Session Summary and Speaker Bio

Session Title

Exploring FarmBeats: Understanding the Impact of Technology on Sustainable Agriculture

Target Audience

Grades 5 - 12

Session Summary

The objective of this activity is to introduce youth attendees to Microsoft FarmBeats, a platform that uses IoT and AI technology to collect and analyze data on crop growth and weather patterns, and to explore the potential of this technology to promote sustainable agriculture.

This activity will give the attendees a hands-on experience of how technology like FarmBeats can be used to support sustainable agriculture and will encourage them to think about the potential benefits and challenges of using technology in this way. It will also give them a chance to explore the data and information that is available through FarmBeats, and to discuss ideas with their peers.

Presenter

James English

Instructional Specialist

STEM+CS Department of Applied Learning, Broward County Public Schools.

James English is an experienced agricultural education teacher with over 10 years of experience in the field. James’ passion for agriculture and environmental education led him to enroll in the Florida Master Gardener program, and he has been teaching in some capacity ever since. He taught Agriscience, Agribusiness, and Landscape Operations at Plantation High School for 6 years and he has been able to inspire and motivate his students to learn more about the field of agriculture and the importance of conservation.

Throughout his career, James has been committed to providing hands-on learning opportunities for his students. He has implemented a variety of programs and activities that allow students to gain practical experience in agriculture and landscaping, such as Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) programs and jobs with Broward County Public Schools. He also has created a program that allows students to learn about the different career opportunities in agriculture and landscaping, and this has helped many students to make decisions about their future careers.

James is well-versed in the latest technologies and techniques used in modern agriculture. He has implemented the use of precision agriculture techniques, and he has been able to show his students how technology can be used to improve efficiency, productivity, and sustainability in agriculture.

For the past year, James has been working the STEM+CS division of the Applied Learning Department at Broward County Public Schools. He has helped with the implementation of the Technology Empowered Agriculture (TEA Garden) program, a program designed to integrate the use of technology into edible landscapes. This program has been designed to educate students about sustainable food production and permaculture.