Students Develop Compost Management Stulls through Experiential Learning.

It is critical for college graduates to enter the workforce not only knowledgeable in a topic area, but also confident in their ability to apply their knowledge. Manure management is a major component of livestock production, including horses. Faculty from South Dakota State University's (SDSU)AnimalScienceandAgricultural and Biosystems Engineering departments partnered to develop an experiential learning opportunity for students to learn about manure management and composting. The objectives of this activity were for students to: 1) gain experience designing and constructing a compost pile, 2) critically evaluate compost progress and make appropriate management decisions, 3) maintain a logbook of management decisions and behaviors, and 4) develop an understanding ofopportunitiesand challenges associated with manure management. This activity was integrated into an equine stable management course and an agricultural waste management course. The experience included reading assignments, discussions, a field day to construct compost piles, management, and recordkeeping. Pre-and post-tests included content questions, as well as a survey of students' views on manure management and the associated activity. Students from both classes who participated in compost management demonstrated improved performance on compost characteristic questions, and reported an increased confidence in knowledge and ability to compost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of NACTA Journal is the property of North American Colleges & Teachers of Agriculture and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)