The CHS Foundation and Discovery Education have expanded their educational partnership by launching HARVEST: From Seed to Success, a gamified learning experience designed to engage students in agriculture and cooperative business. As part of the ongoing Cooperative Minds program, this new digital resource provides students with a hands-on, interactive experience that deepens their understanding of essential industry roles and the cooperative business model.
Building on the success of “The Power of Cooperatives” Virtual Field Trip and its in-depth Career Profiles, the program now brings the learning experience into a virtual, browser-based environment. Students step into the role of a co-op farmer-owner, navigating the complexities of growing crops, working with ag professionals, and managing key decisions—all while gaining insight into how cooperative businesses function.
Preparing Students for Industry Challenges
In today’s rapidly evolving economy, the need for students to develop practical, industry-relevant skills is more pressing than ever. As students test soil, choose crops, and time their harvests, they are not only learning the fundamentals of agriculture but also practicing decision-making, problem-solving, and teamwork in a real-world context.
Programs like Cooperative Minds are instrumental in providing students with a sense of what it takes to succeed in industries like agriculture and beyond. By simulating the roles of professionals such as agronomists and co-op leaders, HARVEST opens students’ eyes to career paths that they may not have previously considered. The gamified approach to learning enables students to experiment with their choices and see the outcomes of their decisions in real time—lessons that can be transferred to various other ‘fields’.
The Role of Corporations in Shaping the Future Workforce
As industries continue to grow and change, and new career possibilities open for today’s students, the collaboration between education and the private sector becomes more essential. By exposing students to industry-specific skills in a safe, digital environment, immersive resources can help students gain a clearer understanding of the roles and responsibilities that professionals take on in today’s workplace.
Corporations across sectors understand that the readiness of the future workforce impacts everything from productivity to innovation. Businesses benefit when students can directly connect their education with future career opportunities, and HARVEST helps bridge the gap between classroom learning and the real-world skills that companies value. And when students see their educational content reflected in real-world scenarios, they become better equipped to pursue meaningful careers.
A Comprehensive Learning Experience
HARVEST: From Seed to Success offers a complete agricultural learning journey for students. Starting with soil analysis and crop selection, students are guided by ag professionals through the critical stages of farming. Whether it’s choosing the right fertilizer or taking control of a combine to harvest the crops, each aspect of the experience is designed to simulate real-life agricultural decisions. By the end of the game, students are shown their final crop yield, providing immediate feedback on how well they managed their farm.
For added engagement, the game includes Free Harvest Mode, allowing students to customize field sizes and crop types, experimenting with different variables and learning from the results. This open-ended exploration encourages students to take ownership of their learning, reinforcing the lessons they’ve absorbed throughout the experience.
HARVEST also offers valuable insights into the cooperative model—where communities work together to share resources and maximize their outcomes. This model of collaboration is becoming increasingly relevant in industries where cooperation and shared decision-making are essential for success.
The supporting downloadable Educator Guide invites teachers to scaffold students’ learning and draw out further discussion. From open-ended questions (Example: What are some real-world factors that might influence a farmer’s decision on when to harvest?) to running structured experiments between groups of students playing the game, this educator resource is invaluable in order to support and extend the outcomes of playing through the full HARVEST experience. Think of the gamified resource as the jelly in a sandwich where the educator materials are the bread around it.
Supporting Long-Term Workforce Development
The renewed partnership between the CHS Foundation and Discovery Education highlights the importance of immersive learning in workforce development. Through HARVEST, students:
- learn technical skills and develop collaborative mindsets;
- gain insights into multiple industries, beyond just agriculture;
- develop interest in careers that will drive the economy forward.
Immersive experiences like HARVEST help prepare students for the evolving workforce, equipping them with:
- critical thinking and decision-making skills;
- practical knowledge relevant to real-world challenges;
- an understanding of the cooperative business model and its role in various industries
The Broader Impact of Immersive Learning
In today’s educational landscape, innovative digital resources are redefining how students learn. Immersive experiences that mimic real-life industry scenarios help students build connections between their classroom education and the real-world challenges they may face in their careers. By giving students the opportunity to take on roles that align with professional tasks, programs like HARVEST foster a sense of ownership and engagement in their learning process.
As industries evolve, so must the educational tools used to prepare the next generation of workers. HARVEST: From Seed to Success is more than just a gamified learning experience; it is a crucial step in connecting students with the realities of modern industry. The seeds of learning planted in HARVEST will grow into a workforce that understands the importance of collaboration, innovation, and adaptability—qualities that are crucial for the future of any industry.
