Study Guide
Field 042: Agricultural Education
Test Design and Framework
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The test design below describes general assessment information. The framework that follows is a detailed outline that explains the knowledge and skills that this test measures.
Test Design
*Does not include 15-minute C B T tutorial
Test Framework
Pie chart of approximate test weighting outlined in the table below.
| subareas | range of competencies | approximate percentage of test | |
|---|---|---|---|
| selected-response | |||
| roman numeral 1 | agricultural business, economics, and marketing | 0001–0003 | 11 percent |
| roman numeral 2 | animal science | 0004–0006 | 19 percent |
| roman numeral 3 | plant and soil science | 0007–0010 | 18 percent |
| roman numeral 4 | agricultural mechanics | 0011–0012 | 17 percent |
| roman numeral 5 | environmental science and natural resources | 0013–0014 | 15 percent |
| roman numeral 6 | foundations of agricultural education | 0015–0017 | 5 percent |
| this cell intentionally left blank. | 85 percent | ||
| subareas | range of competencies | approximate percentage of test | |
|---|---|---|---|
| constructed-response | |||
| roman numeral 6 | foundations of agricultural education | 0015–0017 | 15 percent |
Subarea roman numeral 1–Agricultural Business, Economics, and Marketing
Competency 0001–Understand agricultural business ownership and management.
start italics The following topics are examples of content that may be covered under this competency. end italics
- Identify business management functions (e.g., planning, controlling) and types (e.g., sole proprietorship, corporation, cooperative) and characteristics of business ownership.
- Identify principles of financial planning and management; basic banking procedures; and the types, sources, and costs of credit.
- Apply principles and procedures, including the use of technology, for accounting, record keeping, and office and information management in agricultural business contexts.
- Identify types and characteristics of insurance and other forms of risk management (e.g., hedging, diversification).
- Apply knowledge of human resources management in agricultural business contexts.
- Describe the role of entrepreneurs in agriculture and procedures for establishing a successful agricultural business.
- Analyze ethical issues in agriculture and agencies, laws, and regulations affecting agricultural businesses.
Competency 0002–Understand agricultural economic principles and policies.
start italics The following topics are examples of content that may be covered under this competency. end italics
- Define basic economic principles (e.g., risk, supply and demand, comparative advantage, diminishing returns, opportunity cost) and their application to agricultural businesses.
- Compare basic types of competitive systems and market structures (e.g., oligopoly, monopoly), their characteristics, and their importance in agricultural industries.
- Describe how factors in the U S economy (e.g., recession, unemployment, inflation) affect agricultural businesses.
- Describe how U S trade policies and international agreements affect agricultural businesses in Oklahoma and the United States.
- Identify types and characteristics of Oklahoma's major agricultural products and their role in the U S economy.
Competency 0003–Understand agricultural marketing.
start italics The following topics are examples of content that may be covered under this competency. end italics
- Describe strategies for marketing agricultural products (e.g., assessing marketing information, identifying target markets, developing marketing plans).
- Analyze factors that affect pricing decisions for agricultural products (e.g., production costs, competition).
- Identify distribution systems for agricultural products (e.g., types and characteristics of distribution channels).
- Analyze strategies for promotion and sale of agricultural products (e.g., advertising campaigns, sales techniques).
- Identify laws and regulations affecting the marketing of agricultural products (e.g., product labeling laws, truth-in-advertising laws).
Subarea roman numeral 2–Animal Science
Competency 0004–Understand animal anatomy, physiology, reproduction, and genetics.
start italics The following topics are examples of content that may be covered under this competency. end italics
- Identify basic characteristics and uses of various species and breeds of domestic animals.
- Analyze principles for evaluating and selecting animals for various production systems.
- Identify growth processes and stages (e.g., cow/calf, stocker, feed lot) in domestic animals.
- Describe relationships between the anatomy and physiology of domestic animals and compare the structure, function, and interrelationships of various organ systems.
- Describe basic principles of animal reproduction and their application to breeding practices and the care of animals during pregnancy and parturition.
- Interpret basic principles of inheritance, genetics, and selective breeding of animals.
- Identify basic principles of biotechnology in animal production.
Competency 0005–Describe characteristics of animal nutrition and health.
start italics The following topics are examples of content that may be covered under this competency. end italics
- Describe nutrient functions, nutritional requirements, sources of nutrients, and common deficiency symptoms in domestic animals.
- Compare animal feeding practices and the composition, classification, and nutritional value of feeds and feed additives.
- Describe factors (e.g., stage of development, pregnancy, lactation, environmental conditions) that influence nutritional requirements and decisions about feeding practices.
- Identify types, causes, and symptoms of common infectious and noninfectious diseases of domestic animals and methods for their prevention, treatment, and control.
