-lancaster Farming, Saturday, November 15,1986 60 MILWAUKEE, Wis. - The electronic classroom becomes the latest teaching tool for vocational agriculture instructors in New Jersey as they begin using Ag Ed Network, America’s first com puter educational network for agriculture. Through a special project designed to establish a statewide program for vo-ag education, a group of 14 high schools will receive telephone modems, con nect time and a year’s subscription to Ag Ed Network in an effort to expand the use of this new teaching tool. The project included an in service training workshop held during the New Jersey State Future Farmers of America chapter officer training session at YMCA Camp Bernie near Washington, N.J. Oct. 17 and 18. The in-service was designed to help teachers learn how to properly incorporate this new technology into their classrooms. Federal vocational educational funds were used to finance the project, administered by the Division of Vocational Education, New Jersey Department of Education. The project was proposed and directed by Ed Evaul, agriculture department chairperson, Northern Burlington County Regional High School, Columbus, N.J. According to Evaul, Ag Ed Network will be a tremendous help and timesaver for vo-ag teachers. “We’ve so far just touched the surface of what it can do for our vo ag programs. It has great potential. We’re looking forward to transferring knowledge received at the in-service to the students,” he said. Instructors can access Ag EM Hew Jersey Ag Instructors Utilize Computer Network Network to receive timely lessons in marketing, finance, and other agricultural subjects. The network contains more than 850 curriculum lessons and projects, including daily updates about the impact of current events on agriculture. There are 636 student and teacher versions of lessons, as well as 52 Information Management lessons for producers and 169 Adult Correspondence lessons. Teaching modules include: farm business management, taxes and accounting, farm production planning and farm product marketing, plus issues for discussion. “Computerization of the classroom is certain to have a huge impact on the future of agriculture,” said Larry Squire, assistant manager of Ag Ed Network for AgriData Resources, Inc., a Milwaukee-based electronic information and communications service for agriculture. “Ag Ed Network puts students way ahead by introducing them to the latest technology in the field. More importantly, many of the lessons on the network help students develop those management and marketing skills needed to stay competitive and resourceful in the agricultural market today - and in the future.” Ag Ed Network users also have access to all of the information and communications services offered to regular users of AgriData Network, the nation’s leading videotex service used by farmers. Available on-line are government reports, cash and futures com modity prices, stock market, in formation and a variety of market advisories Top Farmer, Doane’s. Helmine. and others all designed to encourage farmers tested programs in vocational of their educational instructors, to forecast their own marketing agriculture classrooms in 1983 It New j fa the 15th state to pl ans - . a 7 ailabl L/ Cr T* J* 1 ® develop a statewide program for Ag Ed Network, a joint project of United States in 1984 and today education using Ag Ed the National Future Farmers of reaches more than 24,000 vo-ag Network America and AgriData, pilot- students through the memberships Md. Women's WOMEN’S AGRICULTURAL FORUM >‘<«»«*■,. High yielding ability. i , , Rapid diydown. i * I