Proposals may be submitted by all U.S. colleges and universities that have a demonstrable capacity to carry out teaching in the food and agricultural sciences at the baccalaureate and first professional degree levels. Each grantee must have a significant ongoing commitment to the food and agricultural sciences and to the specific subject areas for which such a grant is used. Generally, the food and agricultural sciences consist of agriculture, natural resources, forestry, family and consumer sciences, veterinary medicine, and closely allied disciplines.
In FY 1997, $3,696,872 were available to support projects which addressed the undergraduate or first professional level of study in the following targeted areas: (1) curricula design and materials development; (2) faculty preparation and enhancement for teaching; (3) instruction delivery systems; and (4) student experiential learning.
A total of 51 different institutions from 37 States submitted 117 proposals for consideration for funding in the eighth year of the program. In May 1997, the grant applications were evaluated by a 31-member peer review panel. The panel was comprised of faculty members of land-grant and nonland-grant institutions and representatives of the Federal government. Panelists represented various academic areas including business, agriculture, natural resources, forestry, veterinary medicine, family and consumer sciences, and closely allied disciplines. Funds were available to support a total of 44 grants based on the peer review deliberations. The 44 grants were awarded to 28 lead institutions in 26 States. Six of the projects funded in FY 1997 were joint projects involving three or more and as many as twelve institutions. When the collaborating institutions are included with the lead institutions, a total of 40 institutions from 31 States and one foreign country are being supported under the FY 1997 Higher Education Challenge Grants Program.
Brief description of the successful FY 1997 projects are included in this document. Details can be obtained from the project directors.
Proposal Number: 9703855
Lead Institution: University of Arizona
Grant Number: 97-38411-4309
Project Duration: 1 Year
Project Director: Edwin H. Carpenter
Award Amount: $80,000
The Creation and Delivery of Student Centered Asynchronous Courses via
Internet/CD-ROM/Video Server. The University of Arizona proposes to demonstrate the
effectiveness of Internet delivery of educational materials in an Asynchronous Learning
Environment for Nutritional Sciences 101, a well established, College of Agriculture
approved
general education course, offered to nearly 500 students from seven Colleges annually,
in one
scheduled section per term. The project will demonstrate that hardware and software
selected
will enable faculty to locally produce and digitize instructional materials to be delivered
to
students in an asynchronous paradigm, essentially, in an environment that has no
constraints of
time or place, that can be accessed by students according to their diverse schedules
and
individual needs. Students will access the Internet and either a CD-ROM player or a
video server
and Ethernet (Internet) connections, to obtain the high band width audio and video
components,
using a microcomputer. Instructional materials to be created for the prototype include
text-based
lecture outlines; digitized lectures, animations, tables, figures, diagrams, graphs and
photographs;
links to relevant Internet sites; FAQ's; self testing modules; chat rooms; listservs;
threaded
discussions and other enrichment resources. Testing and evaluation of students will be
accomplished electronically, using testing modules developed by the staff at POLIS
(Project for
On-Line Instructional Support, a division of the University of Arizona Center for
Computer and
Information Technology). The course will be self-paced, enabling students to tailor their
progress to individual styles and needs.
Proposal Number: 9703899
Lead Institution: University of California-Davis
Grant Number: 97-38411-4310
Project Duration: 2 Years
Project Director: Patricia A. Conrad
Award Amount: $80,000
Develop a Computerized Course on International Food Animal and Food Borne
Disease. The University of California-Davis seeks to develop a template for
problem-oriented
case presentation in interactive, multimedia modules that will comprise a computerized
CD-
ROM program on food animal health and food borne disease and to develop prototype
multimedia modules of 3 case presentations that can be distributed for review as dual
platform
CD-ROM programs. The template will be designed so that the faculty responsible for
each
module will be able to describe the presenting case or situation clearly and concisely,
provide
factual information and expert opinions that students can select as they work through
the case,
and propose numerous appropriate solutions or recommendations to resolve the
problems
described. The template will allow faculty to efficiently provide all of the above by
completing a
standardized form that can easily be transcribed by computer specialists into the
appropriate
format for the interactive, multimedia learning modules. At least 3 prototype modules
will be
produced during the one year funding period, using the template that is developed in
this project.
Each module will focus either on a food animal health and production problem, such as
infectious or metabolic disease, or on food animal conditions that may impact on public
health,
for example, zoonotic infectious or foodborne disease.
Proposal Number: 9704039
Lead Institution: University of California-Davis
Grant Number:
97-38411-4268
Duration: 2 Years
Project Director: R. Paul Singh
Award Amount: $79,993
Teaching Food Engineering on the World Wide Web. The University of California-
Davis proposes to develop a set of 20 Web-based laboratory exercises on food
engineering
principles using multimedia tools. They will determine the effectiveness of the virtual
laboratory
concept in teaching food engineering. They will integrate laboratory exercises with
material
available on the Web from industry and government sources to enhance a student's
experience
beyond the laboratory. A set of 20 laboratory exercises, with hypertext, video- and
audio-clips,
animation, spreadsheet-assisted calculations, and simulations will be created and
offered on the
Web. These Web-based laboratory exercises will be used in pre-experiment,
post-experiment,
and stand-alone modes. Students enrolled in food engineering laboratory classes will
use these
materials in all three modes. Their evaluations will be useful for determining the
effectiveness of
offering Web-based laboratory exercises. Instructional material developed on the Web
will be
made available worldwide to any institution where food science and technology is
taught.
Additional information will be provided to those instructors who may need assistance in
constructing experimental apparatus for students' hands-on experience. The
instructional
material will contain hyperlinks to Web-sites of relevant industry and government
organizations,
which will allow the student to relate their experimental work to real-life problems.
Proposal Number: 9703836
Lead Institution: Cameron University
Grant Number: 97-38411-4270
Duration: 2 Years
Project Director: Allison C. Bennett
Award Amount: $79,940
E T in the 21st CENTURY: USING EMBRYO TRANSFER TO TEACH ANIMAL
REPRODUCTIVE PHYSIOLOGY. Cameron University proposes to enhance student
understanding of reproductive morphology and physiology of cattle through the use of
embryo
transfer technology. They intend to offer the products developed to other universities
and to
encourage efficient and knowledgeable use of embryo transfer. The setting for the
project lies
within a senior level animal reproduction course. The project will result in generation of
media
materials with applicability to educational levels from secondary schools to senior level
university courses. The materials developed will also be applicable for dissemination of
information about embryo transfer technology to potential users. Embryo transfer
technology
will be used to enhance and reinforce student learning of reproduction and reproductive
physiology in cattle. Students will participate in synchronization of donor/ recipient cows,
estrous detection and insemination; students will observe flushing, processing, spliffing,
freezing,
thawing, and implantation of embryos. The process will be documented on film and CD
ROM,
interactive CD ROM, multimedia and videotape versions will be prepared for use in
future
classes and will be made available to educational institutions interested in enhancing
their
teaching of animal reproduction and reproductive physiology. Film and CD ROM
versions will
also be made available to others interested in learning or teaching the basic principles
of animal
reproductive physiology and the procedures involved in use of embryo transfer
technology. A
page on the world wide web (EMBRYO TRANSFER IN THE 21st CENTURY) will be
developed to promote widespread dissemination of the materials and to promote
understanding
of how embryo transfer might be used to expand genetics of superior cows.
