Course Description
This course provides educators with focused, in-depth study of foundational agricultural topics, including soil science, beekeeping, flower and crop production, and applications of school gardens in educational settings. Emphasis is placed on evidence-based instructional strategies, integration of Massachusetts-specific agricultural contexts, analysis of current issues in agriculture, use of multimedia resources, and exploration of related career pathways.
Audience: Teachers at any grade-level
Mode: Online - both synchronous and asynchronous
Dates: May 4 - August 17, 2026
Time:
Total: 15 hours
Seven (7) hours of synchronous sessions:
- May 4, 2026 | 4.-.6 p.m.
- June 1, 2026 | 4 - 6:30 p.m.
- July 13, 2026 | 4 - 6:30 p.m.
- eight (8) asynchronous hours via Blackboard
15 PDPs
Cost: $284
Course Number: PRDV 6322P CRN: 66378
1 Graduate Credit
Cost: $356
Course Number: PRDV 6322C CRN: 66377
Registration
*IMPORTANT*: The CRN and Course Number will be needed when you register so please make sure to write down this information. Follow the directions listed on the registration site.
Summer registration opens on March 6, 2026
Registration deadline: April 27, 2026
Leave us your name and email using this interest form and we will notify you when registration opens.
Please Note:
- Once registered, you will receive a confirmation email with instructions on how to pay for your course. The registration may take 24-48 hours to process.
- You are required to pay within 48 hours of receiving your course payment email. Not paying for a course does not constitute a withdrawal from the course. You may withdraw prior to the start of a course. Once a course starts, you are not eligible for a refund.
Additional Information
María Berríos has been a science educator for over 20 years, teaching middle and high school students and bringing real-world experiences into the classroom. Passionate about STEM and agriculture, she has spent more than 15 years developing lessons that integrate agriculture into Biology, Bioengineering, and Zoology. She has been the advisor of the high school’s cooking and gardening club for over 7 years. As a STEM-certified educator, she has led the Massachusetts Agriculture in the Classroom for the past three years, sharing strategies and programs that make agricultural learning hands-on, relevant, and exciting.
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Analyze Massachusetts agricultural systems and resources to identify opportunities for place-based instructional integration across grade levels and subject areas.
- Select three agricultural focus areas from the following topics—soil science and gardens; bees and pollinators; floriculture and plant systems; current agricultural programs and events; agricultural career pathways—and develop standards-aligned instructional lessons for classroom or school garden use.
- Apply content knowledge and inquiry-based teaching strategies within the selected focus areas to design engaging, developmentally appropriate learning experiences.
- Evaluate the relevance of agricultural concepts to student learning by connecting local agricultural practices, environmental issues, and food systems to curriculum goals.
- Incorporate multimedia and experiential resources to enhance instruction and support diverse learners within the selected topic areas.
- Design, refine, and submit three lesson plans or a cohesive instructional mini-unit based on the selected topics, demonstrating effective integration of agricultural content, pedagogy, and local context.