Progress 09/01/18 to 08/31/22

Outputs
(N/A)

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? • Objective 1: Perform an assessment-based update of the current FST master's degree program and courses Assessment data gathered from current and former students, and potential employers was analyzed in preparation for the assessment-based review of the FST program curriculum and courses conducted during summer 2019 (Y1). FST faculty met to revise master's degree curriculum and core courses content. Master's degree curriculum ratified as no need for changes identified. Faculty prepared and submitted identified changes for all but 2 courses (i.e., CITA 6603 and CITA 6615). CITA 6603 is a (1 credit) lab while CITA 6615 is a combined conference (2 credits) and lab (1 credit) course. Changes to these courses require integration of their laboratory activities into a single course (CITA 6603 - 2 credits) while leaving CITA 6615 with 2 credits of conference (already transformed to online version). Drafts of the modified courses are approved by the team. Two faculty members drafted a revised manual for the laboratory exercises of CITA 6603 that was approved by FST faculty. Associated laboratory facilities have been prepared. Minor delays due to technical issues limited course conversion (i.e., equipment availability for video recording) of CITA 6603 experiences to about 70%. Work will continue after project's closure as it is key to the inception of the online master's degrees already in the approval process. Once completed, these revised versions CITA 6603 and CITA 6615 will be sentfor approval through the appropriate channels to have them institutionalized. • Objective 2: Provide FST faculty with the required online teaching tools Some technological tools (i.e., microphones, cameras, sound improving acoustic panels) were acquired to support online course content development during Y1. Equipped with needed tools, FST faculty was trained on online education and course preparation. The nine expert resources transforming courses as part of this project were certified by the end of Y2. • Objective 3: Transform FST courses to online versions The project proposed to transform fifteen courses as part of its activities. However, after assessing the curriculum, the compiled list of courses to transform increased to 16 after adding AGRO 6600 (the continuation course of AGRO 5005 and a popular elective course of FST master students). The first transformation wave started during Y2 with eight courses (i.e., BIOL 6705, CIAN 5357, CIAN 6609, CITA 5005, CITA 6019, CITA 6615, CITA 6655, and QUIM 5085) worked on. Six courses are 100% completed and three of those have already been offered during Y2. The remaining two courses were 50% and 80% completed by the end of Y2. Two of the transformed courses were offered during Y2, impacting a total of 24 students. For the second wave, during Y3, six additional courses (i.e., AGRO 5005, CIAN 5346, CITA 4305, CITA 6005, CITA 6006, and CITA 6601) were worked on. Of those, one was completed and offered, three were over 50% done, and the remaining two were about 25% completed by end of Y3. Eight of the transformed courses were offered during Y3, impacting a total of 130 students. The remaining two courses (i.e., AGRO 6600 and CITA 6603) were pushed to Y4, along with the completion of all pending activities from previous years. CITA 6603 is about 70% completed. This course required a complete redesign of activities before it could be transformed. Such redesign was completed, but technical issues with equipment availability limited the proponent's ability to complete the task. Issues have been resolved and transformation will continue after project closure. The last course (the additional course AGRO 6600) could not be transformed due to time constrains of the expert resource who holds an administrative position that limits his availability. Ten of the transformed courses (i.e., AGRO 5005, BIOL 6705, CIAN 5346, CIAN 5357, CITA 4305, CITA 5005, CITA 6005, CITA 6601, CITA 6615, and QUIM 5085) offered during Y4, impacting a total of 152 students. • Objective 4: Update identified distance education facilities to enable the online degree FST holds a 2-room training facility with outdated equipment and objective 4 of the project sought to update it. Initial refurbishing plans (i.e., Y2) were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of human resource availability and skyrocketing material costs. Yet, the global need to provide distance education enabled the opportunity for the objective to become relevant again. During Y4, video conferencing equipment was updated in both rooms of the facility. The new system includes smart interactive panels, software, camera, and speakers.

Publications

Progress 09/01/20 to 08/31/21

Outputs
(N/A)

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Objective 1: Perform an assessment-based update of the current FST master's degree program and courses Faculty members drafted the manual for the laboratory exercises. Associated laboratory facilities have been prepared. Final approval of the document planned for Y4 (no cost extension). Once approved, the drafted documents to request course changes will be routed, as appropriate, to institutionalize changes. Objective 2: Provide FST faculty with the required online teaching tools Objective completed during Y2. Objective 3: Transform FST courses to online versions First transformation wave initiated with eight courses. Six courses are 100% completed and three of those have already been offered. The remaining two courses are 50% and 80% completed. Six additional courses were finally worked on during the second transformation wave. Of those, one was completed and offered, three are over 50% done, and the remaining two are about 25% completed. Objective 4: Update identified distance education facilities to enable the online degree Work on objective 4 has been hindered by the many issues external to the project. No progress during Y3.