Proposal Number: 9703814
Lead Institution: University of Connecticut
Grant Number: 97-38411-4279
Duration: 3 Years
Project Director: Mark H. Brand
Award Amount: $79,067
Virtual Campus Plant Walks and Multimedia WWW Landscape Plant Database. The University of Connecticut proposes to develop a comprehensive reference to help identify, culture and use woody landscape plants, to develop "virtual campus plant walks" for the New England land-grant university campuses identical to plant walks used in instructor-led laboratories, to enhance retention of course material through increased use of audiovisual techniques and repetition, to facilitate individualized learning and pacing, to increase student access to information that is not available from standard references, to create a product that can readily be updated or expanded, and to provide a framework program that can be used for other commodity areas. This multimedia database on the World Wide Web will contain descriptive text, thousands of photographs of over 1000 landscape trees, shrubs and vines used in USDA zone 6 or colder, as well as a sound library of pronunciations. This database will include information and pictures of habitat, habit and form, summer foliage, autumn foliage, flowers, fruit, bark, culture, landscape uses, liabilities, ID features, propagation, and cultivars and varieties. In conjunction with the plant material database, "Virtual Campus Plant Walks" will be developed for all of the NEW England Land Grant University campuses, and one private college campus, which will enable undergraduate students to repeat on-campus plant walks from any computer connected to the WWW. "Virtual Campus Plant Walks" will be specific to each laboratory walk, and each campus, and will be comprised of a series of image-mapped photographs of each stop along the route taken by the instructor. Students using the program will be able to move their mouse cursor over an image-mapped photograph and click on the plant covered during the walk, as indicated by the cursor changing to a hand with a pointing finger. By clicking on the image-mapped plant, students will then seamlessly access the plant material database and its textual, visual and audio information during an outdoor campus plant walk laboratory.
Proposal Number: 9703848
Lead Institution: Cornell University
Grant Number 97-38411-4283
Duration: 2 Years
Project Director: Douglas D. McGregor
Award Amount: $146,485
Interactive Distance Learning by Animal Health Professionals. Cornell University,
Sydney University and North Carolina State University propose to develop teamwork
and
interactive, student-directed learning through use of computer-based tools and video
conferencing. Their project will create a network of health professionals who have the
ability
and motivation to become leaders of veterinary medicine and animal agriculture
worldwide, and
it will forge interinstitutional alliances that capitalize on the research and teaching
strengths of
the participating institutions. Health professionals are now called upon to address global
problems of animal health and production, food safety, and the quality of life for both
animals
and humans. This network of individuals can function as members of geographically
dispersed
problem-solving teams which would be well-positioned to address global issues of
animal
agriculture, food safety, zoonotic diseases, environmental concerns, and the
conservation of
endangered species. A major goal of the project is to develop teamwork skills through
interactive
student learning by forming learning groups made up of students at the three different
sites.
Proposal Number: 9703859
Lead Institution: Cornell University
Grant Number: 97-38411-4281
Duration: 3 Years
Project Director: Carl A. Batt
Award Amount: $79,035
Cornell University Instructional Resource for Food Microbiology. Cornell University
proposes to develop a multimedia-formatted resource designated the Cornell University
Instructional Resource for Food Microbiology (CU/IRFM) for teaching modern food
microbiology at the university or college level. The objectives are to incorporate into an
existing
set of class presentations, additional multimedia materials that will enhance their utility
for
teaching food microbiology, to annotate these presentations with information and
WWW links
that will provide background information, to post this material in a format on the WWW
that will
allow instructional faculty at other universities access for teaching their own courses,
and to
establish a system for iterative improvement of the material through submission by
other
instructional faculty in the field. CU/IRFM will be a graphics based presentation with
animation,
video and other elements embedded into the regular slide show. It is meant to be a
resource for
in-class teaching and not a direct WWW teaching platform. A full complement of
lectures
covering topics including food safety, food fermentations, and biotechnology will be
developed
and made available to the general scientific community. Materials to and from other
established
WWW sites which provide supplemental information will be incorporated.
Proposal Number: 9703849
Lead Institution: University of Georgia
Grant Number: 97-38411-4311
Duration: 2 Years
Project Director: Julia Marlowe
Award Amount: $76,095
Preparing Students for the Global Marketplace: a Non-traditional Approach. The
University of Georgia proposes to provide students with on-site educational and cultural
experiences via classes at the University of Veracruz, field trips, seminars and living
with local
families. They will develop a curriculum which a) addresses trade, labor, marketing,
management and consumer protection issues relevant to businesses and consumers
and b)
increases the students' understanding of family and cultural issues (e.g. population
concerns). It
also will provide an opportunity for faculty preparation and development by cultivating
contacts
with faculty as well as business and industry personnel to discuss and arrange
appropriate on-site
experiences. They will ensure the cultural diversity of the student participants by
providing
stipends for qualified students with financial need. This project will prepare students
from two
departments for competitive careers in the global marketplace. Students will have an
opportunity
to enhance their cultural understanding and critically evaluate international issues
through use of
a curriculum designed for study abroad in Mexico. Faculty will design a portable
international
curriculum, using inter-active computer modules and other "hands-on" activities. A site
visit will
improve faculty facility with the language and allow collaboration with local persons.
Curriculum will be revised based on recommendations. Faculty teaching the study
abroad course
will conduct evaluations.
Proposal Number: 9703801
Lead Institution: University of Hawaii
Grant Number: 97-38411-4336
Duration: 3 Years
Project Director: Wei Wen Su
Award Amount: $80,000
An Internet-based Multimedia Laboratory Manual for Biological Engineering. The
University of Hawaii proposes to design and develop a multimedia laboratory manual
that
contains a series of modules that emphasize the biology-engineering integration for
food and
agricultural applications. They will design, establish, and maintain a World Wide Web
site with
intra- and inter-module links for interactive access to the lab modules via industry
standard
graphical Internet browsers. And they will enhance the interdisciplinary instruction in
biological
engineering and provide undergraduate students with an exciting tool in learning
essential lab
techniques and critical thinking skills in this emerging engineering field. The lab
modules will
focus on three major subject areas: bioreaction; separation; and purification. There will
be ten
modules in the bioreaction area and five each for the other two areas. Each module will
be
designed to be self-contained with introductory material and examples that illustrate the
applications of the lab technique in food and/or agricultural processes. An unified
approach will
be used to develop and integrate all of the modules. The experiments will be designed
to be
readily incorporated into existing biological agricultural engineering and related
curricula, as
well as other food and agricultural science programs such as food science and
technology. To
assist students in grasping the operating principles of the experiments and in acquiring
the skills
to perform the lab procedures, state-of-the-art multimedia technology will be employed
to
develop the laboratory manual.
Proposal Number: 9703891
Lead Institution: University of Hawaii
Grant Number: 97-38411-4333
Duration: 2 Years
Project Director: Brent S. Sipes
Award Amount: $71,792
Turmoil in the Tropics: Current Environmental and Agricultural Issues. The
University of Hawaii proposes to create a science-based environmental issues course,
housed on
the WWW, which highlights the interactions among food and fiber production systems,
human
demands, and environmental quality. They will expose students to the many aspects of
research,
product development, environmental management, and scientific activity which occur in
land-
grant colleges. Also they will provide students with a holistic perspective and
appreciation for
food, fiber, and environmental quality required by a growing population, which they can
use as
enlightened citizens. An agricultural-environmental syllabus will be developed by an
interdisciplinary team of principle investigators working by consensus. Case studies,
discussion
questions, and laboratory/field exercises will be developed to assist students in learning
and
evaluating environmental and agricultural issues. A web page will be developed for
distance
access to the course and its topics. Additional linkages within the University of Hawaii
and at
the state and federal levels will be forged to provide comprehensive resources and
insights into
environmental and agricultural issues.
