Progress 08/01/05 to 07/31/08
Outputs
As a result of this project, the unique Masters in Agriculture Integrated Resource Management (IRM) program successfully entered the distance learning realm. All four classes were developed to address the needs of distance learners, and two of them are currently being offered with the remaining two slated for launch in the spring semester. The project has met its goals including: 1) enabling life-long learners such as ranchers, government employees, tribal leaders, and others to continue their education at their own pace without returning to campus for extended periods; 2) allowing each Extension office to become a remove classroom where the agents facilitate delivery of in-depth educational materials; 3) improving the management of millions of acres of natural resources; 4) over time improving profitability of land-based enterprises and positively influencing the vitality of rural communities; and 5) providing worldwide access to basic integrated resource management educational materials. Modern agricultural production and land resource management requires sustainability, profitability and innovation, and the IRM program emphasizes all of these features in the four classes that have been developed through this project. As a result of the availability of these courses in an online format, three of the priority needs areas for this proposal have been addressed, including: rural, youth, family and community wellbeing; forest and rangeland health and protection; and globalization of agricultural business, markets and trade. Prior to this project, the IRM program was limited to on-campus students. This project addressed four of the eleven modules. The eventual goal of the program is to translate all 11 courses into an online format, making quality educational programs available to traditional and nontraditional learners, including ranchers, wildlife managers, government employees, managers of tribal lands, Extension personnel and others. PRODUCTS: Four courses entered the online development process as a direct result of this project. Two of the courses are fully developed, and they will be offered online for the first time in Fall 2008. Both AGRI 630 (Integrated Decision Making and Management Skills) and AGRI 633 (Understanding and Managing the Animal Resources) are introductory course for the modularized Integrated Resource Management program, and they are standalone courses that bring value in isolation. The remaining two courses, AGRI 636 (Analyzing and Managing the Business) and AGRI 632 (Understanding and Managing the Land Resource), are nearly completed, and are scheduled to be offered in Spring 2009. All four courses address three of the priority needs areas specified in the call for proposals for this project: rural youth, family and community wellbeing; forest and rangeland health and protection; and globalization of agricultural business, markets and trades. OUTCOMES: The development of courses in these high needs areas for distance education allows Extension specialists to meet with groups of producers for 3 to 4 hours per week for 10 - 12 weeks to cover the material. This new format also allows course participants to study at home when time permits. The eight students who are registered in AGRI 630 and the three in AGRI 633 wil pilot the new distance education format this fall. Finally, the current classroom versions of these courses have enhanced instructional materials for the Master's of Agriculture program target in the classroom. DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: The online format of these courses is available through Colorado State University's Continuing Education program. Students may enroll in the courses without applying for formal admission to Colorado State so they are available to traditional students, ranchers, wildlife managers, government employees, managers of tribal lands, and Extension personnel as well any other interested parties. Our development is centered around the following qualities: navigable, interactive, demonstrated learning mastery through gated learning and other tools, relevance to multiple learning styles, and ease of development and maintenance. We are currently finalizing plans to participate in the AG-IDEA consortium of Agricultural Colleges to make the entire MS of Agriculture/IRM Program available within two to three years via this route. FUTURE INITIATIVES: The remaining seven courses in the IRM program are slated to be translated to a distance education format over the next two years. Four USDA National Needs Fellowships have been awarded, and these fellows will use the materials that have been developed in further outreach activities.
Impacts
This project has enabled life-long learners such as ranchers, government employees, tribal leaders and others to continue their education at their own pace without returning to Colorado State's campus for extended periods of time. Our Extension offices are becoming remote classrooms where agents facilitate delivery of in-depth educational materials. These courses will reach students who will positively affect the management of millions of acres of natural resources and the profitability of land-based enterprises as well as the vitality of rural communities. World wide access to basic integrated resource management educational materials will be available within two to three years.
Publications
- Niswender, N. (2008). Proceedings from NACTA/SERD 2008 Conference. Logan, UT: United States Department of Agriculture.
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Progress 08/01/05 to 08/01/06
Outputs
The objectives of the grant are as follows: 1. Develop four integrated online demonstration courses. The proposed courses were selected based on feedback from industry leaders, agricultural professionals, and extension personnel who identified them as being the ones most needed by their clientele. The courses have already been taught in the traditional classroom format. 2. Test and Revise the online courses. The four courses will be tested with a focus group of on-campus students, producers, and extension personnel to provide structured feedback regarding content and technological aspects such as design, and functionality. The recommendations of the focus group will be incorporated into the material and it will be retested if changes are significant. When all changes have been made the class will be finalized for distribution. 3. Make the new courses available. The courses will first be available through the Division of Educational Outreach at Colorado State
University as online graduate courses for any student enrolled at Colorado State University and for educational outreach to county extension personnel. We will also distribute them to other universities, community colleges, tribal colleges, etc., where there is need for online resource management education if contacted. The availability of the material will be publicized on the WCIRM website and via publications in professional and lay journals. Significant progress has been made on achieving these objectives. However, as with any project, there are unforeseen problems and complications which can alter the progress and in turn the timeline for completion. Objective #1 states that four online courses will be developed. At this date, two of the courses have been completed and the other two are over 75% done. The program was forced to make some technological and personnel changes due primarily to incompatibility of the software program being used to the mainframe used by Colorado State
University which enables courses to be accessed by the web based distance education system. The program was also forced to change programmers after the completion of the first course. This change has required significant loss of time due to training and implementation of the new person. The two courses which are completed have been evaluated by focus groups as outlined in the grant submission. When the second courses are completed, they will be evaluated by the focus group, revisions made, and submitted for testing. Testing of the online courses will be completed during the fall of 2007. After the testing, needed revisions will be made and the courses will be made available for distance delivery through the division of educational outreach at Colorado State University.
PRODUCTS: The program now has the ability to do web based course programming. This ability has been accomplished through the purchase of software as well as 2 new integrated computer systems. The administrative assistant for the program has attended numerous trainings on web based programming and web design.
OUTCOMES: The outcomes of this project will be the completion of four courses designed specifically for distance education. These courses will have been tested for effectiveness as well as adequate content.
DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: When the courses are fully developed and tested, their availability will be announced through appropriate outlets. They will be available for graduate credit through the Division of Educational Outreach at Colorado State University. The Division of Educational Outreach has a well organized advertising program. Learners will also be able to request a DVD version of the course for certificate credit through the Western Center for Integrated Resource Management. Extension personnel can request a DVD version or they will be granted access to the Web-CT version through a secure university server to facilitate local educational efforts. It is the goal of the Western Center for Integrated Resource Management that these courses will be used by any university where there is a need for education in integrated resource management much the same way that Veterinary Schools are teaching neurobiology through the CD-ROM based curriculum developed at Colorado State
University. The Western Center will also make the curriculum available for international use upon request and justification of need.
FUTURE INITIATIVES: The program has submitted a follow up challenge grant to fund the development of 4 more online courses which would further enhance the opportunties of resource managers to obtain more education from any location in the world.
Impacts
Online learning is a growing trend which will continue with further technological advances. Faculty of the Western Center and Colorado State University are committed to remaining at the forefront in the development of innovative, effective educational programs. The Western Center will continue to develop techniques to train the next generation of land resource managers. This program will allow the Western Center to continue to develop educational resources for a growing clientele.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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