EDX Chico promotes teaching and learning

CHICO » Eight Chico State professors from seven of the school’s colleges excited about teaching spoke during EDX Chico during a prerecorded livestream broadcast Friday morning.

The event was hosted by Debra Larson, Chico State provost and vice president for Academic Affairs.

According to the Chico State website, the event is an annual showcase meant to get people energized and excited about the joy of learning. It is a part of Alumni and Family Weekend held every fall semester.

Each professors spoke in a short video during the event.

Logan Smith, agriculture professor, was one of the speakers. Smith is an assistant professor in animal science and he spent five years in Siskiyou County, where he worked as a senior program manager for the Siskiyou Economic Development Council and also taught a variety of courses in biology and agriculture at College of the Siskiyous.

Smith talked about regenerative agriculture in his video.

According to the Center for Regenerative Agriculture and Resilient Systems website, regenerative agriculture describes farming and grazing practices that, among other benefits, reverse climate change by rebuilding soil organic matter and restoring degraded soil biodiversity, resulting in both carbon drawdown and improving the water cycle.

Smith said that he received positive emails following the annual event.

“I think it’s a wonderful event,” Smith said. “Parents and students got to be inspired by projects and see the human side of faculty. It was a wonderful experience to work with colleagues and learn more about them.”

Smith said that many of his students are not aware of regenerative agriculture. He said he brings it into discussion in his classes and have students learn more about climate change and its effects.

Larson was very happy about the livestream event results.

“What started out in 2018 as an idea to promote our disciplines and our faculty to our new incoming students has evolved into this fantastic web stream event that opens the world to watch and hear from our renowned teacher/scholars. Today’s event was attended by nearly 900 viewers who participated in the joy of learning at Chico State,” Larson said.

For those who could not tune into the event, it can be found at https://www. csuchico.edu/vpaa/edxchico.