Progress 09/01/03 to 01/31/06
Outputs
Major activities during this period include the development of an Advanced Agroecology course and laboratory (CS 430, 4 credits). Dr. Schroeder (Agroecology Instructor) taught this new course spring 2006 with eight students enrolled, including a Masters student from the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University. Dr. Schroeder is continuing to teach the online distance education section of the Introduction to Agroecology (CS 230) course fall, spring and summer semesters and is teaching the face-to-face section of this course for the fourth time this fall 2006. Dr. Schroeder and Dr. Linker are currently working on compiling hands-on student field exercises for the development of a Field Activity Manual for the Summer Sustainable Agriculture Internship Program that will be used in the internship program in 2007. Dr. Schroeder continues to promote the new Agroecology Minor program and courses by means of communicating with undergraduate coordinators from
various allied programs at North Carolina State University (NCSU), conducting short presentations in related courses, sending informational emails on related list serves (e.g., Sustainable Agriculture Network), advertising course flyers at NCSU and Duke University, and developing informational web pages for the Agroecology Minor program and the Introduction to Agroecology course and an accompanying brochure.
PRODUCTS: Developed Course Packet and Laboratory Manual for Advanced Agroecology Course. Dr. Schroeder has developed a course reading packet (in lieu of a textbook) and a laboratory manual for the Advanced Agroecology (CS 430) course. The laboratory manual contains a diversity of hands-on exercises focused on sustainable agriculture concepts and practices. Developed Webpage for the Agroecology Minor and Introduction to agroecology course. Dr. Schroeder has developed two informational webpages describing the Agroecology program http://www.cropsci.ncsu.edu/agroecology/) and the Introduction to Agroecology course (http://courses.cropsci.ncsu.edu/cs230/). These webpages are used to advertise the program and inform students about curriculum, internship opportunities and course information. Developed Online, Distance Education Section of Introduction to Agroecology Course. In November 2004, Dr. Schroeder received an Innovation in Distribution Education Applications ($12,000) grant through
the Distance Education Learning and Technology Application at NCSU to develop an online, distance education section of the Introduction to Agroecology CS 230 course. This course is available for all students in fall, spring and summer and Dr. Schroeder has taught this course for three semesters thus far. Over all semesters, there been a total of 22 students enrolled from nine departments at NCSU, post- Baccalaureate students, a North Carolina extension agent and a researcher from the Natural Resources and Conversation Service in Pennsylvania.
OUTCOMES: A permanent, tenure-track position for agroecology instruction at NCSU was established. In January 2006, Dr. Schroeder was offered and accepted a tenure-track assistant professor position in the Department of Crop Science at NCSU. In her position (80:20, teaching:research, respectively), she will be responsible for continuing to advise students in the Agroecology Minor program, teach the agroecology courses and develop a research program to involve undergraduates in research experiences related to agroecology. This establishes a commitment by the university for the continuance of agroecology education at NCSU. An undergraduate agroecology minor program at NCSU was developed and students have started to enroll. Since funding began for this grant, we have established the course curriculum for the new undergraduate Agroecology Minor program at NCSU and development of the two core undergraduate Agroecology courses (CS 230: Introductory Agroecology and CS 430: Advanced
Agroecology). The Agroecology Minor and the two core courses were officially approved by NCSU effective in fall 2004. The Introductory Agroecology course (CS 230) was additionally approved as a general education requirement making the course available to the entire student population from various disciplines. Currently there are nine students enrolled in the minor and we expect this to increase. We have developed a new Introduction to Agroecology (CS 230) that was first offered in fall 2004 and has been taught for a total of three semesters. Dr. Schroeder has worked to enhance the course materials using student feedback and evaluations to help guide the process. Course materials include lectures, readings, and participatory learning activities and assignments such as student-led discussion papers and instructions for student peer-review grading of their term paper. Each semester the course and instructor has been evaluated by an educational professional at the Faculty Center for
Teaching and Learning at NCSU and has received positive evaluations. We have developed new Advanced Agroecology course and Dr. Schroeder taught for the first time spring 2006 after a number of sufficient students have completed the CS 230 course (prerequisite). This core course is required for the Agroecology Minor and examines agroecology concepts and sustainable agriculture practices in greater depth than the introductory level course.
DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: The major activities that we have taken to circulate the project objectives and impacts include promoting the new Agroecology courses and Minor program through development of informational web pages for the Agroecology Minor program and the Introduction to Agroecology course, creating an informational tri-fold brochure, communicating with undergraduate coordinators from various allied programs at NCSU, conducting short presentations in related courses, sending informational emails on related list serves (e.g.,Sustainable Agriculture Network), and advertising course flyers at NCSU and Duke University. Dr. Schroeder is additionally involved with the creation of a national Sustainable Agriculture Educational Association and part of the group?s mission is to disseminate information and educational resources about the various sustainable agriculture and agroecology programs and NCSU program will be a part of that.
FUTURE INITIATIVES: Dr. Schroeder participated in the National Sustainable Agriculture Education conference in California in January 2006, and was subsequently asked to collaborate with a number of sustainable agriculture educators on an implementation committee for the development of a new Sustainable Agriculture Education Association for post-secondary education. Since the conference, she has worked with this group to create a mission statement, goals, functions and a stake holder assessment for this new association. Once formed, this association will be a vital network for educators and students in sustainable agriculture and agroecology and way to highlight programs and educational resources. Future enhancement of the Agroecology program includes the continual advertisement of the Agroecology program and especially the new online distance education Introduction to Agroecology course. By teaching CS 230 as a web-base course, we can reach out to a diversity of students nationally
and internationally that would otherwise be unable to participate because of time or location limitations. We are advertising this course to extension agents and other specialists, such as from the NRCS, who are interested in a basic course in agroecology and sustainable agriculture. As the Agroecology Minor program continues to progress, we plan on developing an interdisciplinary Agroecology major for undergraduates at NCSU. We are also planning to develop an interdisciplinary Sustainable Agriculture Minor at the graduate level to meet the growing demands of graduates interested in this field at NCSU.
Impacts
One of the primary impacts is to enhance student and faculty knowledge and attitudes about agroecology. Evaluations from the Introduction to Agroecology course has been very positive each semester (fall 2005 course overall - 4.3 (out of 5); overall effectiveness of instructor - 4.50; spring 2005 course overall -4.32; overall effectiveness of instructor - 4.68). We have not received the evaluations from the Advanced Agroecology course nor from the online, distance education Introduction to Agroecology course yet (first administered spring 2006). There has been a wide diversity of students enrolled in these agroecology courses f representing five colleges, eleven departments and four students from Duke University. These students came from diverse disciplines and for many this was their first agriculture-related course mixed in with students from traditional agriculture backgrounds. Students also participated in a number of hands-on experiences to examine the practices of
sustainable agriculture throughout the courses. By incorporating guest lectures into the Introduction to Agroecology course and inviting faculty in various related departments, faculty will learn about the course and interact with students. Dr. Schroeder has also met with undergraduate coordinators and faculty teaching related courses at NCSU to discuss the Agroecology courses and program.
Publications
- Schroeder, M.S., N.G. Creamer, H.M Linker, J.P. Mueller, and P. Rzewnicki. 2006. Interdisciplinary and Multi-level Approach to Organic and Sustainable Agriculture Education at North Carolina State University. Hort Technology 16(3): 6-14.
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Progress 07/01/05 to 11/30/05
Outputs
Major activities during this period include the development of a web-based distance education section of the Introduction to Agroecology (CS 230) course. Dr. Schroeder (Agroecology Instructor) is currently teaching this new online course and is teaching the classroom section of this same course for the third time. The Advanced Agroecology (CS 430) course will be taught in spring semester 2006. Dr. Schroeder has additionally promoted the Agroecology courses and programs by means of communicating with undergraduate coordinators from various allied programs at NCSU, conducting short presentations in related courses, sending informational emails on related list serves (e.g., Sustainable Agriculture Network), advertising course flyers at NCSU, and Duke University and developing informational web pages for the Agroecology minor program and the Introduction to Agroecology course.
