Progress 09/01/08 to 08/31/12

Outputs
OUTPUTS: The primary goal of this project was to train faculty and students at Tennessee State University (TSU) and faculty from other 1890 institutions in information technology to enhance delivery of agricultural instruction, research and outreach. The specific objectives were to: (1) Assess current knowledge and skill in the application of information technology for agricultural instruction, research and outreach at TSU and other 1890 institutions; (2) Train faculty in blending information technology into design, delivery and strengthening of agricultural programs using advanced technologies such as Moodle, creative suite 3/5 (CS5) and Desire 2 Learn (D2L); (3) Train the trainers in other 1890 land grant universities in information technology and assist to establish the training programs in their respective institutions; and (4) Provide instructional material and other necessary resources to faculty to facilitate integration of information technologies in agricultural instruction and outreach. Meeting these goals would strengthen agricultural programs at in these 1890 Land Grant institutions. Two surveys, one for students and another for faculty were conducted to assess current knowledge and skill in the application of information technology for agricultural instruction, research and outreach at TSU and other 1890 institutions. The survey indicated that 100 percent of students and 63 percent of faculty believed the use of technology in the classroom can enhance student learning. While 70-90 percent of the students surveyed had the knowledge required to take web-based courses, only 40 percent of them had taken online courses. Majority (70 percent) of these students preferred to take online courses. Majority of students who preferred web-based course offering were classified as juniors, seniors and graduate. On the other hand, about 60% of faculty surveyed did not have the skills and knowledge required for developing or using web-based learning environments. Therefore, over the duration of this project a total of 34 students and 30 faculty members, including faculty trainers were trained on Moodle, CS5 and D2L. Faculty trainers received free CS5 software. Using the knowledge acquired from the training, several faculty members are developing online classes while three faculty members at TSU have started offering online courses in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), forestry and nutrition. Four additional online courses in GIS will be offered at TSU using knowledge gained from the training offered through this project. Current products of this project include faculty and students from TSU and faculty from other 1890 Land Grant universities who have trained in information technologies (Moodle, CS5 and D2L). They have embraced the technology to enhance information delivery from faculty to students and vice versa and to other stakeholders. The courses that are being offered online are also a product of this project. The project dissemination activities include conducting workshops to train faculty and students web-based instructional technologies. Training sessions were on-sight. PARTICIPANTS: This project was collaboratively conducted by Dr. Samuel Nahashon, Dr. Cheryl Seay and Ms. Jonnel Hinsey of Tennessee State Unversity. TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audience were teaching, research and extension faculty from Tennessee State University (TSU)and other 1890 institutions and students from TSU. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
The outcomes to this project include: faculty and students with knowledge of the application of information technology tools, Moodle, CS5 and D2L. Faculty members who are knowledgeable in information technologies are offering online classes. Faculty from other 1890 institutions who attended the training workshops are starting to share these information technology tools with other faculty in their respective institutions. The impact of this project include a total of 30 faculty members from TSU and other 1890 land grant institutions and 34 students from TSU who were trained in the application of information technologies (Moodle, CS5 and D2L) to enhance delivery of agricultural instruction, research and outreach. Faculty members from TSU who participated in the training are developing online classes and three of them have started offering online courses in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), forestry and nutrition. Four additional online courses in GIS will be offered at TSU using knowledge gained from the training offered through this project. Faculty trainers from other 1890 institutions are utilizing their acquired skill to develop online courses and also train other faculty the application of Moodle, CS5 and D2L to enhance instruction, research and outreach in their respective institutions. Training participants strongly agree that they learned a great deal in the workshops and they would continue to apply learned technologies. Surveys of training participants indicate that more than 80 percent would recommend the training to others and majority of them were able to apply what they learned. The ultimate goal is to increase online course offering to reach more non-traditional students, increase enrollment in the agricultural sciences, and enhance communication and collaboration among scientists and agricultural extension personnel within and among the 1890 institutions.

Publications

• Nahashon, S. N. and Seay, C. 2012. Training in information technologies to enhance agricultural instruction, research and outreach. NACTA 56(1):72.

Progress 09/01/10 to 08/31/11

Outputs
The long-term goal of this project is to train faculty and students at Tennessee State University (TSU) and other 1890 Land Grant universities in information technology to enhance delivery of agricultural instruction, research and outreach. This would in turn strengthen agricultural programs at in these 1890 Land Grant institutions. Three training sessions one each in Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment (Moodle), Creative Suite five (CS5) and Desire@Learn (D2L) were conducted at TSU for students and faculty. A total of 5 students and 13 faculty members from TSU and faculty trainers form other 1890 Land Grant institutions were trained. While several faculty members are developing online classes as part of their assigned tasks in the ongoing training, two faculty members at TSU have started offering online courses in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and forestry. Four additional online courses in GIS will be offered using knowledge gained from the training offered through this project. PRODUCTS: Current products of this project include students and faculty who are trained in information technologies (Moodle, CS5 and D2L). These students and faculty are willing to embrace the technology to enhance information delivery from faculty to students and vice versa and to other stakeholders through e-extension. Two courses that are being offered online are additional products of this project. OUTCOMES: The outcomes to this project include: students and faculty with knowledge of the application of information technology tools such as Moodle, CS5 and D2L. Faculty members who are knowledgeable in information technologies are offering online classes. DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: The project dissemination activities include conducting workshops to train faculty and students web-based instructional technologies. Training sessions were on-sight and online for both students and faculty. FUTURE INITIATIVES: Future initiatives of this project include continuation of online and on-sight training of faculty at TSU, faculty trainers from other 1890 institutions, and students in information technologies especially in Creative Suite Five (CS5) and Desire@Learn (D2L). Training materials will also be provided to the trainers from other 1890 institutions to implement the training in their respective institutions.