Publications

Progress 09/01/19 to 08/31/20

Outputs
Target Audience:Target audience included current FST graduate students, former FST students, and potential employers. Changes/Problems:Two events impacted the project during 2020: seismic activity during January and the COVID-19 pandemic. Seismic activity all delayed University activities basically until February and caused emotional stress. The COVID-19 pandemic caused a movement to technology assisted teaching. This change favored our project by "forcing" faculty to get certified as virtual educators and providing the required hands-on experience needed for course transformation. On the other hand, dedicating time to move semester courses Online versions impaired faculty members' ability to start transforming the project's required FST courses. Though events impacted the proposed timeline, no impact to project goal attainment is expected. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?• Objective 1: Perform an assessment-based update of the current FST master's degree program and courses No activities to date. • Objective 2: Provide FST faculty with the required online teaching tools All FST faculty certified as Virtual Educators through the University program. • Objective 3: Transform FST courses to online versions No activities to date. • Objective 4: Update identified distance education facilities to enable the online degree No activities to date. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?• Objective 1: Perform an assessment-based update of the current FST master's degree program and courses Assessment based review of course content led to course revisions. Identified opportunities were documented and changes sent to the corresponding committees for review and approval. Data was also used to support a separate proposal for the establishment of a non-thesis master degree in FST. • Objective 2: Provide FST faculty with the required online teaching tools No activities for this objective during year 2. • Objective 3: Transform FST courses to online versions No activities to date. • Objective 4: Update identified distance education facilities to enable the online degree No activities to date. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?• Objective 1: Perform an assessment-based update of the current FST master's degree program and courses Complete submission of course changes for approval to the corresponding committees and follow up, as appropriate. To that end, combined laboratory activities must be documented and approved by FST faculty during the first half of year 3. • Objective 2: Provide FST faculty with the required Online teaching tools Continue supporting FST faculty working on course transformation, as needed. • Objective 3: Transform FST courses to Online versions Follow up on completion of first wave course transformation (end of 2020) and initiate second wave (early 2021). • Objective 4: Update identified distance education facilities to enable the Online degree Resume upgrade of FSIA facilities.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? • Objective 1: Perform an assessment-based update of the current FST master's degree program and courses Objective is almost completed. After assessment data collection and analysis, FST faculty met during summer 2019 to revise master degree curriculum and core courses content. Master degree curricula was ratified. Faculty prepared and submitted identified changes for all but 2 courses. Changes to remaining courses require integration of their laboratory activities into a single course. Drafts of the modified courses are approved by the team. Two faculty members currently working on the details of the combined laboratory exercises. • Objective 2: Provide FST faculty with the required online teaching tools Acquired tools provided to faculty. Training on online education and course preparation provided. • Objective 3: Transform FST courses to online versions First transformation wave initiated with eight courses. Seven FST faculty and an Engineering faculty member currently working on these courses. • Objective 4: Update identified distance education facilities to enable the online degree Improvements identified and some materials acquired. Planned work placed on hold shortly after effort commencement due to potential institutional plans for building renovation and development of the facilities where the current training room resides.

Publications

Progress 09/01/18 to 08/31/19

Outputs
Target Audience:Target audience included current FST graduate students, former FST students, and potential employers. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?• Objective 1: Perform an assessment-based update of the current FST master's degree program and courses Assessment data tabulated and shared with FST faculty prior to the June meeting to review course and curriculum content of the FST master's degree. Data were further discussed during the meeting and use to determine and agree on required content changes, as appropriate. • Objective 2: Provide FST faculty with the required online teaching tools Acquired tools handed to FST faculty. • Objective 3: Transform FST courses to online versions No activities to date. • Objective 4: Update identified distance education facilities to enable the online degree No activities to date. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?• Objective 1: Perform an assessment-based update of the current FST master's degree program and courses Submit the required documents to enable identified changes to courses and curriculum. • Objective 2: Provide FST faculty with the required online teaching tools Include FST faculty in UPRM's virtual educator courses to develop the required skills. Provide individual support to FST faculty to assure proper installation and functionality of acquired technology. • Objective 3: Transform FST courses to online versions Initiate the 1st wave of course (i.e., 7 courses) to be transformed to online versions. • Objective 4: Update identified distance education facilities to enable the online degree Coordinate upgrade FSIA facilities by IT Department.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? • Objective 1: Perform an assessment-based update of the current FST master's degree program and courses Assessment data gathered from current and former students, and potential employers. Data was analyzed in preparation for the assessment-based review of the FST program curriculum and courses (June 2019). • Objective 2: Provide FST faculty with the required online teaching tools Some technological tools (microphones, cameras, sound improving acoustic panels) acquired to support online course content development. • Objective 3: Transform FST courses to online versions No activities to date. • Objective 4: Update identified distance education facilities to enable the online degree No activities to date.

Publications