PRODUCTS: 1.Enhanced course materials for the Introduction to Agroecology course. Dr. Schroeder has worked to enhance recently developed course materials for the Introduction to Agroecology (CS 230) course using student feedback and evaluations to help guide the process. Course materials include lectures, readings, and participatory learning activities and assignments such as student-led discussion papers and instructions for student peer-review grading of their term paper. A total of 51 students to date have enrolled in the course over the three semesters it has been taught representing five colleges, eleven departments and three students were from the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University. 2.Webpage development for the Agroecology minor and Introduction to Agroecology course. Dr. Schroeder has developed two informational webpages describing the Agroecology program (http://www.cropsci.ncsu.edu/agroecology/ ) and the Introduction to Agroecology course
(http://courses.cropsci.ncsu.edu/cs230/ ). 3.Course materials for the Advanced Agroecology course. Dr. Schroeder is currently developing a course reading packet (in lieu of a textbook) and a laboratory manual for the Advanced Agroecology (CS 430) course. This course will be taught for the first time spring 2006 after a number of sufficient students have completed the CS 230 course (prerequisite). The laboratory manual contains a number of different hands-on exercises focused on sustainable agriculture practices. 4.Online Distance Education Introduction to Agroecology course. In November 2004, Dr. Schroeder received an Innovation in Distribution Education Applications ($12,000) grant through the Distance Education Learning and Technology Application at NCSU to develop an online, distance education section of the Introduction to Agroecology CS 230 course. This course is available for students fall, spring and summer and Dr. Schroeder is currently teaching this course for the first time
this semester. There are a total of 5 students enrolled including students from 3 departments, a post- Baccalaureate student and a researcher from the Natural Resources and Conversation Service in Pennsylvania.
OUTCOMES: We have two main project outcomes: 1) success in recruiting student participation in Agroecology courses and minor program and 2) awareness of newly developed Agroecology program at local, regional, and national levels. Thus far, we have had success in student recruitment in to the Introduction to Agroecology course with total enrollment over the three semesters at 51 students. We have also had success publicizing this program nationally with the Agroecology program webpage and brochures. Dr. Schroeder had been invited to speak about the NCSU Agroecology program and direct a workshop at the first National Sustainable Agriculture Education conference in California in January 2006.
DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: Dr. Schroeder has promoted the new Agroecology courses and minor program by communicating with undergraduate coordinators from various allied programs at NCSU, conducting short presentations in related courses, sending informational emails on related list serves (e.g., Sustainable Agriculture Network), advertising course flyers at NCSU and Duke University, and developing informational web pages for the Agroecology minor program and the Introduction to Agroecology course. She will advertise this program by oral presentation of the highlights of the NCSU Agroecology program at the National Sustainable Agriculture Education conference in January, 2006.
FUTURE INITIATIVES: Future enhancement of the Agroecology program includes the continual advertisement of the Agroecology program and especially the new online distance education Introduction to Agroecology course. By teaching CS 230 as a web-base course, we can reach out to a diversity of students nationally and internationally that would otherwise be unable to participate because of time or location limitations. We are looking to advertise this course to extension agents and other specialists, such as from the NRCS that are interested in a basic course in agroecology and sustainable agriculture. As the Agroecology minor program continues to progress, we plan on developing an interdisciplinary Agroecology major for undergraduates at NCSU. Dr. Schroeder is also working on developing a field guidebook that includes hands-on field activities for the summer internship in sustainable agriculture course. The Principal Investigator (Dr. Linker) and the Agroecology Instructor (Dr.
Schroeder) are currently working together on a manuscript describing the NCSU Agroecology program.
Impacts
One of the primary impacts we wish to accomplish with this Agroecology program is to enhance student and faculty knowledge and attitudes about agroecology. In both Agroecology courses, students will be assessed on their knowledge and application of key concepts of agroecology and their final grade will reflect their comprehension. To examine if exposure to agroecology concepts in these courses had an impact on student attitudes and beliefs of agroecology and agriculture, we will administer a survey in the beginning and at the end of the Introduction to Agroecology (CS 230) course and evaluate the differences in their answers each semester it is taught. By incorporating guest lectures into the Introduction to Agroecology course and inviting faculty in various related departments, faculty will learn about the course and interact with students. Dr. Schroeder has also met with undergraduate coordinators and faculty teaching related courses at NCSU to discuss the
Agroecology courses and program.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 10/01/03 to 09/30/04
Outputs
Major activities to date include hiring the Agroecology Instructor (Dr. Michelle Schroeder), development of the two core undergraduate Agroecology courses (CS 230: Introductory Agroecology and CS 430: Advanced Agroecology), and the course curriculum for the minor in Agroecology. These new Agroecology courses and minor were approved by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) Course and Curriculum Committee at North Carolina State University (NCSU) and by the University Standing Committee on Courses and Curricula at NCSU in May 2004. Additionally the Introductory Agroecology course (CS 230) was approved as a General Education Requirement (GER), which is anticipated to attract several undergraduate students from various disciplines. Both Dr. Linker and Dr. Schroeder contributed to the preparation of the Agroecology course documents and the course curriculum for the university committees. Since the arrival of the new Agroecology Instructor in January 2004, Dr.