Proposal Number: 9703888
Lead Institution: Iowa State University
Grant Number: 97-38411-4269
Duration: 2 Years
Project Director: Douglas N. Yarger
Award Amount: $79,914
Web-Based Education: Creating Authentic learning Environments. Iowa State
University proposes to develop web-based authentic learning environments for students
in soil
science and meteorology introductory courses. This will serve as a prototype of this
new
technology for general use in agricultural science. They will construct a
learner-controlled web-
based resource to assist in the development of authentic learning environments
patterned after
those developed from this proposal. In meteorology, the weather presents an authentic
environment which offers an endless series of multi-level forecasting problems. In soil
science
and related courses the site plans are authentic activities which will be used to engage
students.
For agronomy students, an activity will be designed whereby they develop farm plans
for clients
who have properties with a variety of site conditions. For horticulture students, the
application
will be to develop an area for multiple crop use--vegetables, fruits, nursery crops and
greenhouses.
Proposal Number: 9703806
Lead Institution: Iowa State University
Grant Number 97-38411-4267
Duration: 2 Years
Project Director: Harold R. Crawford
Award Amount: $80,000
A Curriculum Model for Undergraduate Distance Education in Agriculture Using
Technology. Iowa State University proposes to design and develop selected
undergraduate
courses in food and agriculture science for synchronous and asynchronous delivery for
off
campus undergraduate students in Iowa and North Carolina. They will share the results
of
developing the courses within this project with representatives from land-grant
institutions in the
North Central Region, 1890 Institutions and the community colleges of Iowa and North
Carolina.
They intend to enhance the process for organization and articulation of agriculture
programs
between Iowa State University and Iowa community colleges, and to bridge the
educational
distance between institutions of higher education with agricultural business and industry
for
improved academic programs. Iowa's Area Community Colleges will collaborate in
delivery of
the restructured courses and Pioneer Hi-Bred will collaborate with consultants for
course
development for modules in agricultural business and industry with an international
emphasis.
The project has been designed to provide assistance in meeting a need for
strengthening and
restructuring courses using interactive synchronous and asynchronous technology for
active
learning with real problems for off campus agricultural students. The project will
strengthen
higher education in agriculture through the completion and sharing of the expected
outcomes.
These include six undergraduate courses restructured for interactive learning through a
problem
solving approach using synchronous or asynchronous delivery for off campus
audiences. Sixty
professors will learn the process of preparing courses for asynchronous delivery.
Guidelines for
preparing courses for electronic transmission will be prepared and published. A web
site will be
established for the project, and a web club developed for program participants.
Proposal Number: 9703863
Lead Institution: University of Idaho
Grant Number: 97-38411-4266
Duration: 3 Years
Project Director: Suzanne Loker
Award Amount: $153,034
University and Industry Partnership: Pacific Northwest Apparel and Textiles
Consortium. University of Idaho (UI), Oregon State University (OSIJ), and Central
Washington
University (CWU) propose to establish the Pacific Northwest Apparel and Textiles
Consortium
through which students will participate in a coordinated internship program with UI,
OSU,
CWU, apparel and textile firms, and professional trade associations. Students will
access an
annotated Electronic Resource Directory of apparel and textile resources to facilitate
the
transition from university to industry. The Electronic Resource Directory will include an
Internship Opportunities Directory, links and annotations to guide exploration of World
Wide
Web sites, and annotations of the character and location of other key educational
resources.
Proposal Number: 9703868
Lead Institution: University of Idaho
Grant Number: 97-38411-4312
Duration: 1 Year
Project Director: Larry Makus
Award Amount: $159,696
Developing Distance Delivery of a Tri-State Regional Degree in Agriculture. The
University of Idaho, Oregon State University, and Washington State University propose
to
develop distance delivery of a tri-state regional degree in agriculture to participating
community
colleges and learning centers. The objectives are to complete ongoing development of
infrastructure to support instruction in courses for the baccalaureate degree, to expand
the
existing offerings of 215 quarter hours of agricultural credit available for delivery, and to
conduct
a needs assessment of the technological infrastructure for the participating institutions
in order to
provide a seamless delivery system among the states. The target population is "place"
and "time"
constrained learners in the agricultural areas of the Pacific Northwest region. By using
a multi-
institution systems approach to the problem, needed coursework will be delivered to the
targeted
population. This interdisciplinary coursework will allow recipients to complete a
baccalaureate
degree in general agriculture, or enhance their expertise in a selected area of
agriculture. This
consortium proposes to hold a symposium and related workshops devoted to distance
delivery of
a regional baccalaureate degree on a national and international level.
Proposal Number: 9703812
Lead Institution: University of Kentucky
Grant Number 97-38411-4334
Duration: 2 Years
Project Director: Claire Schmelzer
Award Amount: $65,503
Creating a Virtual Learning Community to Improve Students' Critical Thinking
Skills. The University of Kentucky proposes to improve critical thinking skills of
students in
food service management. The objectives are to use technology to develop
instructional
strategies to foster critical thinking and active learning among dietetic and hospitality
management students in quantity food production and management, to identify current
issues in
food service industry through use of an industry advisory board to create "just in time"
educational opportunities for students, to develop interactive case studies for use on
the web site
which can be used for industry training, student learning activities and faculty
development, to
develop faculty expertise in computer technology, web site production, multimedia
technology
and active learning strategies, to improve students' communications and teamwork
skills through
interaction with other students worldwide, and to increase students' computer
competencies. The
"just in time" education approach allows students to develop skills that they need to
solve
problems as they occur, and focuses on current issues. Industry, students, and faculty
will be
linked through listservs, white board chat rooms, and group discussions. Once the
problems
have been identified, students will gather information, evaluate evidence, consider
alternatives
and implications, and choose and implement the best alternative. Several problems will
be
selected to develop interactive case studies which win be available on the world wide
web.
Proposal Number: 9703852
Lead Institution: Kansas State University
Grant Number: 97-38411-4308
Duration: 3 Years
Project Director: Derek Mosier
Award Amount: $79,960
Curriculum Integration Using Case-Based Computer-Assisted Instruction. Kansas
State University proposes to develop 5 multi-disciplinary, case-based laboratories and
adapt
these to computer-assisted instruction (CAI) and to evaluate the CAI case programs
and test their
effectiveness in a cooperative learning laboratory environment. The second year fall
semester of
Kansas State University veterinary curriculum is comprised almost entirely of basic
science
lectures and laboratories that are independent, content-rich, and contain minimal
opportunities
for students to develop higher level critical thinking and problem-solving skills. The
purpose of
this proposal is to integrate content information presented in the second year
curriculum through
the development of multi-disciplinary, case-based, computer-assisted laboratories that
will be
utilized in cooperative learning environments. Course coordinators for the semester will
jointly
develop cases that integrate information from pathology, bacteriology, immunology,
parasitology, and pharmacology. In conjunction with programming experts, cases will
be
adapted to a multimedia program shell. Programs will be used during formal laboratory
sessions
in conjunction with cooperative learning techniques in order to enhance the relevance
and
retention of the information presented during the semester. This project will initiate an
ongoing
process for the development of CAI programs for class or independent use by students
training
for careers in veterinary medicine. Programs will be developed for distribution both in a
compact disk and Internet format.
