Visionaries: Professor promotes the value of hands-on learning
From the moment you speak to Steve Hallett, professor of horticulture, you will notice something different. It isn’t just his accent. Hallett has a different perspective on and love for sustainable farming and teaching. Part of that may be his upbringing in England, which helped form his perspective.
Many instructors, Hallett said, have a bias. They believe in certain things, so that’s what they teach. Over the years, Hallett explained that he has been able to understand that he sees American agriculture differently and has embraced that as a strength.“There are things you notice differently, depending on your background,” he said.
Because he sees things differently, Hallett has an outsider view of agricultural practices in the United States. He said that he has a systemwide, almost bigger picture, perspective. And that has informed his own teaching, which you will see in this video.
Along with his teaching style, Hallett tries to make sure Purdue students see his “world.” That involves seeing beyond just the current topic and understanding how it connects with other topics and concepts, which is not always something American agriculture emphasizes. The end goal, Hallett said, is to make change for the good. We all think differently, but Hallett enjoys the challenge of teaching students to see things differently, however it may come about.Meet the Filmmaker/Blogger
EllaMae Reiff, student filmmaker and blogger EllaMae Reiff, is a sophomore double majoring in agricultural communication and agribusiness: agribusiness marketing from Warsaw, Indiana. She would love to have the opportunity to write and engage with farmers in her future career.
ABOUT VISIONARIES
This blog and video are part of the Visionaries series, which highlights the work and lives of researchers in the Purdue University College of Agriculture. The content for this series is created by the students of ASEC 280 (Digital Storytelling).Featured Stories
Ryan Folk, an emerging leader in the world of plant evolutionary biology, has joined...
For the first time since June 2025, respondents in the August Purdue University/CME Group Ag...
Most parents want to encourage their child’s hobbies, signing them up for chess club,...
The Indiana Corn Marketing Council (ICMC) has named Dan Quinn, assistant professor of agronomy in...
For Krishna Nemali and Stephen Meyers, both associate professors in the Department of...
Six new faculty members have joined Purdue University's College of Agriculture this Fall...