Schroeder has promoted the new Agroecology courses and minor by meeting with undergraduate coordinators and advisors across various departments at NCSU, announcing the new courses in related courses, and advertising course flyers at NCSU and Duke University. Dr. Schroeder and Dr. Rzewnicki (the On-Site Coordinator, OSC) worked together to co-develop and co-instruct the Introduction to Agroecology course (offered initially as CS 495C) this fall 2004. The course attracted a wide diversity of majors, including Agronomy, Agricultural Business, Forestry, Horticultural Science, Environmental Science (NCSU and Duke), Botany, and Electrical Engineering. Dr. Schroeder continued to promote and advertise the Introduction to Agroecology course fall semester through flyers, meeting with undergraduate coordinators, giving short class presentations, and presenting an Educational Forum on Agroecology to freshmen students in the First Year College at NCSU this fall semester. Dr. Schroeder will teach
the Introduction to Agroecology course again spring semester 2005 as CS 230 and currently there are twenty NCSU undergraduate students enrolled. Dr Schroeder will work with teaching faculty to develop a laboratory manual of activities used in the internship program in spring semester 2005. In November 2004, Dr. Schroeder received an Innovation in Distribution Education Applications (IDEA) grant for $12,000 through the Distance Education Learning and Technology Application at NCSU to develop and teach an online, distance education section of the Introduction to Agroecology CS 230 course. With this grant, Dr. Schroeder will hire a graduate student and they will work together from January through May 2005 to develop a course webpage and online teaching materials that will be ready for instruction fall semester 2005. Dr. Schroeder is also creating a brochure for the Agroecology minor program at NCSU that will be completed for advertisement in January 2005. Additionally, Dr. Schroeder will
be developing a webpage for the Agroecology minor program.
PRODUCTS:
OUTCOMES:
DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES:
FUTURE INITIATIVES:
Impacts
One of the primary impacts we wish to accomplish with this Agroecology program is to enhance student and faculty knowledge and attitudes about agroecology locally, regionally, and nationally. In both Agroecology courses, students will be assessed on their knowledge and application of key concepts of agroecology and their final grade will reflect their comprehension. To examine if exposure to agroecology concepts in these courses had an impact on students' attitudes and beliefs of agroecology and agriculture, we will administer a survey in the beginning and at the end of the Introduction to Agroecology (CS 230) course and evaluate the differences in their answers. By incorporating guest lectures into the Introduction to Agroecology course and inviting faculty in various related departments, faculty will learn about the course and interact with students. Dr. Schroeder will also meet with undergraduate coordinators and faculty teaching related courses at NCSU to discuss
the Agroecology courses and program.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 09/01/03 to 08/31/04
Outputs
Major activities to date include hiring an Agroecology Instructor (AI), development and establishment of the course curriculum for the new undergraduate Agroecology minor at North Carolina State University (NCSU), and development of the two core undergraduate Agroecology courses (CS 230: Introductory Agroecology and CS 430: Advanced Agroecology). Both the Agroecology minor and the two core courses were officially approved in the Spring, 2004 semester. The Introductory Agroecology course (CS 230) was additionally approved as a General Education Requirement (GER) making the course generally available for credit to the entire student population from life sciences and humanities colleges. Since the new Agroecology Instructor arrived the end of January, Dr. Schroeder has assisted with developing the Agroecology minor curriculum and course curricula and contributed to the approval of the two Agroecology courses (CS 230 and CS 430) by the College of Agriculture and Life
Sciences Course and Curriculum Committee at NCSU. She has additionally promoted the new Agroecology courses and program by means of meeting with undergraduate coordinators and advisors from various allied departments at NCSU, conducting short presentations in related courses, presenting an educational forum on Agroecology for freshmen in the First Year College, and advertising course flyers at NCSU and Duke University.
