Each year the Technical Animal Science class collaborates with a HILT English teacher (ELL).  Both groups read "The Fall of Freddy the Leaf" by  Leo Buscalgia.  This book is written at a beginning reading level and teaches about the cycle of life through a conversation of leaves in a tree.  The students from these very different classes blog about the book and, in so doing, explore feelings surrounding life/death and coping with grief.  The animal science students may have very different life experiences from the ELL group, so the online conversation is more diverse than it might be otherwise. It is a good experience for students interested in animal related fields to address topics such as illness and death since they are a serious aspect of these professions.  The unit gives them an opportunity to explore their own feelings surrounding death/loss and grief  as well as exposing them to the feelings of others.  The English teacher extends the unit by exploring aspects of the book like simile and metaphors.  The animal science students extend the unit by researching the term euthanasia and the stages of grief.  Both groups dialog with each other as they answer the questions posed on the blog.  

Grants

The animal science department has applied for two grants in the past two years. The grant last year was a Teacher Mini Grant from the Department of Instruction of Arlington Public Schools. The grant was awarded to the program and additional cat and dog manikins were purchased to give students more realistic CPR practice and to comply with new American Red Cross guidelines. Both the original grant application and the evaluation are attached. This year we have applied for an ING grant to help fund the cost of the pet sitting certification for the students. The deadline for the grant is not until spring but the completed application is attached.

Instructional Technology Adding Rigor and Relevance

Instructional technology is utilized frequently in the animal science department. Many of the uses add rigor and relevance to the curricula. The TurningPoint software that is used during presentations requires all students to answer. During a typical presentation the teacher will ask a question and call on a student to answer. Other students in the class may or may not be thinking of the answer. TurningPoint forces all students to think about the question and respond. Since the responses are anonymous, students can feel free to respond even if they are not sure of their answer. The Blackboard web site also assists the students in their learning. Since all materials can be posted on the site, students are able to access information anytime. Links to other web sites can be easily provided. For example, the Advanced Animal Science textbook has additional material which the students can access through Blackboard. As Blackboard is also frequently used by colleges, using it for our classes provides students a step into the collegiate experience. SmartBoards are used in both classrooms. These boards allow for interactivity during class discussions. For example, students can draw a line around the pelvic region of an animal or can see the region highlighted. Presentations can use additional internet or other multimedia sources easily, adding information and real world connections.