Impacts
Five students and thirteen faculty members were trained in the application of information technologies (CS5 and D2L) to enhance delivery of agricultural instruction, research and outreach. Two of the trained faculty members are utilizing their information technologies knowledge and skill to teach classes in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and forestry. Several faculty members at TSU who have undergone the training are developing e-classes. The ultimate goal is to increase online course offering to reach more non-traditional students and increase enrollment in agricultural sciences.

Publications

• No publications reported this period

Progress 09/01/09 to 08/31/10

Outputs
The objective was to train faculty and students in blending information technology into design, delivery and strengthening of agricultural programs at TSU. Two training sessions on Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment (Moodle) were conducted for students and faculty. Twenty three students participated in the first training session. Two of these students have expressed great interest and they have been assigned to assist with e-extension activities in the School of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences. A total of 8 faculty and 6 students participated in the second training session. Faculty members are developing online classes as part of their assigned tasks in the ongoing training. The faculty trainers have also continued to develop advanced skills in current and emerging information technologies. There is upcoming training sessions in Creative Suite Three (CS3) and Desire@Learn (D2L). Faculties from other 1890 institutions were recruited to undergo this training in forthcoming sessions. PRODUCTS: Current products of this project include students and faculty who are trained in information technologies. These students and faculty are willing to embrace the technology to enhance information delivery from faculty to students and vice versa and to other stakeholders through e-extension. Additional products in this project include faculty trainer who is versed with information technology instruction and competent to deliver instruction through the web-based media. OUTCOMES: The outcomes to this project include: students and faculty with knowledge of the application of information technology tools such as moodle. Faculty trainers have acquired advanced skills in current and emerging information technologies. DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: The project dissemination activities include conducting workshops to train faculty and students web-based instructional technologies. Training sessions were on-sight and online for students, faculty and faculty trainers. FUTURE INITIATIVES: Future initiatives of this project include continuation of online and on-sight training of faculty and faculty trainers at TSU and other 1890 institutions, and students in information technologies, especially in Creative Suite Three (CS3) and Desire@Learn (D2L). Training materials will also be provided to the trainers from other 1890 institutions to implement the training in their respective institutions.

Impacts
Twenty nine students and eight faculty members were trained in the application of information technologies in instruction and outreach. Two of the trained students are utilizing their information technologies knowledge and skill to assist with e-extension activities in the School of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences at TSU. Faculty members at TSU who have undergone the training are developing mock e-classes. Faculty trainers have continued to acquire and train on current and emerging web-based information delivery and instruction. Continued application of acquired knowledge and embracing the information technologies will facilitate instruction especially to non-traditional students.

Publications

• No publications reported this period

Progress 09/01/08 to 08/31/09

Outputs
The primary goal of this project is to train faculty and students at Tennessee State University (TSU) and other 1890 institutions in information technology to enhance delivery of agricultural instruction and outreach. Two surveys, one for students and another for faculty were conducted to assess current knowledge and skill in the application of information technology for agricultural instruction, research and outreach at TSU and other 1890 institutions. The initial survey indicated that 100 percent of students and 63 percent of faculty believe the use of technology in the classroom can enhance student learning. While about 70-90 percent of the students surveyed indicated that they have the knowledge required to take web-based courses, only about 40 percent of them had taken online courses. Majority (70 percent) of these students would prefer to take online courses. Majority of students who preferred web-based course offering were classified as juniors, seniors and graduate. On the other hand, about 60% of faculty surveyed does not have the skills and knowledge required for developing of using web-based learning environments. Faculty trainers from other 1890 institutions were recruited and will attend training so that they may establish the training programs in the respective institutions. PRODUCTS: Current products of this project include scientific data on the extent of student and faculty training in information technologies and their willingness to embrace the technology to enhance information delivery from faculty to students and vice versa. Additional products in this project include faculty trainer who is versed with information technology instruction and competent to deliver instruction through the web-based media. OUTCOMES: The outcomes to this project include: Knowledge of the current need for information technology education among students and faculty among the 1890 institutions. Faculty trainer acquired knowledge to train faculty in 1890 institutions in information technologies. These faculties will in turn give similar training in their respective institutions. DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: The project dissemination activities include conducting workshops to train faculty and students web-based instructional technologies. Training will be on-sight and online for students, faculty and faculty trainers. FUTURE INITIATIVES: Future initiatives of this project include continuation of online and on-sight training faculty and faculty trainers, and students in information technologies. Training materials will also be provided to the trainers from other 1890 institutions to implement the training in their respective institutions.

Impacts
There is scientific data on the extent of student and faculty training in information technology and their willingness to embrace the technology to enhance instruction delivery among the 1890 institutions. This information is being used in gauging the extent to which training in information technologies among the 1890 institutions should be pursued. There is one faculty trainer who is well versed with web-based information delivery and instruction. Application of the acquired knowledge and embracing the information technologies will facilitate instruction especially to non-traditional students.

Publications

• No publications reported this period