Proposal Number: 9703867
Lead Institution: Kansas State University
Grant Number 97-38411-4306
Duration: 2 Years
Project Director: Jeffrey P. Katz
Award Amount: $80,000
Bringing Entrepreneurship into the Agribusiness Capstone Classroom. Kansas
State
University proposes to develop curriculum materials related to agribusiness education
for use in
multi-level, multidisciplinary curricula. They want to enhance faculty expertise in
agribusiness
entrepreneurship, to develop comprehensive cases suitable for undergraduate students
in
agriculture and business, and to make the experiential materials available to a wide
range
programs through Internet access. This will allow for the interaction of faculty,
traditional
students, and non-traditional students, and increase the link between the agribusiness
programs
and business education programs, enhancing the opportunities for students in both
disciplines.
The following materials will be developed: instructional materials related to
agribusiness
management including 16 case studies and teaching notes with differential levels of
complexity
for use in the second, third, and forth year of agribusiness education (finance,
marketing, and
management courses); ten minute video tapes of the four subject areas including views
of the
surrounding areas, processing facilities, and interviews with farmers, managers, and
industry
experts; a WWW page will be developed to accommodate the case studies and video
files; a
description of this project, including its successes and limitations, will be placed on the
WWW
page; and an electronic survey will be contained on each set of materials. This project
incorporates real world case examples of agribusiness firms in the agribusiness
classroom. This
involves the collaboration of agribusiness managers, students, faculty, extension
personnel, and
experienced case writers.
Proposal Number: 9703906
Lead Institution: Kansas State University
Grant Number: 97-38411-4307
Duration: 1 Year
Project Director: Richard H. Mattson
Award Amount: $40,040
Human Dimensions of Horticulture: A CD-ROM Course for Distance Learners.
Kansas State University proposes to develop the Human Dimensions of Horticulture
course on
CD-ROM and to begin implementation of a 3+1 transfer model. Human Dimensions of
Horticulture (HDH) is a 3-credit course taught for introductory on-campus Horticultural
Therapy
(HT) students and to distance learners via directed study. A 3+1 HT transfer model will
allow
students to complete three years of course work at their home locations and KSU HT
distance
learning classes prior to transfer in their senior year. This project would enable future
students an
opportunity to complete the first introductory course via CD-ROM and the Internet. The
HDH
course materials would be produced on a CD-ROM containing text, high-resolution
graphics,
computer generated animation, full-motion video, and digital audio components. The
HDH text
will contain 15 chapters reviewed by professional HTs for content and accuracy.
CD-ROM
production will be completed by the end of 1997. The HDH course would be available
for the
spring, summer and fall semesters of 1998. Horticultural therapists use horticultural
activities to
improve the quality of life to those in need by providing benefits to the human body,
mind, and
spirit. World wide enrollment is expected as this project services distance learner
needs.
Proposal Number: 9703853
Lead Institution: Louisiana State University
Grant Number 97-38411-4287
Duration: 3 Years
Project Director: Carl Motsenbocker
Award Amount: $78,314
Development of Multimedia Tropical Horticulture Curricula. Louisiana State
University proposes to develop integrated, user-friendly multimedia computer
courseware for
teaching an upper-level tropical horticulture class. They will use the courseware at
Louisiana
State University and via the long-distance learning network during the second and third
years of
the project. Faculty would gain expertise in the skills necessary for developing
computer
courseware and share this expertise with other horticulture and agriculture faculty. The
project
would expand the expertise of the faculty in their particular areas of tropical horticulture.
In this
course. students typically learn about the world market situation and management
techniques for
particular tropical horticulture crops. This project will integrate computer-based learning
models
in a comprehensive courseware package suitable for teaching an entire undergraduate
tropical
horticulture course covering the areas of fruit, vegetable, ornamentals, and, floriculture
crops.
The courseware will include hypertext class notes, hot-button access to a glossary of
terms,
animated graphics, video, on-line exercises with pop-up help boxes, animated problem
solving
demonstrations, and realistic case studies.
Proposal Number: 9703810
Lead Institution: New Mexico State University
Grant Number 97-38411-4286
Duration: 2 Years
Project Director: Norman K. Lownds
Award Amount: $77,975
Improving Undergraduate Science Education in Horticulture and Agricultural
Education Through Collaborative Problem Solving and Computer-based Technologies.
New Mexico State University proposes to model 3 activities: (1) a new approach for
synthesizing knowledge by integrating horticulture and agricultural education in
multiple-age,
collaborative projects; (2) exemplary educational techniques for constructivist,
experiential
learning; and (3) culturally relevant and educationally appropriate approaches for
minority
students in agricultural careers. They will collaborate with existing CD-ROM and Web
alternative delivery projects to maximize quality and minimize costs. They will address
the void
of educational materials concerning arid agriculture. Upper division horticulture and
agricultural
education students will form collaborative groups to model constructivist, experiential
learning
activities and to synthesize and integrate their classroom educational background
through the
practical creation of public school gardens. Students will simultaneously be both
learners and
mentors, challenged to design garden programs which address national science
standards, solid
horticultural science, arid agricultural requirements, and integration of multimedia
technologies.
Jointly, students will define and solve real-world problems related to creation of gardens
and
additions to NMSU's ongoing arid land CD-ROM/Web project with the Smithsonian
Institution.
Internships will provide additional opportunities for extended development for students.
Proposal Number: 9703831
Lead Institution: University of Missouri-Columbia
Grant Number: 97-38411-4278
Project Director: Gerald M. Buening
Duration: 2 Years
Award Amount: $46,031
Augmenting Instruction Through Multimedia Applications. The University of
Missouri proposes three workshops stressing experiential learning via multimedia; two
workshops will be held at University of Missouri and one at Washington State
University. The
objectives are: (1) to present learning models and interactive design principles stressing
the
opportunities for integration of multimedia instruction into the curriculum and/or
dissemination
of information to the selected participants, (2) to assist participants in the design and
production
of a prototype interactive multimedia program via hands-on learning workshop, and (3)
to carry
out an assessment of the effectiveness of the workshops in promoting the incorporation
of
interactive multimedia instruction at the participants' institutions. This proposal will be
testing
the hypothesis: ToolBook II Assistant (Asymetrix Corporation, Bellevue,WA)
methodology is
more effective than the use of standard computer presentation software in promoting
learning.
Proposal Number: 9703845
Lead Institution: University of Missouri
Grant Number 97-38411-4277
Duration: 3 Years
Project Director: Robert Bruce Miller
Award Amount: $63,384
Determining Relevant Competencies for National Veterinary Food Animal
Curricula.
The University of Missouri proposes to identify and validate the entry-level knowledge,
skills,
and competencies needed by graduating veterinary students as they enter food animal
practice
and thus develop a National Food Animal Competency Profile. They will disseminate
the
finished products to national and international veterinary colleges, veterinary
organizations, and
practitioners, so that this information is available to improve the veterinary food animal
curricula
throughout the United States and the world. Five workshops using the Develop
Curriculum
(DACUM) process, a brainstorming process, will be held at four national veterinary
meetings.
The DACUM process will be conducted for beef cow-calf, beef feed lot, dairy cattle,
swine, and
small ruminants (sheep and goats) using eighteen (18) veterinarians from each practice
category
with twelve (12) being from practice, four (4) from animal health products, industry or
government, and two (2) from university practice. Each workshop will produce a list of
skills,
knowledge, and competencies needed by the entry level veterinarian. Each generated
competency will then be validated according to "frequency," "importance," and
"difficulty"
through a mail survey of 100 veterinarians engaged in the appropriate five practice
categories.