- Identify types, symptoms, and life cycles of common external and internal parasites of domestic animals and methods for their prevention, treatment, and control.
Competency 0006–Understand animal production systems and safe handling of animals and their products.
start italics The following topics are examples of content that may be covered under this competency. end italics
- Identify common procedures used in animal production systems (e.g., castrating, dehorning, marking, medicating) and safe and humane practices for handling animals.
- Analyze environmental requirements (e.g., range requirements, temperature control) for various types of domestic animals.
- Identify traditional and alternative animal production systems; types, characteristics, and purposes of animal facilities; and common issues related to managing these facilities.
- Assess negative environmental effects associated with animal production systems (e.g., water pollution, overgrazing) and strategies for minimizing these effects.
- Describe public concerns about humane treatment of animals and legal and ethical issues relating to animal welfare.
- Identify principles and procedures for the safe handling, processing, preserving, storing, grading, and inspecting of animal products.
Subarea roman numeral 3–Plant and Soil Science
Competency 0007–Identify principles of soil science.
start italics The following topics are examples of content that may be covered under this competency. end italics
- Identify processes of soil formation, soil classification, and soil components (e.g., humus, sand, clay).
- Identify properties of soil (e.g., texture, particle size, structure, porosity), characteristics of different types of soil, and how these characteristics affect plant growth.
- Analyze procedures for performing and interpreting basic soil tests.
- Analyze the suitability of different types of soil for various crops.
- Identify characteristics and uses of different types and formulations of fertilizers and soil amendments.
- Identify various types of soil management and conservation practices (e.g., no-till, crop rotation, cover cropping, drainage).
Competency 0008–Understand plant anatomy, physiology, reproduction, and genetics.
start italics The following topics are examples of content that may be covered under this competency. end italics
- Identify plant classification and characteristics of major plant groups (e.g., monocots, eudicots).
- Describe structures and functions of cells, tissues, and systems of plants and physiological processes in plants (e.g., photosynthesis, transport).
- Analyze factors affecting plant growth and maturation (e.g., the action of various hormones on growth and ripening) and requirements for growth of plants.
- Compare methods and techniques of asexual and sexual plant propagation (e.g., seeds, division, micropropagation).
- Interpret basic principles of inheritance, genetics, selective breeding, and hybridization of plants.
- Identify basic principles of biotechnology in plant production.
Competency 0009–Describe characteristics of plant nutrition and disease.
start italics The following topics are examples of content that may be covered under this competency. end italics
- Describe nutrient functions, nutritional requirements, sources of nutrients, and common deficiency symptoms in plants.
- Describe nutritional needs and feeding strategies for different species of plants and for plants at different stages of maturity.
- Identify types, causes, and symptoms of common diseases of plants and methods for their prevention, treatment, and control.
- Identify types, characteristics, signs of damage, and life cycles of common plant pests and methods (e.g., chemical pesticides, integrated pest management) for their prevention, treatment, and control.
- Identify types and characteristics of common weed pests and methods (e.g., herbicides, tillage) for their control.
- Describe safe handling, storage, and disposal of agricultural chemicals (e.g., fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides).
Competency 0010–Identify characteristics of production systems for agronomic crops, horticultural crops, and rangelands.
start italics The following topics are examples of content that may be covered under this competency. end italics
- Identify species, varieties, characteristics, and uses of agriculturally important plants and alternative crops grown in Oklahoma.
- Identify practices for scheduling, planting, fertilizing, irrigating, and harvesting crops grown in Oklahoma.
- Describe principles and procedures for safe handling of plant products and for processing, preserving, storing, grading, and inspecting plant products.
- Describe principles and methods of rangeland management.
- Identify types and characteristics of facilities, materials, tools, and growth media used in greenhouse and nursery production systems.
- Identify methods for scheduling, planting, fertilizing, watering, propagating, and harvesting greenhouse and nursery crops.
- Apply principles of landscape design and methods of landscape management.
- Apply principles of precision farming and the use of advanced technologies in plant production systems (e.g., remote sensing, Variable Rate Technology, laser-guided tillage, GPS, computer-based water and temperature controls).
Subarea roman numeral 4–Agricultural Mechanics
Competency 0011–Understand safe and appropriate use of power equipment and small engines.
start italics The following topics are examples of content that may be covered under this competency. end italics
- Describe basic principles and concepts relating to the operation of power equipment and internal combustion engines.
- Identify components of small engines and types, characteristics, and uses of power equipment employed in agricultural production.
- Apply principles and procedures for maintaining, troubleshooting, and repairing small engines employed in agricultural production.
- Apply practices for the safe use of power equipment in agricultural production.
