From Classroom to Field: Hands-On and Interactive Learning for Crop Scouts
Teaching & Educational Technologies
Rebecca Vittetoe
Extension Field Agronomist
Iowa State University Extension
Washington
Abstract
Learning through hands-on experience can often be one of the most effective ways to build knowledge. To prepare crop scouts for the growing season, ag retailers and crop consultants in eastern Iowa requested a hands on training. In response, ISU Extension field agronomists in eastern Iowa launched a Crop Scout School in 2022 and have continued to offer and improve the program annually. The event now attracts participants not only from Iowa but also South Dakota, Nebraska, Illinois, and Wisconsin.
A core objective of this program is to provide interactive, hands on learning by utilizing classroom and field-based sessions. Topics covered include scouting strategies, corn and soybean growth staging, insect identification, weed identification, plant diseases, and diagnosing issues such as nutrient deficiencies, herbicide injury, and weather related damage.
Classroom sessions use a mix of teaching approaches from traditional presentations to utilizing real plant samples. Participants practice staging crops and identifying weeds on live plants samples like they could see in crop fields, offering a tactile learning experience. Field based sessions allow participants to practice conducting stand assessments, staging crops, diagnosing herbicide injury, and practicing with scouting tools like sweep nets. To maximize engagement and maintain a hands on environment, participants are broken into smaller groups and rotate through sessions throughout the day.
To strengthen engagement and measure real time learning, Poll Everywhere questions have been used with some classroom sessions. This interactive technology provides immediate feedback on participant understanding and highlights areas needing additional clarification. Participants also receive physical and electronic scouting resources, including various scouting guides and are taught how to utilize these resources.
Evaluation results from the 2025 Crop Scout School demonstrated strong knowledge gains. After the workshop, 29% of participants felt very knowledgeable in insect scouting, 74% in crop staging, 33% in weed ID, 26% in disease ID, and 64% in distinguishing normal versus abnormal plants. All respondents found the in field session valuable, and 69% were extremely likely to recommend the program.
This program illustrates how diverse teaching techniques and technologies can create a highly effective, hands on learning experience for participants.
Authors: Rebecca Vittetoe, Virgil Schmitt
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Rebecca Vittetoe Extension Field Agronomist, ISU Extension and Outreach , Iowa, 52353
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Virgil Schmitt Extension Field Agronomist, ISU Extension and Outreach , Iowa, 52761