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Education in Agriculture

The most popularff in terms of activities and
the students and sta
assessment later on.”

The team takes four sets of photographs per
year and collates average temperatures and
rainfall for each farm. The four sets of images
correspond with each of the four seasons,
showing their effects on crops and pastures.

“Students are able to see the impact of nutrition
on animal health and production, or the impact
of natural resources on animal health. We’re
assessing them on this, so to expose them to it
means it’s not a new idea.”

Showing the variability of farming
Photos from the project’s contributing farms
in Western Australia, Queensland, New South spent getting to farms – limiting factors for
Wales, Victoria and New Zealand show rather students and teaching staff – are better utilised.
different seasonal impacts from place to place.
“It’s tough teaching in the time we have,” Stuart
“From a teaching point view, you can ask students says, “We need to make sure we look after
questions about feeding strategies and stocking students’ welfare, including how much time they
Access to Science, Technology,Innovation, Productivity and Profitability
rates based on those seasonal variations,” Stuart have to do things, so if we can deliver the same
says. amount of understanding in less time, or better-
utilised time, that’s a good thing.”
“We can look at drought or dry season pasture
and talk about feeding animals on reduced The future of the project may be beyond the
pasture, or we can look at the dairy farms from classroom. The 4D Virtual Farm team are building
New Zealand and you can see the difference a multimedia glossary tool to add to learning and
in seasons there – it’s a different machine.” teaching aids for students, and Stuart says that
future versions may also become available to the
Exposing students to on-farm risks is another wider public.
important aspect of the 4D virtual farms, as
common sense knowledge about fencing, “It could be helpful in reducing the country-city
machinery and livestock can be learned without divide, “ Stuart says. “People in the city could
leaving the classroom. see what happens on a dairy farm, or what’s on
a wool farm via the glossary. It is also a really
“Environmental health and safety is important– good way of showing export customers who
knowing about getting around on ATVs (all- purchase our products how they are produced.
terrain vehicles), tractor safety, silos and knowing
which paddock the bull’s in are things students A visual tool box
may not consider, but they can learn using this Indeed, the glossary already shows some on-
site so they can be safer when they go out on farm practises such as artificial insemination,
farm,” Stuart says. shearing and seeding. The plan is to build the
Another component driving the project along contents of the program to showcase what
is the accessibility it enables. Time and money happens on farm.

The Australian Farmer • Issue 2017