite: Practicum in
Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources. This course must be taken
concurrently with Practicum in Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources and may
not be taken as a stand-alone course. Students shall be awarded one credit for
successful completion of this course. A student may repeat this course once for
credit provided that the student is experiencing different aspects of the
industry and demonstrating proficiency in additional and more advanced
knowledge and skills.
(b)
Introduction.
(1) Career and technical
education instruction provides content aligned with challenging academic
standards and relevant technical knowledge and skills for students to further
their education and succeed in current or emerging professions.
(2) The Agriculture, Food, and Natural
Resources Career Cluster focuses on the production, processing, marketing,
distribution, financing, and development of agricultural commodities and
resources, including food, fiber, wood products, natural resources,
horticulture, and other plant and animal products/resources.
(3) Extended Practicum in Agriculture, Food,
and Natural Resources is designed to give students supervised practical
application of knowledge and skills. Practicum experiences can occur in a
variety of locations appropriate to the nature and level of experiences such as
employment, independent study, internships, assistantships, mentorships, or
laboratories. To prepare for careers in agriculture, food, and natural
resources, students must attain academic skills and knowledge, acquire
technical knowledge and skills related to the workplace, and develop knowledge
and skills regarding career opportunities, entry requirements, and industry
expectations. To prepare for success, students need opportunities to learn,
reinforce, apply, and transfer their knowledge and skills and technologies in a
variety of settings.
(4) Students
are encouraged to participate in extended learning experiences such as career
and technical student organizations and other leadership or extracurricular
organizations.
(5) Statements that
contain the word "including" reference content that must be mastered, while
those containing the phrase "such as" are intended as possible illustrative
examples.
(c) Knowledge
and skills.
(1) The student demonstrates
professional standards/employability skills as required by business and
industry. The student is expected to:
(A)
participate in a paid or unpaid, laboratory- or work-based application of
previously studied knowledge and skills related to agriculture, food, and
natural resources;
(B) participate
in training, education, or preparation for licensure, certification, or other
relevant credentials to prepare for employment;
(C) demonstrate professional standards and
personal qualities needed to be employable such as punctuality, time
management, initiative, and cooperation with increased fluency;
(D) complete tasks with high standards to
ensure quality products and services;
(E) employ teamwork and conflict-management
skills with increased fluency to achieve collective goals; and
(F) employ planning and time-management
skills and tools with increased fluency to enhance results and complete work
tasks.
(2) The student
implements advanced professional communications strategies. The student is
expected to:
(A) apply appropriate content
knowledge, technical concepts, and vocabulary with increased fluency when
analyzing information and following directions;
(B) demonstrate verbal and non-verbal
communication consistently in a clear, concise, and effective manner;
(C) analyze, interpret, and effectively
communicate information, data, and observations;
(D) observe and interpret verbal and
nonverbal cues and behaviors to enhance communication; and
(E) apply active listening skills to obtain
and clarify information.
(3) The student applies concepts of critical
thinking and problem solving. The student is expected to:
(A) employ critical-thinking skills with
increased fluency both independently and in groups to solve problems and make
decisions;
(B) analyze elements of
a problem to develop creative and innovative solutions; and
(C) demonstrate the use of content, technical
concepts, and vocabulary when analyzing information and following
directions.
(4) The
student understands and applies proper safety techniques in the workplace. The
student is expected to:
(A) demonstrate an
understanding of and consistently follow workplace safety rules and
regulations;
(B) demonstrate safe
operation of tools and equipment;
(C) describe and perform hazard analysis;
and
(D) demonstrate knowledge of
procedures for reporting and handling accidents and safety incidents.
(5) The student understands the
professional, ethical, and legal responsibilities in agriculture, food, and
natural resources. The student is expected to:
(A) demonstrate a positive, productive work
ethic by performing assigned tasks as directed;
(B) apply ethical reasoning to a variety of
situations in order to make ethical decisions; and
(C) comply with all applicable rules, laws,
and regulations in a consistent manner.
(6) The student participates in an
agriculture, food, or natural resources experience. The student is expected to:
(A) conduct, document, and evaluate learning
activities in a supervised agriculture, food, or natural resources
experience;
(B) develop advanced
technical knowledge and skills related to the student's occupational
objective;
(C) demonstrate proper
record-keeping skills related to the supervised agriculture, food, or natural
resources experience;
(D) practice
equipment maintenance procedures, as appropriate;
(E) decide between replacement, maintenance,
repair, and reconditioning of agricultural vehicles and machinery, as
appropriate;
(F) demonstrate growth
of technical skill competencies;
(G) evaluate strengths and weaknesses in
technical skill proficiency; and
(H) collect representative work
samples.