The five validated competency lists will be presented in half-day in service sessions at
national
practitioner meetings to identify which competencies should be included in the core
curriculum
for each practice category at veterinary colleges.
Proposal Number: 9703878
Lead Institution: University of Missouri
Grant Number: 97-38411-4276
Duration: 1 Year
Project Director: Gary K. Allen
Award Amount: $79,156
Technology-Supported Model for Experiential Learning in Preclinical Biosciences.
The University of Missouri proposes to develop a novel, validated model system for
technology-
enhanced, case-based learning in basic biomedical science education. The objectives
are to
develop, implement, and critically evaluate: 1) case-based scenarios emphasizing
analogical
relationships, 2) an Internet-based system for case delivery, assignment submission,
and course-
related communications, and 3) a collaborative learning environment. For this project,
basic
principles of immunology will be taught to first-year veterinary students though
traditional
instruction, multimedia presentations, reading assignments, and autotutorials. Course
delivery
will focus on immunology and basic science principles, which will be reinforced by
application
to case-based assignments. As learning continues, analogous concepts will be
stressed as part of
the problem-solving process. Evaluation methods will include assessments of student
learning,
engagement, and motivation, which will be analyzed for correlation with portfolio-based
performance data. Research in computer-assisted collaborative work suggests
students in
computer-intensive settings learn best when working in teams. Therefore, collaboration
will be
encouraged by the instructor and facilitated via Internet-based communications tools.
Proposal Number: 9703827
Lead Institution: University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Grant Number 97-38411-4274
Project Director: Leverne A. Barrett
Duration: 1 Year
Award Amount: $159,727
A Collaborative Effort to Change the Reward System for Teaching. The University
of
Nebraska-Lincoln, Alabama A&M University, Clemson University, Cornell University,
University of Idaho, North Carolina A&T State University, North Dakota State University,
Rutgers State University, South Dakota State University, Texas A&M University, Texas
Tech
University, and Washington State University propose to change institutional values
regarding the
formal reward for teaching and to create balance between teaching and research
activities within
formal reward structures. Specific objectives and the plan of operation for each
collaborating
institution are to (1) select and support at least two new departments and their
three-member
department leadership teams per institution; (2) support interaction and exchange of
lessons
learned between Phase I, Phase II and Phase III departments; (3) conduct a third
national
conference at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for faculty and administrative leaders
that
focuses on transformational leadership and sharing of knowledge in making reward
transitions
and celebrates changing the institutional climate for teaching; (4) conduct on-site
campus
workshops at each institution to address evaluation and reward problem; (5) maintain
and further
develop the Web page, "Evaluating and Rewarding College Teaching," for purposes of
sharing
departmental plans, workshop and conference agendas, and resource materials; (6)
invite
interested faculty and administrative leaders from other institutions to the national
conference;
(7) prepare a publication that includes plans to evaluate and reward teaching from all
participant
departments; and (8) prepare a videotape for dissemination that summarizes problems,
progress,
accomplishments, and results.
Proposal Number: 9703865
Lead Institution: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Grant Number: 97-38411-4250
Project Director: Patricia Schoknecht
Project Duration: 2 Years
Award Amount: $116,647
Development of Multimedia Instructional Materials in Animal Nutrition. Rutgers,
The
State University of New Jersey, Sussex County Community College, and the University
of
Maryland-Eastern Shore propose to create, evaluate, and disseminate multimedia
instructional
modules within animal nutrition that will increase the knowledge base available to all our
students. The changing face of agriculture and agricultural education requires that
colleges and
universities devise innovative methods to deliver education on a regional basis.
Additionally, this
proposal is complementary to a previously funded project from Cornell University that
has laid
much of the groundwork in creation of computer applications. The multimedia modules
will
combine graphics, animation, video, and audio to illustrate important concepts in animal
nutrition and be developed by a team of individuals that will include a content specialist,
an
instructional technologist, and a faculty reviewer. The modules will be used
independently or in
combination to form the basis of a lecture or laboratory. Modules will be created in 6
areas:
gastrointestinal anatomy, nutrient metabolism, vitamins and minerals, feed processing,
the
nutrition of specific physiological states, and nutritional considerations of disease.
Focus groups
and classroom evaluations will be used to determine the effectiveness of the modules
and the
modules will be disseminated throughout the term of the grant through the Northeast
Regional
Consortium and via a website detailing the development process. The partnership of
these three
institutions may provide a model for regional cooperation; it allows these modules to be
tested on
a diverse student body, and it allows them to address the concerns of a broad range of
employers
that require well-trained agricultural graduates.
Proposal Number: 973890
Lead Institution: North Carolina State University
Grant Number 97-38411-4301
Project Director: John Havlin
Duration: 3 Years
Award Amount: $79,917
Enhancing Problem-Solving Skills in Undergraduate Education. North Carolina
State
University proposes to provide undergraduate education in spatial analysis of
agricultural and
environmental resource management, to enhance problem-solving skills in students
enrolled in
agricultural and environmental sciences, and to enable undergraduate students
throughout the
state and region to access GIS technology education. An undergraduate course is
proposed for
both on- and off-campus students. Using a commercial standard GIS (ArcInfo and
ArcView),
students will acquire skills to input and display a variety of spatial data including remote
sensing,
yield monitoring, soil properties, and other georeferenced land surface features and
natural
resources. Problem-solving skills will be developed through analysis and interpretation
of the
spatial information specific to a given field or watershed with either productivity and/or
environmental quality problems. Students will be required to develop variable input
recommendation maps or other variable management maps and demonstrate that their
recommendations enhance ecosystem productivity and/or environmental quality.
Resulting
analyses and recommendations will be summarized in written reports. Off-campus
students will
participate in the course through the Satellite, video, and Internet systems. Input data
will be
available through the Internet and written reports will be submitted back to the main
campus
through the Internet.
Proposal Number: 9703864
Lead Institution: Ohio State University
Grant Number 97-38411-4302
Duration: 2 Years
Project Director: Tammy M. Bray
Award Amount: $78,628
A Model Articulation Program for Food & Hospitality Management Education in
Ohio. The Ohio State University proposes to create a curriculum plan for hospitality
management based on clear learning objectives and designed to prepare the highest
quality
students for the profession while improving access to students in selected two-year
programs.
They will establish formal articulation agreements between each of the collaborating
two-year
programs and The Ohio State University, based upon a thorough analysis of the
knowledge and
experiential base students must acquire before entering the profession. Such as what
agreement
will enable students to move into the baccalaureate program without loss of time and
course
credits. The project will incorporate applied learning experiences throughout the
articulated
hospitality management curricula by formal agreements with the hospitality industry
establishing
cooperative work experiences and internships. In addition, the project will develop and
incorporate significant international and multicultural learning into the curricula through
didactic
content, study abroad, and industry experiences. The project will target the redesign of
hospitality curricula to ensure learning that reflects the most current and appropriate
didactic
content and experiential activities. Project outcomes include a non-duplicative
articulated
curriculum, increased student placement in cooperative learning and internships in the
industry,
and greatly expanded opportunities for international and multi-cultural experiences for
students
and faculty. The project will establish new approaches to food and hospitality
management
education providing long-term benefits to students and yield a model of program
articulation for
public dissemination.
Proposal Number: 9703880
Lead Institution: Ohio State University
Grant Number: 97-38411-4303
Duration: 2 Years
Project Director: Andy D. Ward
Award Amount: $159,994
Tri-State Development of Multimedia Educational Materials on Site Specific
Farming.
