2023 HarvestED Queensland

What is HarvestED?

HarvestEd is designed and delivered by educators at Asia Education Foundation (AEF), Asialink at The University of Melbourne. It is as a cross-curricular online learning experience that brings students from across Queensland together to learn collaboratively about the agricultural sector, its significance to the state, Australia and the Asia-Pacific region. 

HarvestEd is agricultural education for global citizens. Students hear from a range of guest speakers, experts and professionals. They explore current opportunities and challenges in agriculture, and develop their own solutions and action-oriented ideas. Students will explore cross-curricular content in agriculture such as sustainability, environmental consciousness, technology, automation, ethics and urbanisation. 

The program has been intentionally designed to support the Australian Curriculum Cross-Curriculum Priorities and strengthen the General Capabilities in all students. All Australian Cross-Curriculum Priorities are supported within the program design with content focused on Indigenous agricultural practices, environmental sustainability, and in particular, Asia and Australia’s Engagement with Asia.

The program design also utilises a range of pedagogies including, design-thinking, inquiry-based learning, collaborative-inquiry, visible thinking routines and dialogic learning, students are supported to develop global competence, skills and capabilities. Students are scaffolded through activities that require them to utilise and strengthen Critical and Creative Thinking Sills, Intercultural Understanding, Personal and Social Capability, ICT Capability, Ethical Understanding. 

The Phases of Learning:

The program runs in 4 distinct phases of learning across 3 consecutive days –

1. Past, Present and Future Farming - Exploring agricultural industries past, present and the potential of the agricultural future in Queensland, Australia and the Asia-Pacific
2. Connecting Communities - Hearing firsthand from agricultural professionals, experts and guests - students collaborate and reflect on the opportunities, insights, and problems worth tackling.
3. Seeding Change- Using design-thinking processes, teams generate ideas to problems or opportunities in agriculture that they have explored through the program, developing initial prototypes of solution-oriented ideas
4. Harvesting Potential- Students pitch their prototype ideas to each other and a guest panel for feedback and further actions. 

How is it delivered?

The program is delivered online synchronously for 16 sessions over Semester 2 with a face-to-face mid-point program and an end of program face-to-face Market Place Day where students pitch their solutions.  

Who participates?

HarvestEd is open to Queensland students from Years 8-9 in rural and remote regions.

What is the cost?

Thanks to the generosity of The Queensland Department of Education all costs are covered for participating students.