- Identify types, characteristics, components, operating principles, and uses of electrical and hydraulic systems used in agricultural equipment.
Competency 0012–Understand safe wood and metal fabrication, agricultural construction, and irrigation systems.
start italics The following topics are examples of content that may be covered under this competency. end italics
- Apply planning, drafting, measurement, and mathematical skills to agricultural wood and metal fabrication and construction.
- Identify types, properties, and uses of materials used in wood and metal fabrication and how to safely perform basic woodworking and metalworking procedures.
- Apply construction principles (e.g., carpentry, concrete, finishing skills) and knowledge of types, characteristics, and uses of materials and tools used in agricultural construction.
- Identify principles and applications of electrical power and plumbing and apply skills, methods, tools, and materials for the installation and maintenance of electrical and plumbing systems in agricultural construction.
- Identify types, characteristics, components, and uses of water control and irrigation systems.
- Identify basic principles, methods, tools, and equipment for surveying, mapping, land measurement, and land leveling.
Subarea roman numeral 5–Environmental Science and Natural Resources
Competency 0013–Understand ecological principles and the relationship between agriculture and the environment.
start italics The following topics are examples of content that may be covered under this competency. end italics
- Define basic ecological principles (e.g., niche, ecosystem, ecological succession) and their application to agriculture.
- Describe energy, water, and nutrient cycles and their relevance to agriculture.
- Identify effects of different types of agricultural production systems on the environment (e.g., habitat improvement, erosion, loss of biodiversity).
- Apply principles and methods for minimizing and mitigating environmental degradation due to agricultural production.
- Analyze social, legal, and ethical issues (e.g., stewardship, landowner property rights) related to agriculture and the environment.
Competency 0014–Understand natural resources conservation and management.
start italics The following topics are examples of content that may be covered under this competency. end italics
- Identify types and characteristics of renewable and nonrenewable natural resources.
- Compare types, characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages of alternative energy sources (e.g., wind, solar, geothermal).
- Describe principles and methods of sustainable agriculture and the sustainable use of natural resources.
- Identify principles and methods for soil (e.g., topsoil, subsoil) and water (e.g., ground, surface) conservation and management.
- Assess causes of habitat loss and reduction of biodiversity, strategies for conserving and replacing habitat, and principles of wildlife management.
- Identify principles and methods of forest management (e.g., timber management, multiple-use management) and outdoor recreational management.
Subarea roman numeral 6–Foundations of Agricultural Education
Competency 0015–Understand foundations of agriculture and agricultural education.
start italics The following topics are examples of content that may be covered under this competency. end italics
- Describe the scope and importance of the agricultural industry.
- Identify important events and individuals in the history of agriculture, agricultural education, and FFA.
- Identify social, economic, and political issues that affect agricultural education.
- Apply scientific methods and principles in agriculture.
- Describe the comprehensive program model in agricultural education and the relationship among classroom and laboratory learning, Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAEs), and participation in FFA.
- Describe professional development and outreach in agricultural education, including strategies for working with advisory committees, and local, state, and national stakeholders, including members of the school and local community.
- Identify potential hazards in the classroom, laboratory, field, and SAE; sources of safety information; and procedures for the safe use, storage, and disposal of hazardous materials.
- Identify occupational safety practices in agriculture and apply this knowledge to ensuring the safety of all students in the classroom, laboratory, field, and SAE.
Competency 0016–Identify communication and leadership skills in agriculture and agricultural education.
start italics The following topics are examples of content that may be covered under this competency. end italics
- Describe principles of effective oral and written communication skills.
- Apply skills for fostering teamwork, motivation, and leadership among students.
- Identify the purposes and goals of FFA (e.g., assisting students in developing leadership, communication, citizenship, and competitive skills).
- Describe the organizational structure of FFA, roles of officers in an FFA chapter, and the rules of basic parliamentary procedure.
- Identify effective strategies for developing a Program of Activities (POA) for an FFA chapter and for facilitating student participation in FFA events and awards at the local, state, and national levels.
- Identify the roles and responsibilities of FFA advisors in ensuring the success of an FFA chapter.
Competency 0017–Understand careers in agriculture and career development.
start italics The following topics are examples of content that may be covered under this competency. end italics
- Identify workplace skills and personal characteristics necessary for a successful career in agriculture-related fields.
- Identify careers in agriculture-related fields and the knowledge, skills, and requirements necessary for success in those careers.
- Apply knowledge of strategies and skills for job search and career development (e.g., locating job opportunities, creating a résumé, interviewing for a job).
- Identify goals and purposes of Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAEs) and characteristics of different types of SAEs.
- Apply strategies for coordinating a variety of SAEs and for assisting students in planning, selecting, and managing their SAEs.