Source: COLLEGE OF MICRONESIA submitted to NRP
STRENGTHENING DISTANCE EDUCATION IN THE STEAM STUDIES IN THE FOUR STATES OF MICRONESIA: YAP, CHUUK, POHNPEI, AND KOSRAE.
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1016997
Grant No.
2018-70004-28680
Cumulative Award Amt.
$122,000.00
Proposal No.
2018-03886
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Sep 1, 2018
Project End Date
Aug 31, 2022
Grant Year
2018
Program Code
[DEG]- Distance Education Grants for Insular Areas
Recipient Organization
COLLEGE OF MICRONESIA
MAIN STREET
KOLONIA,FM 96941
Performing Department
Instructional Affairs
Non Technical Summary
Founded Apirl 1993, the College of Micronesia-Federated States of Micronesia (COM-FSM), located in the Western Pacific Ocean, offers instruction and awards Associate degrees and Certificates in more than 30 subjects; most of them in Science, Technology, Engineering, agriculture, and Math (STEaM)-related fields. There are four islands (Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei, and Kosrae islands) and five campuses in the COM-FSM system; including the National campus on Pohnpei. The fact that campuses, and their students, are separated by hundreds of miles of ocean means that distance education technology, via satellite or undersea cable, is critical to educating and empowering nearly 1,700 students a year. In this grant, there is a focus on Faculty Preparation and Enhancementof Teaching through projects such as lecture capture fo asynchronous access, the support of a faculty member to complete a distance education Master's degree in Agriculture science at Washington State University, the acquisition and sharing of Indigenous knowledge for Science for Sustainable Island Living, and a 5-day Technology and Ledership camp to enhance the knowledge and skills of more than 60 students, teachers, instructors, and leaders. In addition, PIs/PDs will lead and manage thse sub-projects and attend the annual meeting. These projects, coupled with other COM-FSM efforts, will continue to move the students and residents of the FSM towards more desirable futures.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
90300013020100%
Goals / Objectives
To purchase some of the equipment and supplies that are needed to begin to capture classroom lectures so they may be distributed and used asynchronously (via the Internet) by other college campuses, in appropriate high school classrooms, and in government agencies and non-profits where the content is relevant to their missions.To begin to capture on video some indigenous science knowledge held by island elders and educators of the FSM in an effort to provide relevant and useful knowledge to those who want to reside on their home islands in a more sustainable manner.To host a 5-day technology and leadership camp so that learners and instructors (including COM-FSM Board of Regents) can enhance their knowledge and capabilities of science and science instruction, and begin to grow or enhance individuals' leadership capabilities.To support the second half of an agriculture instructor's distance-ed Master's degree program in Agriculture Science at Washington Sate University so that COM-FSM's Career and Technical Education Center (CTeC) agriculture students will be provided a higher quality educationTo administer and manage this grant for impact and compliance.
Project Methods
Provide funding for tuition and books for the final 7 classes of the MS degreeSurvey Land Grant staff, and other informants to make a list of topics and potential knowledge master.Work to develop an interview template.Record, edit, and promulgate content.Secure appropriate equipment for lecture capture.5-day leadership and technology camp; with 3-4 month follow-upProvide additional opportunities for learners to compete for paid on-line technical coursesAttend required PD/PI meetingTo lead and manage other aspects of grant using ZOOM to reach out to other campuses

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

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience is COM-FSM faculty and students and the agriculture community. Changes/Problems:No major changes except all activities not accomplished due to lack of human rexources. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Videos are posted for anyone wanting to access the information. 1 COM-FSM employee achieved a master's degree. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Videos are disseminated after the closing of this grant. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? 1. Laptops purchased for agriculture instructors to meet the newer delivery sytems of distance education now used at the college. 2. 8 videos ready for posting to COM-FSM Youtube channel in an effort to provide relevant and useful knowledge to those who want to reside on their home islands in a more sustainable manner. 3. The technology and leadership camp never occurred. 4. Steven Young-Uhk will complete his Master's program in December 2022.

Publications


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

    Outputs
    Target Audience:Group activities were on hold due to pandemic. Changes/Problems:No major changes only delays due to pandemic. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?See #4 above. Director of Cooperative Research and Extension is working on a master's degree in agriculture. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?No results to share at this time. Links to videos will be shared when posted. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?1. Purchase equipment to enhance distance learning equipment in the classrooms. 2. Complete video projects and post to college youtube channel and disseminate information to the public. 3. Host the technology and leadership camp. 4. Assist Dir. of CRE with completion of master's degree. 5. complete all goals by Aug. 2022.

    Impacts
    What was accomplished under these goals? 2. 5 videos ready for final editing and 3-5 more scripts completed for additional videos. 4. One faculty completed a master's degree and with remaining funding a second college agriculture employee is working on a master's degree.

    Publications


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

      Outputs
      Target Audience:The target audience for this reporting period is COM-FSM faculty and students. Changes/Problems:The major problem is the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent restricitions on social gatherings and school closures. All grant activities now need to be virtual or held in groups smaller than 10. IT director changed so recommendation on technology to enhance distance learning changed. Lecture capture equipment will change to equipment to prepare additional classrooms or spaces for distance learning and/or increased zoom licenses. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Faculty member completed master's degree in agriculture Dec. 2019. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Complete video project and publish to website, monitor for usage. Purchase technology equipment to enhance distance learning Conduct a virtual leadership webinar series since COVID-19 restrictions do not allow for large gatherings.

      Impacts
      What was accomplished under these goals? 2. Scripts were written for videos on Science for Sustainable Island Life, one session recorded and ready for editing. 4. Faculty completed Master's degree in Agriculture at Washington State University in Dec. 2019.

      Publications


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

        Outputs
        Target Audience:The target audience reached for this reporting period is high school science teachers, COM-FSM faculty and COM-FSM students. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Agriculture instructor to complete master's degree in Dec. 2019. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Regular reports to the land grant and college board of regents. Reports are posted on the COM-FSM website. Videos were posted on the college Youtube channel with a total of 3,185 views. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Purchase learning capture equipment Obtain license for zoom video conferencing Develop online short courses on technical/leaership skills

        Impacts
        What was accomplished under these goals? Agriculture instructor will complete his master's degree in Agriculture Science December 2019. 9 videos on indigenous science complelted.

        Publications