PRODUCTS: Dr. Schroeder developed course materials for the Introduction to Agroecology (CS 230) course and will co-teach it for the first time Fall, 2004. There are currently 16 students enrolled in the introductory course. Participating students are from four colleges, representing six departments, and three are from the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University. The Advanced Agroecology course (CS 430) will be taught for the first time spring 2006, after a number of sufficient students have completed the CS 230 course (prerequisite). Dr. Schroeder is presently working on a course webpage http://courses.cropsci.ncsu.edu/cs495c/Main.asp). Once the course webpage is complete, Dr. Schroeder will develop a webpage for the Agroecology program and a brochure for advertising distribution. Dr. Schroeder will become a member of a national educational society, such as the North American Colleges & Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA) society and plans to make a presentation on the
development of the Agroecology program at NCSU at the next national meeting.
OUTCOMES: We have two main project outcomes: 1) success in recruiting student participation in Agroecology courses and minor program, and 2) awareness of newly developed Agroecology program at local, regional, and national levels. Thus far, we have had success in student recruitment into the first course, Introduction to Agroecology, with enrollment at 16 students. As we develop the Agroecology program webpage and brochures, we will publicize the program nationally as well.
DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: Dr. Schroeder has promoted the new Agroecology courses and program by means of meeting with undergraduate coordinators and advisors from various allied departments at NCSU, conducting short presentations in related courses, presenting an educational forum on Agroecology for freshmen in the First Year College, and advertising course flyers at NCSU and Duke University.
FUTURE INITIATIVES: Future enhancement of the Agroecology program includes the development of a distance education section of Introduction to Agroecology (CS230) course taught online. By teaching CS 230 as a web-based course, we could reach out to students nationally and to students who normally would be unable to participate because of time or location limitations. As the Agroecology minor program continues to progress, we plan on developing an interdisciplinary Agroecology undergraduate major at NCSU. During Dr. Schroeder's participation in the summer internship in sustainable agriculture course she worked on assembling field exercises for inclusion into the field guidebook product. She will work on refining those exercises throughout the rest of this year for the production of the field guidebook next year. The Principal Investigator (Dr. Linker) and the Agroecology Instructor (Dr. Schroeder) will work together in publishing a manuscript on the progress of the Agroecology program
as it develops in the coming year.
Impacts
One of the primary impacts we wish to accomplish with this Agroecology program is to enhance student and faculty knowledge and attitudes about agroecology locally, regionally, and nationally. In both Agroecology courses, students will be assessed on their knowledge and application of key concepts of agroecology and their final grade will reflect their comprehension. To examine if exposure to agroecology concepts in these courses had an impact on students' attitudes and beliefs of agroecology and agriculture, we will administer a survey in the beginning and at the end of the Introduction to Agroecology (CS 230) course and evaluate the differences in their answers. By incorporating guest lectures into the Introduction to Agroecology course and inviting faculty in various related departments, faculty will learn about the course and interact with students. Dr. Schroeder will also meet with undergraduate coordinators and faculty teaching related courses at NCSU to discuss
the Agroecology courses and program.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 10/01/02 to 09/30/03
Outputs
Major activities to date include hiring an agroecology instructor, development of the two core undergraduate Agroecology courses (CS 230: Introductory Agroecology and CS 430: Advanced Agroecology) and the course curriculum for the minor in Agroecology. Both these new agroecology courses and the Agroecology minor have been approved by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) Course and Curriculum Committee at North Carolina State University (NCSU) and currently is in review by the University Standing Committee on Courses and Curricula at NCSU. Additionally the Introductory Agroecology course (CS 230) was approved as a General Education Requirement (GER), which is anticipated to attract several undergraduate students from various disciplines. The new Agroecology courses have been advertised through meetings with department undergraduate coordinators and advisors at NCSU. Course objectives and syllabi for all agroecology courses have been completed. A
preliminary laboratory guide has been written.
Impacts
More students aware of agroecology as a discipline and course offerings
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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