Micronesia Grows Technology: A Program to Facilitate Distance Learning for Agriculture and Extension Students at the College of Micronesia-FSM

Project Director
Ehmes, D.

Recipient Organization
COLLEGE OF MICRONESIA
MAIN STREET
KOLONIA,FM 96941

Performing Department
Instructional Affairs

Non Technical Summary
The Cooperative Research and Extension (CRE) program and Agriculture and Natural Resources Management (ANRM) program promotes agriculture development in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), typically training approximately a hundred students per year across the four states of the FSM, plus several times that number of agriculture students in other programs the college offers. Computing resources are only available to these students at their respective campuses during hours of operation. Their ability to make progress will be improved if the college can establish a "free laptop" program at each site to serve these students. The program will be sustainable as the college is providing free laptops to students affected by the global pandemic and the college is moving towards requiring a laptop as part of the admission process by 2026. The proposal is for funds to purchase these computers and administer dispersal and orientation on basic computer usage, plus extra monies to pay for students and faculty to develop a few high-need online resources: websites for public education, videos and text materials as part of the distance education coursework with this technology will ensure the agriculture extension students have the tools they need to succeed in the agriculture program and beyond, and will support the progress in the agriculture sector.

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
903	0001	3020	100%

Knowledge Area
903 - Communication, Education, and Information Delivery;

Subject Of Investigation
0001 - Administration;

Field Of Science
3020 - Education;

Keywords

agriculture education

distance education

insular areas

technology

Goals / Objectives
The overall goal is: Strengthen the nation's workforce in the field of agriculture and natural resources.Objective 1: To attract and support undergraduate students in order to educate them in identified area of national need - Agriculture and Natural Resources Management (ANRM)Objective 2: To increase the number and diversity of students who will pursue and complete a postsecondary degree in ANRM;Objective 3: To develop and enhance educational skills of students to use technology in the classroom while seeking a degree in ANRM.

Project Methods
1. Communicate availabililty of laptops for students through a survey;2. Order laptops3. Select student interns at each site to assist with laptop dispersal and basic use orientation;3. Communicate opportunity to develop websites, videos, and online textbook materials;4. Identify critical topics5. Develop and post websites, videos and online textbook materials

Progress 08/01/21 to 07/31/22

Outputs
Target Audience: Nothing Reported Changes/Problems:Distribute laptops to students to keep rather than implement a laptop loan program. The college has started distributing laptops to students and plans to make this a part of the admissions process. Students will keep the laptop if they graduate and not be charged. If the student fails to graduate, the student's account will be charged the price of the laptop. This will be funded by the technology fee charged to all students. This grant will help get the program started. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported 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?Identify a new PI and project director Complete all activities of the grant.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? No accomplishments

Publications