The Research Journey
The Research Purpose and Question
This qualitative study aimed to document the potential benefits to students’ curricular achievement and skills development when agriculture and experiential learning were the means of delivering Alberta curriculum.
This study was funded by Alberta Education's Research Partnerships Program, and was conducted at New Humble Community School (NHCS), a rural public charter school in central Alberta, Canada.
The research question driving this study was: How does experiential learning through agriculture foster curricular connections and life skills in K-6 students?
NHCS is the only school in Alberta that uses agriculture in an elementary school setting to enhance students’ learning. This is what made it a particularly unique research site.
How It All Began...
Sometimes the stars align. One day in early January 2022 a colleague in the education faculty at U of A wrote me a brief email that started with “I have a quick wonder for you.”
New Humble Community School near Calmar, Alberta, Canada had just formed as a public charter school, and then Acting Superintendent Dr. Guy Tetrault, was inquiring about educational researchers who might be interested in conducting research with the school. Coincidentally, I had just obtained an internal research grant from the Faculty of Education to begin research that would elevate and celebrate rural school innovation. The email piqued my interest!
I could see the connection between NHCS's unique philosophy and pedagogy and my goal to shift an entrenched deficit discourse about rural schools...our stars aligned.