The Ohio State University, Purdue University, and the University of Kentucky propose to
develop multimedia course materials in the area of site-specific farming which
emphasizes the
technology, and its beneficial economic, agronomic, and environmental impacts. They
propose
to develop case studies of farm operations which demonstrates the application of
site-specific
strategies and their impacts. They will teach courses cooperatively in site specific
farming using
the course materials, guest lecturing, and Internet access at each school. They will
disseminate to
other institutions materials in hard copy and CD-ROM format. The project will develop
multi-
media modules, data bases, and general educational materials that will be available on
a CD and
through the Internet. This will make the materials readily available for self tutorial use
by
students. The multimedia materials will be combinations of text, diagrams, tables,
audio,
bringing the latest technologies into the classroom. The modular structure of the
products will
allow instructors to select which modules (or portions of a module) they wish to use.
Synthesis
of information and concepts will be accomplished by developing several real world case
studies
for use as educational materials. The materials will be used in two existing and two
new courses
on site specific farming. Also, in the tri-state region faculty from participating
universities will
provide guest lectures at the other institutions.
Proposal Number: 9703910
Lead Institution: Oregon State University
Grant Number 97-38411-4304
Duration: 2 Years
Project Director: W. Daniel Edge
Award Amount: $76,834
An Interactive Website to Increase Student Participation and Learning in a Video
Course. Oregon State University proposes to improve interactions among students and
faculty
for a distance education course, entitled: "Principles of Wildlife Conservation" through
development of an website supplement to our course that enhances student learning,
interest and
interactions. The objectives are to (1) develop a selfguided, interactive website to reach
and
motivate large audiences efficiently; and (2) identify effective components of distance
education
and distribute our findings to natural resources and agricultural sciences educators
nation-wide.
When presenting the course nation-wide, they will designate two populations: (1) a
control
population that receives the videotapes and has access to the toll-free phone line and
Internet
mail list; and (2) a website population that receives the same course as the control
population
plus access to the interactive website. Twenty modules will be developed.
Proposal Number: 9703877
Lead Institution: Oklahoma State University
Grant Number: 97-38411-4254
Duration: 2 Years
Project Director: Mike D. Woods
Award Amount: $79,628
Development of a Community Simulation Model for Teaching. Oklahoma State
University proposes to develop a Community Simulation Model (CSM) to be utilized as
a
teaching tool for students in courses dealing with rural economic development, policy,
and
natural resource economics. The objectives are to construct the CSM for use with a
micro-
computer and interactive student scenarios, to build a CSM version for use in the
classroom, to
enhance the portability of the CSM for use in non-traditional settings and providing a
one-day
version for field applications, and to ensure that CSM is adaptable and transferrable for
use by
other institutions and states. Student experiential learning allows participating students
to better
understand economic systems and the results/implications of alternative decisions or
actions. A
computerized simulation model will be utilized along with interactive role playing and
decision-
making. Students will learn how a community economy works including interaction
between the
private and public sectors. Healthy, sustainable communities must consider public
sector finance
issues and community service/infrastructure needs as well as private sector economic
factors
such as jobs and income. The Community Simulation Model will enhance
understanding of the
interdependence of economic sectors and the complexity of interactions arising from
new
economic activities or policies.
Proposal Number: 9703826
Lead Institution: Pennsylvania State University
Grant Number 97-38411-4282
Duration: 1 Year
Project Director: Lamartine F. Hood
Award Amount: $79,820
Critical Thinking and Problem Solving: A Food Product Development Case
Approach.
Pennsylvania State University proposes to design, develop and formatively evaluate
case studies
of food industry product development. They will incorporate and test, both in resident
and
distance learning scenarios, the efficacy of these cases in an undergraduate capstone
course that
is designed to enhance critical thinking, team decision making, problem solving, and
communication skills. Decision cases will be developed based on information obtained
through
interviews with food industry managers and research and development personnel.
Initially, three
food companies have agreed to cooperate. Cases will be integrated into an upper level
undergraduate capstone course in food product development. Critical thinking and
problem
solving will be fostered in a team-centered approach to active learning. Specific
assessment
instruments will be utilized to evaluate the impact of this approach on critical thinking
skills.
Proposal Number: 9703854
Lead Institution: Purdue University
Grant Number: 97-38411-4335
Duration: 2 Years
Project Director: W. David Downey
Award Amount: $80,000
Multi-media and Computer-aided Agri Selling Education Materials. Purdue
University proposes to develop multi-media teaching materials that effectively
demonstrate the
application of important sales and marketing concepts and techniques for use in
courses in agri-
selling and to pilot a system for interactive electronic based dialogue of upper class
level
undergraduate students with agribusiness professionals. The dialogue will focus on
current sales
and marketing issues. Today's professional agri salesperson must have a strong
combination of
agricultural technology and interpersonal communication skills that can be used to
surface a
customer's problems and find solutions that will bring significant benefits to the
customer. New
state-of-the-art multi-media teaching materials will be developed to demonstrate
important agri-
sales and marketing concepts and techniques to complement existing courses. These
materials
will include edited video clips of respected agri sales and marketing managers
explaining the role
and responsibilities of field sales personnel in their industry, interviews with recent and
experienced sales personnel, demonstrations of actual selling techniques designed in
such a way
that the instructor can demonstrate a variety of skills in a non-linear fashion and be able
to pause
for discussion, replay, and then "branch" to another more appropriate illustration.
Through
electronic dialogue between and among students, professors, and industry advisors,
industry
professionals will be able to make observations on class assignments and add
comments to
continuing discussions in "conference areas" set up by topic, industry, or other lines.
Highly
current situations and issues will be presented by practitioners will provide students with
a
deeper insight into the "real world" they will soon be joining all with far greater
interaction
than is typically possible in occasional campus visits by guest lectures. We will
experiment with
various approaches and classifications to determine those that work best in the real
world
environment.
Proposal Number: 9703885
Lead Institution: Purdue University
Grant Number 97-38411-4332
Duration: 3 Years
Project Director: Olin E. Rhodes, Jr.
Award Amount: $80,000
A Blueprint for Educating Tomorrow's Leaders in Natural Resources. Purdue
University proposes (1) to integrate the undergraduate curriculum in the Department of
Forestry
and Natural Resources (FNR), (2) to promote technical proficiency among
undergraduates in
Forestry and Natural Resources, (3) to encourage the development of problem-solving
skills,
with a special emphasis on proficiency in group settings, and (4) to broaden students'
perspectives pertaining to controversial and emerging issues in natural resources.
Accomplishment of these objectives will occur through implementation of a new
curriculum
which will involve the modification of many existing courses and the addition of 8 new
courses.
Integration of the undergraduate curriculum will be initiated by the creation of an
interdisciplinary faculty forum, targeted specifically at forestry, fisheries, and wildlife
faculty
involved in the core curriculum. This forum will provide faculty with opportunities to
share
information regarding course content and to create linkages among course offerings.
Curricular
integration will be further strengthened by the expansion of the experiential learning
component
of undergraduate education in the department. Students of all disciplines (forestry,
fisheries, and
wildlife) will be required to participate in an intensive 5-week summer practicum at the
end of
their sophomore year. The benefits of the summer camp experience will be extended
through the
remainder of each undergraduate's education through the use of data, (collected as
part of
exercises during the practicum) in core courses taken during the junior and senior
years. Faculty
development workshops will address educational models for teaching in the areas of
problem
solving, case-based instruction, cooperative learning, and alternative assessment.
