Abstract:

A testing of different potato varieties was organized with the aim of showing our students how to apply the scientific method with regards to potato growing and how to use traditional farming techniques. This provides students with a first-hand approach to these techniques as well as to the whole cycle of growing potatoes.

This activity was carried out by students from the Basic Vocational Training group and the Basic Vocational Training course for students with disabilities from I.E.S. Teguise (Teguise, Lanzarote). The students from these groups specialize on Agrogardening and Floral arrangements and they take this type of studies after not getting the Compulsory Secondary Education certificate. This vocational training courses allows them to get that certificate as well as a Level 1 professional certificate on Auxiliary Activities on Nurseries and Gardening centers.

According to the law, the students with disabilities need to have a disability certificate of a 33% disability in order to enrol in this type of course, which is an official training course whose duration is 2000 school hours throughout 2 school years.

All the students taking part in these courses are considered to be high risk students with regards to dropping out of school before finishing their studies which leads to social exclusion. This kind of studies offers these students the opportunity of finding a job so they can live with dignity.

This testing was designed accordingly and accurately. All the growing stages were carried out by the pupils who were supervised by the President of the Asociación de Agricultores Montaña de los Valles in Teguise. 15 varieties of the growing and trial variety (RedCara) were planted in randomized blocks in February. Sprouting was monitored and potato growing tasks were carried out to ensure everything was done according to the traditional growing technique from Los Valles (fertilization, putting soil..). The harvesting of the potato crops took place in June in two stages as some of the potatoes planted belong to a variety called late potatoes. The potatoes were weighed according to the variety and the block. Small and large potatoes were dealt with separately.

Then, the students from the University of Burgos under the framework of an Erasmus+ project (STEAM in the secondary school with no barriers for blind and visually impaired students) carried out the analysis of the data by using ANOVA in order to assess the growing and the output of the different potato varieties.

At the end of this activity, the students from the vocational training courses were clearly satisfied. They acquired the knowledge and the skills which are necessary to perform auxiliary tasks to prepare the land, the sowing and planting of crops as well as other tasks related to irrigation, fertilisation and applying different treatments. As a result of the activity, students are independent enough to carry out this type of cultivation. In addition, the testing makes students aware of the potato variety with the highest yield.

Acknowledgements:
The authors thank the financial support provided by EU (Erasmus+ project No. 2021-1-ES01-KA220-SCH-000024569). The authors also thank the Teguise city council and Pep Sur marketing for their support.

References:
[1] https://teguise.es/la-asociacion-de-papas-de-los-valles-prueba-nuevas-variedades-en-colaboracion-con-los-alumnos-del-ies-teguise/
[2] https://ms-my.facebook.com/105911488177979/videos/1652108554972182/?__so__=permalink

Keywords:

STEM activity, Risk of social exclusion, Functional diversity, Basic Vocational Training, Adapted Basic Vocational Training Programs.