Debra Spielmaker
Applied Sciences Technology & Education
Extension Professor | Agricultural Literacy/Education; STEM Education, CTE Education
Contact Information
Office Hours: Varies, an email will get a response within 24-hoursOffice Location: ASTE 109
Phone: 435-213-5562
Email: debra.spielmaker@usu.edu
Educational Background
Licensures & Certifications
Biography
Debra Spielmaker is a Professor in the School of Applied Sciences, Technology, and Education. She serves as the department graduate chair and is also the Team leader of the USDA-NIFA sponsored National Center for Agricultural Literacy.
Teaching Interests
agricultural literacy, STEM, adult education, and career education
Research Interests
Agricultural literacy, STEM education, career education, Project-based Learning
Graduate Advising Philosophy Statement
My philosophy or view or mentoring begins with “The Golden Rule,” simply to “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Some philosophers would define this as commonsense ethics. This rule, which is based on social reciprocity and norms, models the collaborative environment in an academic setting and serves as the foundation for building trust, which is essential to mentoring.
As a graduate mentor I strive to be an example and model moral and ethical actions. My role is inclusive of counselor and teacher (facilitator of learning). These two roles are not the same but share commonalities that build trust which is the foundation of a respected (mentoring) relationship. My role is to facilitate, not direct, their learning and provide advice that will guide them toward their goals. To achieve this, I listen and learn as much as I can about each individual student and then build on their experiences. These students are adults, as adults their experiences frame their learning. The five assumptions of Adult Learners (Knowles, 1984) resonate with me. If the learning is relevant and timely, adults are motivated to learn. As an advisor that knows about their previous experiences, I am able to connect and add to their reservoir of experience to increase their understanding .I consistently and consciously foster reflective practice using questioning techniques to help students to ah-ha moments of understanding, and to aid them with critical thinking for decision making.
In my role as a mentor, I am aware that I am modeling for them how they should mentor others in the future. Metaphorically, I see myself as someone that is further ahead on the path of life. As the person in the front, I know the path. I know where the trail forks, the stream crossings, and other difficult areas to be avoided or navigated cautiously for learning. With this metaphor in mind, I use my experiences in a collaborative way to facilitate learning and model mentoring.
Awards
2020 American Association for Agricultural Education Distinguished Extension Educator, 2020
American Association for Agricultural Education Distinguished Extension Educator
Governor’s Medal for K-12 STEM Education , 2017
Utah Governor's Office of Economic Development
American Association for Agriculture Education, First Place Innovation Poster: A logic model for agricultural literacy (2014)., 2014
American Association for Agriculture Education
Utah State Univeristy Greats of 2012, 2013
Utah State University
First Place Innovation Poster: InterAgtion and Curriculum Mapping for Agricultural Lilteracy, 2012
Western Region American Association for Agriculural Education
Utah State University Extension Nominee for Excellence in Extension Award Association of Public and Land Grant Universities Cooperative Extension, 2011
Association of Public and Land-grant Universities
Co-Chair of Agricultural Literacy Standards Summit, 2011
United States Department of Agriculture
Arch of Fame Award, 2010
Utah Association of Family and Consumer Science Teachers
Second Place Conception/Innovation Poster: K-6 Online Course Professional Development, 2010
Western Region American Association for Agricultural Education
Outstanding (First Place) Conception/Innovation Poster: Growing A Nation, 2007
Western Region American Association for Agricultural Education
State FFA Degree, 2007
Distinguished Achievement Award for Growing a Nation: The Story of American Agriculture, 2006
The Association of Educational Publishers
Service to the Industry Award, 2006
Dairy Farmers of Utah
E.G. Peterson Award, 2004
Utah State University Extension
Outstanding Food Land and People Program Leadership Award, 2004
Food, Land & People Inc.
Outstanding Service to Agriculture Award, 2004
Cache County Farm Bureau
Aggie Blue Pride Light Honoree, 2003
Utah State University
American Association for the Advancement of Science Website Excellence Award , 2003
American Association for the Advancement of Science
Extension Merit Increase Award, 2003
Utah State University Extension
State Science Textbook Review Committee, 2003
Utah State Office of Education
Outstanding Food, Land & People Program, 2002
Food, Land & People Inc.
