GPS cows: improving digital literacy & engagement in rural students through an applied Agri-tech learning resource

Background: A key issue facing rural communities is the low level of digital literacy amongst students. This is particularly pertinent for students involved in agricultural studies where it is commonly perceived that digital literacy is not relevant to their future occupation. However, this is far from the truth as the reality of farming today means that students must have an excellent grasp of technology. This project will develop and evaluate an innovative learning module “GPS Cows” for use in senior agricultural science classes.

Methods: A collaborative workshop and action research pedagogical evaluation processes to develop and deliver the GPS Cows learning module will be utilised to deliver this project. Surveys pre and post completion of the learning module, of both educators and students, will be developed to assess the knowledge gained and level of engagement achieved of the relevance of technology in agriculture.

Results and discussion: The pilot program will involve 8 high schools from Queensland and New South Wales. The GPS cows project will:

• Deliver educator and student resources enabling the use of GPS tracking in the senior high school agriculture curriculum;
• Increase student and teacher knowledge and appreciation of the role of technology in agriculture;
• Inform the development of a best practice in the creation of collaborative agri-tech learning modules.
• Provide researchers and industry with a better understanding of how technologies can be offered for development as student engagement activities.

Conclusion: The “GPS cows” project will develop and evaluate a unique learning resource targeted at increasing digital literacy and engagement amongst year 11 and 12 agriculture students. This project will work collaboratively with teachers, curriculum developers and researchers to identify best practice in linking current agricultural research technologies into high school teaching through the development of teacher and student resources.