Proposal Number: 9703842
Lead Institution: Texas
Tech University
Grant Number 97-38411-4305
Duration: 2 Years
Project Director: Ellen B Peffley
Award Amount: $65,653
Development of a World Wide Web Instructional Delivery System for Horticulture
Foundation Courses. Texas Tech University proposes to create two computerized plant
science
courses, Principles of Horticulture and Plant Propagation Methods. The objectives are
to
develop as the main template for the information a home page called TechHort, located
at Texas
Tech University; to construct the courses so that they meet accreditation standards for
degree
programs and meet Core Course needs in the area of Crop Management for
Horticulturist
Certification as outlined by the American Registry of Certified Professions in Agronomy,
Crops,
and Soil fostered by the American Society of Agronomy, to make available a hard copy
of the
Internet courses so that students at a distance who wish to take the course but do not
have access
to a the Internet also can take the course, to develop a glossary of plant terms on a
CD-ROM
which can be made available to the students as well as to other instructors of
horticulture.
Proposal Number: 9703901
Lead Institution: Southwest Texas State University
Grant Number 97-38411-4253
Project Director: Sylvia L. Hurd
Duration: 3 Years
Award Amount: $78,614
Development and Delivery of Innovative Distance Learning in Food Service.
Southwest Texas State University (SWT) has entered into articulation agreements with
community colleges for transfer of course credit and will develop, pilot, and thoroughly
evaluate
an innovative laboratory course in Food Science to be offered through the Internet and
by CD-
ROM. A lack of laboratory facilities throughout the State of Texas, and the nation,
prevents most
community colleges from offering this prerequisite freshman/sophomore level course for
baccalaureate degrees to students in dietetic technician programs or in nutrition
programs. The
objectives are to develop, in cooperation with community college colleagues, an
innovative Food
Science course for distance delivery that includes an electronic "laboratory" which will
provide
students a thoroughly interactive experience, just as they receive in the traditional
campus
laboratory setting. The course will be built using CD-ROM and Internet delivery
systems. They
will pilot the course with existing SWT students and evaluate results thoroughly with the
assistance of an external evaluator. Then they will conduct an intensive three-week
summer
training session to enable community college faculty to study the most current research
in the
field of Food Science and learn how to use the interactive CD-ROM and Internet course
model.
They will participate in extensive evaluation of it, as well. The project will meet a
statewide
need by offering the course throughout Texas via the community college faculty's
supervision
and expertise, with the collaboration of SWT faculty and the advice of a nationally
recognized
independent evaluator. It will meet a national need by designing the curriculum so that
it meets
all requirements set forth by the American Dietetic Association. Thus, it may serve as
a national
model for other clusters of universities and community colleges, to whom they will make
the
CD-ROM and Internet products available at cost.
Proposal Number: 9703897
Lead Institution: University of Vermont
Grant Number 97-38411-4255
Duration: 2 Years
Project Director: Stephen J. Pintauro
Award Amount: $79,632
Web-Based Interactive, Multimedia Instructional Tools in Nutritional Sciences. The
University of Vermont proposes to develop virtual learning tools focused on seven
topics in the
general area of human body composition analysis and energy expenditure. They will
incorporate
these learning tools into existing Department courses and compare their effectiveness
relative to
traditional lectures and textbooks. These learning tools will be disseminated over the
Web as
models for others interested in developing similar instructional materials. The Web can
now
deliver a truly interactive virtual learning experience, complete with audio, video,
interactive
animation, feedback, stimulations, and conferencing. In developing the instructional
materials,
they will utilize interactive animation software that is relatively easy to learn and
generates small
file size products that are quickly downloaded over the Internet. They also will take
advantage of
the latest "streaming video" technologies to deliver video clips of actual testing
procedures, as
conducted on the General Clinical Research Center at the University of Vermont.
Finally, the
instructional materials will include interactive forms that will permit the user to enter
sample
data, take sample quizzes, and provide evaluation feedback to the PI's. In addition they
will test
the quality and effectiveness of these materials in a controlled experimental design with
students
enrolled in Department of Nutritional Sciences courses. All of the instructional materials
will be
available to anyone in the world with Internet access.
Proposal Number: 9703889
Lead Institutions: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Grant Number 97-38411-4285
Project Director: John M. White
Duration: 2 Years
Award Amount: $22,999
Regional Teaching Workshops in the Food and Agricultural Sciences. Virginia
Polytechnic
Institute and the Office of Academic Programs, Agriculture and Natural Resources at
NASULGC
propose to form a national steering committee to plan four regional teaching
improvement
workshops in 1998. As part of this objective the committee will: a) assess faculty needs
to
determine content, location, and timing of workshops; b) insure inclusion of broader
issues such
as tenure, administrative leadership, college program future in the workshops; c) insure
that
participants gain knowledge in many areas of undergraduate education, i.e., capstone
courses,
and instructional technology; and d) insure that faculty teaching efforts will be viewed in
a more
positive light. The second specific objective will be to investigate funding for
continuation of
workshops and explore ways of administering these workshops. The national steering
committee
will assess faculty needs using past workshop evaluations, questionnaires, and
feedback from the
regional meetings to ensure that the agenda for the workshops will be "consumer
driven." These
workshops provide forums for faculty at 56 1862 Land Grant institutions, 17 1890 Land
Grant
institutions and Tuskegee University, 29 tribally controlled colleges (1994 Land Grant
institutions) and 60 colleges and universities represented by American Association of
State
Colleges of Agriculture and Renewable Resources. The workshops can have a
significant impact
on faculty culture in colleges of agriculture and natural resources. In addition, the
teaching
improvement workshops will provide a forum for presentations by recipients of USDA
sponsored Food and Agricultural Sciences Excellence in College and University
Teaching
Awards.
Proposal Number: 9703903
Lead Institution: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Grant Number: 97-38411-4280
Project Director: Brian R. Murphy
Duration: 2 Years
Award Amount: $79,999
Enhancing Student and Faculty Development in Natural Resources Education.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University proposes to create an interdisciplinary
educational environment in the College of Forestry and Wildlife Resources (CFWR) at
Virginia
Tech that fosters higher levels of cognitive development in students, to provide CFWR
first-year
undergraduate students with the skills needed for success in both their academic and
professional
careers, and to provide current and future faculty with the support needed to develop
and enact
alternative teaching techniques that stimulate active learning. The traditional lecture
approach
will be replaced by inquiry-based modules centered on extensive reading, group
discussions,
formal and informal writing exercises, field exercises, and collaborative research
projects. A
select interdisciplinary team of faculty, graduate students, and outstanding
undergraduate
students will work together to create this active learning environment, aided by
University
teaching and writing specialists. Instructors will meet regularly for workshops on
alternative
teaching techniques and for collaborative study group discussions. Assessment of
outcomes will
include analysis of student performance in this and other courses, course evaluations,
detailed
analyses of improvement in student's writing skills, and long-term assessment of
student success
by employers.
