Technology in Agriculture: FarmBeats

When Alexis Nolden, an agriculture teacher at Wisconsin Dells Middle School, saw a demonstration of the FarmBeats program, she knew she wanted to give it a try. She saw it as a way to introduce the idea of technology in agriculture. The results were a wonderful surprise.

What is FarmBeats?

In short, it is a program that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to collect and analyze data that helps users better understand their environment. When inserted in the soil, the computerized sensor (micro:bit) can measure moisture, light, and soil temperature levels. And depending on how a student codes, the system can tell the user exactly when to water, for example. It can even send the data to a mobile device.

Developed by Microsoft for grades 6-12, the FarmBeats program provides grants that allow schools to implement data analysis into agriculture lessons using hardware kits and a ready-to-use curriculum.

How It Works in the Classroom

“I have students design their own experiments,” says Alexis, whose students code for the data they want to collect.

So, for example, if the class is designing experiments around planting seeds, one may code the program to keep track of the light levels of two different plants: one by a window and another farther away. Or another might want to learn what happens when a plant gets watered every day versus once a week.

“So just seeing them actually creating their own experiments and using the micro:bits to check those data points is really cool,” she says.

It really challenges her students to think critically. While they may have manipulated data in science and math, it’s a new and engaging experience to apply it to agriculture.

The program really encourages student-driven learning, she says.

“The students need a buy-in and that's hard,” says Alexis. But they saw the coding and they saw a new challenge and they just grabbed onto it, and they've been going with it.”

At the end of the year, she hopes to work with FFA alumni on a presentation demonstrating how to use the technology on a larger scale.