Taggart-Ballard Award of Excellence, 2001
Utah State Univerisity Extension
National Agriculture Initiative Award, Winner, 2000
Agriculture in the Classroom Consortium
Taggart-Ballard Award of Excellence, 2000
Utah State University Extension
Friend of Agriculture Award, 1999
Utah Farm Bureau Federation
National Agriculture Initiative Award, 1999
Agriculture in the Classroom Consortium
President’s Service Award, 1998
Utah Association of Conservation Districts
Publications | Abstracts
- Judd-Murray, R., Spielmaker, D., (2017). Evaluating the effectiveness of an agricultural literacy preservice teacher workshop. Western Region Conference of the American Association for Agricultural Education
- Spielmaker, D., (2016). Developing agricultural literacy outcomes: A synthesis of research-based expectations. Western Region Conference of the American Association for Agricultural Education
- Wray, P., Spielmaker, D., (2016). Farm field days as a learning model for agricultural literacy. Western Region Conference of the American Association for Agricultural Education
An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.
Publications | Fact Sheets
- Spielmaker, D., (2013). History of the National and USDA Agriculture in the Classroom logos. *
An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.
Publications | Curriculum
An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.
Publications | Journal Articles
Academic Journal
- Hill, P.A, Ali, A.D, Narine, L.K, Spielmaker, D., Schmutz, A., (2020). Evaluating Utah’s Rural Online Initiative: Empowering Rural Communities Through Remote Work. Journal of Extension, 58:5
- Christensen, J., Warnick, B.K, Spielmaker, D., Tarpley, R.S, Straquadine, G., (2009). Agricultural inservice needs of technology, life and careers teachers. Journal of Agricultural Education, 50:4, 1-13. doi: 10.5032/jae.2009.04001
In-House Journal
Professional Journal
An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.
Publications | MultiMedia
Software
- Spielmaker, D., (2015). National Agricultural Literacy Curriculum Matrix. National Agriculture in the Classroom
An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.
Publications | Technical Reports
Research Reports
- Spielmaker, D., (2021). 2020 Agriculture in the Classroom State Reports. *
- Spielmaker, D., (2019). 2018 Agriculture in the Classroom State Reports. *
- Spielmaker, D., (2018). 2017 Agriculture in the Classroom State Reports. *
- Spielmaker, D., (2017). 2016 Agriculture in the Classroom State Reports. *
- Spielmaker, D., (2016). 2015 Agriculture in the Classroom State Reports. *
- Spielmaker, D., (2015). 2014 Agriculture in the Classroom State Reports. *
- Spielmaker, D., (2014). 2013 Agriculture in the Classroom State Reports. National Agriculture in the Classroom Organization *
- Spielmaker, D., Warnick, B.K, (2012). A Trend Analysis of National Agriculture in the Classroom Program Data: 2006-2010. National Agriculture in the Classroom Organization *
- Spielmaker, D., Pilot Study to Develop a Survey Instrument for Evaluating the Effectiveness of the Utah Career and Technical Education Introduction Course.
Other Reports
- Spielmaker, D., RFA for Advanced Placement Human Geography Curricula. *
- Spielmaker, D., (2014). Request for application: National Center for Agricultural Literacy. *
- Spielmaker, D., (2014). Logic Model for Agricultural Literacy Poster. American Association of Agricultural Educators
- Spielmaker, D., (2013). Logic Model for Agricultural Literacy.
An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.
Publications | Other
Magazine/Trade Publications
- Kinkead, J., Funda, E.I, Spielmaker, D., (2011). Tied to the Land: Three--of the countless-- efforts to celebrate USU's exceptioanl national impact under the Morrill Act. Utah State *
Other
- Spielmaker, D., (2015). Agricultural Literacy Research Zotero Database. https://www.zotero.org/groups/25398 *
- Spielmaker, D., Wolanyk, E., (2011). Agriculture in the Classroom White Paper. National Agriculture in the Classroom Organization
An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.