Scott Smalley, associate professor and teacher education coordinator in agricultural education and studies, is the recipient of the 2022 Distance Education Teaching Award from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Iowa State University. He has taught both undergraduate and graduate students using distance education. Many of the graduate students are current secondary agriculture education teachers and extension professionals who continue to seek further knowledge to help them advance personally and professionally. His distance education courses express his commitment to learner interaction, development of writing skills through case studies and transfer of learning.
Smalley has played an active role in the national Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education. For several years, he has worked with CASE to deliver professional development to agricultural educators in intense five- to eight-day trainings. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the training needed to be transitioned to a virtual setting. Smalley assisted organizing both synchronous and asynchronous sessions. In summer 2021, more than 800 agricultural education teachers across the country were able to receive professional development in a distance education setting.