Proposal Number: 9703904
Lead Institution: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Grant Number 97-38411-4284
Project Director: Timothy P. Mack
Duration: 2 Years
Award Amount: $79,999
Using Information Technology to Enhance Learning in Entomology. Virginia
Polytechnic Institute proposes to develop and assess the impact of electronic
technologies for
visual learners, for hands-on learners, and for auditory learners for use in
undergraduate
instruction of on-campus and distance learning students. They will address the
question: Are we
failing to communicate in our agricultural courses because we do not present
information in ways
best suited for a variety of learning styles? Auditory learners respond best to vocalized
information, visual learners respond to written and graphic information,
tactile-kinesthetic
(hands-on or experiential) learners learn best with an active, hands-on type of
approach. The
learning style of each student affects how each one reacts in classrooms. They note
they should
be using teaching methods that stimulate learning for all types of learners. This
proposal
addresses this concern by proposing to develop electronic technologies for teaching
students with
different learning styles. They propose to create new electronic instructional delivery
systems for
different learning styles to enhance on-campus education and to allow students at a
distance to be
educated in undergraduate entomology classes. The tools include a virtual reality
simulation of
insect flight; a fully developed Web site for distance learning class, a 'Cyber Cockroach'
that
teaches external and internal anatomy for distance learners and on-campus students,
and
computer-mediated case studies on the Web that present entomological problems for
students to
solve. Enhancing undergraduate courses with electronic technologies should
significantly
improve the overall quality of education and the learning experience.
Proposal Number: 9703802
Lead Institution: Washington State
University
Grant Number 97-38411-4271
Duration: 2 Years
Project Director: Timothy E. Fiez
Award Amount: $80,000
Technology Literacy Development through World Wide Web and Multimedia
Instruction. Washington State University proposes to develop a series of WWW based
instructional modules to provide undergraduate students with a working knowledge of
recent
advances in high technology focusing on site-specific management and environmental
monitoring. Technologies such as global positioning systems (GPS), satellite remote
sensing,
electronic sensors, and computerized monitoring and to precisely control and adjust
crop
management practices within fields. These modules will cover the areas of (1) global
positioning
systems, (2) remote sensing, (3) map reading and geodesy, (4) geographic information
systems,
(5) spatial statistics, (6) computer interfacing, (7) variable rate controllers, (8) automated
environmental monitoring,
(9) mechanical and electronic sensors, (10) wireless communication, and (11) Internet
access to
information. The modules will be designed for a sophomore/junior level student and
should
provide appropriate education to almost anyone who is interested in learning about
information
technologies for agriculture and the natural resource sciences. Each module will be
self-
contained and include self-testing, interactive-demonstrations, student/instructor
feedback, and
enhanced multimedia components such as video and audio.
Proposal Number: 9703805
Leading Institution: Washington State
University
Grant Number 97-38411-4272
Duration: 2 Years
Project Director: Deborah J. C. Meyer
Award Amount: $66,316
Enhancing Faculty Knowledge of Apparel Industry Quality Assurance Practices.
Washington State University and Iowa State University propose to explore, document,
and
disseminate information about current apparel industry quality assurance practices to all
faculty
of textile and apparel programs and related disciplines. The objectives are (1) to identify
a
selected sample of United States textile and apparel firms located in the West and
Central regions
representing textile and apparel manufacturing and retailing; (2) to identify specific
quality
assurance standards and procedures used for general product categories of textile and
apparel
manufacturers and retailers; (3) to identify similarities and differences in quality
assurance
practices among selected textile and apparel manufacturers and retailers; (4) to
synthesize general
quality assurance concepts from current apparel industry practices, procedures, and
standards;
(5) to document through video technology, quality assurance practices, procedures, and
standards
used in selected textile and apparel manufacturing and retailing firms; (6) to prepare
educational
materials for use in a workshop aimed at enhancing participants knowledge of current
apparel
industry quality assurance practices; and (7) to input acquired information into the
dedicated
World Wide Web server site for faculty and students in fiber, textiles, and apparel
programs and
related disciplines. Information obtained through the successful implementation of the
objectives
of this project will be disseminated in three ways: (1) through a
documentary/educational
videotape series; (2) through a faculty knowledge enhancement workshop; (3) and
through an
information-rich server site on the Internet dedicated to faculty and students of fiber,
textiles, and
apparel programs and related disciplines.
Proposal Number: 9703809
Lead Institution: Washington State
University
Grant Number 97-38411-4273
Duration: 1 Year
Project Director: Dorothy Pond-Smith
Award Amount: 71,248
Honoring the Gift of Food. Washington State University (WSU) and Northwest
Indian
College (NWIC) propose to deliver a two-year curricula and pilot testing project in
nutrition and
food for three Pacific Northwest tribal communities. Specific objectives are to develop a
sequential food and nutrition curriculum which supports relevant community cultural
values and
specific needs of the Northwest Native Americans living primarily in reservation
communities
and which will be delivered in distance learning formats with a site based support of
registered
dietitians so that students can articulate into a four-year degree program and to
coordinate a
collaborative planning group ( WSU, NWIC, regional Indian Health Service, and three
tribal
communities) to test the curriculum, to form agreements for implementation and
articulation of
training, and to establish priorities for meeting nutrition and food education needs of the
areas'
reservation communities. The project involves a Nutrition and Food Career Ladder
Curriculum
Development program for Native American reservation communities in Washington,
Oregon,
and Idaho.
Proposal Number: 9703892
Lead Institution: University of Wisconsin-River Fall
Grant Number 97-38411-4251
Project Director: Brad D. Morgen
Duration: 2 Years
Award Amount: $80,000
Laboratory Materials and Multimedia resources for Plant Pathology Education.
University of Wisconsin-River Falls and the University of Wisconsin-Madison propose to
develop and provide a resource-efficient approach for the instruction of plant pathology
and
related concepts in biology for instructors of plant pathology. The two specific objectives
are to
develop and make available inquiry-based laboratory exercises for use by biology
teachers with a
range of expertise with plant-microbe interactions and to build a database of digital
images,
graphics, and video clips to be used as a supplemental teaching aid for plant pathology
and
related biological sciences, and make it available in a cross-platform compatible format.
The
teaching of the plant pathology discipline at smaller colleges is threatened. Why? A
primary
reason is, the labs tend to be labor-and resource-intensive. The creation of certain
teaching
materials would minimize that effort. Six laboratory exercises will be developed that
focus on
biological concepts in plant pathology and plant-microbe interactions. These exercises
will
utilize plants and microbes that are easy to grow and interact and they will use
equipment that is
inexpensive, readily available and easy to use. The images will be archived using
state-of-the-art
technology and will be designed for use in sets that "tell a story" as effective learning
exercises.
The lab manual and the digital image database will be available on and linked by an
Internet web
site that can be accessed by anyone with a link to the World Wide Web.
Proposal Number: 9703893
Lead Institution: University of Wisconsin-River Fall
Grant Number 97-38411-4252
Project Director: Stephen C. Ridley
Duration: 3 Years
Award Amount: $65,653
Teaching Improvement through Faculty Externships. The University of Wisconsin-
River Falls proposes to develop a cadre of faculty from four departments (Animal &
Food
Science, Plant & Earth Science, Agricultural Economics, and Agricultural Engineering
Technology) with recent, first hand experience in agricultural enterprises, to infuse the
externship
experiences of these faculty into courses, both by redesigning courses and by
developing new
teaching materials, and to expand and deepen the linkages between the college and
agribusiness
enterprises. Under this program, two faculty per year will be employed by an agricultural
enterprise for two months during the summer. Before departing, externs will file a
preliminary
plan for infusing their externship experiences into the curriculum and the way they
teach. Upon
their return, they will solidify these plans and implement them during the following
academic
year. They will then return to the worksite to report the changes they have made in
curriculum
and pedagogy to the employer. This project will allow us to improve our curriculum,
teaching
materials, and teaching methodologies so that they more closely match the world our
graduates
will encounter. Employers can therefore spend less time and fewer resources on
additional
training. They will publicize this project through the general media, the
agriculturally-oriented
press, trade publications, and the house organs of participating employers. As soon as
results are
available, they will disseminate them through disciplinary and NACTA journals and
conferences.