Illinois
Fertilizer Conference Proceedings
January 24-26, 2005
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Q.B. Rund
1
The primary objective of this project is to repurpose the content of the Potash & Phosphate Institute’s Soil Fertility Manual into interactive self-study modules which would qualify for continuing education units (CEUs) for the certified crop adviser (CCA) program.
Each chapter in the Soil Fertility Manual is used to create one or more self-study modules. The modules will be offered to CCAs via an internet web site (http://ceu.farmresearch.com). CCAs will be able to complete the module online and take a quiz to check their understanding and qualify to receive continuing education units for completing the module.
FREC funds are being used to create these modules from the Soil Fertility Manual, a tested and respected publication which already resides on the shelves of many fertilizer dealers, researchers, and agronomists throughout the state. This project takes the content of the Soil Fertility Manual and molds it into a series of interactive training modules which provide a ready reference for CCAs and others.
FAR is working with PAQ Interactive, Inc. in the development of a web site, http://ceu.farmresearch.com, to offer CCAs continuing education units through self-study modules. One goal of this project was to use the Soil Fertility Manual modules as part of the premier offerings of this web site. While the modules will be offered for a fee, a discounted fee will be applied to Illinois CCAs taking these modules, with express credit given to FREC for underwriting a portion of the development costs.
The final report of the project will include the timeline of development of the modules, the results of pre-release testing, results of actual test takers, and evaluation forms of those who completed at least one module.
There are two main reasons this work is needed:
This project will pilot the concept of the online self-study module in Illinois. It will gather usage and opinion data regarding the modules which could be used in developing further modules in other areas. It will give timelines for development and a roadmap for testing and releasing later modules.
This project will be used to offset development costs anticipated for the creation of self-study modules from successful print publications. The budget reflects the anticipated cost of development for each module. As new modules are developed the cost per module should go down as efficiencies of production are introduced. It is the goal of the project cooperators that these modules become charter modules for a web site offering online CEUs for CCAs. Receiving funding for this project will allow the cooperators to offer these modules at a heavily discounted rate. This will encourage CCAs to experiment with the concept of online self-study CEUs.
The primary benefactors of this project will be Illinois CCAs and anyone interested in learning more about soil fertility in Illinois.
The purpose of the Potash & Phosphate Institute (PPI) Soil Fertility Manual is to help fertilizer dealers, crop advisers, Extension workers, consultants, teachers and agronomists give farmers sound agronomic advice. The manual provides the reader with a working knowledge of essential soil-plant relationships, principles of nutrient management and the use of aglime, and a discussion of the unique balance of agriculture and the environment. It provides answers to common questions, and studied carefully, will motivate the reader to further learning and understanding about the fundamentals of crop production.
PPI first published the Soil Fertility Manual about 25 years ago. The latest, the 5th edition, published this year consists of eleven chapters, a glossary, and two appendices.
1. Concepts Soil Fertility and ProductivityIn addition to the Soil Fertility Manual itself, PPI has developed slide sets and videos to go with each chapter. The Soil Fertility Manual has been used as a self-study guide and to provide the basis for short courses or soil fertility workshops. It has also been used as a supplement to university textbooks.
The goal of this project is to repurpose the content of the manual, along with the associated materials, into self-study modules for CCAs. The modules would be delivered via an Internet web site. Students (CCAs and others) could take the module online and complete an online graded quiz at the end of the module to receive continuing education credit for taking the course.
FAR contracted with PAQ Interactive, Inc. to create the online self-study modules. FAR and PPI are involved in the review of the self-study modules to ensure technical accuracy and publication standards. PAQ has taken the content from the Soil Fertility Manual and the associated slide sets and videos and created the online self-study modules.
PAQ is working with FAR and PPI to develop learning objectives for each chapter and build the self-study modules to meet these objectives. The learning objectives tie in with the performance objectives outlined by the CCA program – particularly in the area of Nutrient Management. The learning objectives then guide the development of the modules.
The modules themselves are envisioned to accommodate a number of learning styles and technical capabilities of the learner. For each chapter in the SFM, PAQ has created a variety of modules: one in pdf format, one with just the slide sets, one with the SFM videos and one that consists of slides, text, graphics, narration, video, and interactive features that help the student meet the learning objectives.
PAQ began with the text from the Soil Fertility Manual. PAQ divided the text into topics of information that can be digested readily over the web. In support of the text will be the slides and graphics that relate to the topic. Video was digitized, broken into segments that can be streamed over the internet, and inserted where it helps to demonstrate a concept more fully than either text or graphics. If a learning objective could best be obtained by having the student interact with an animation, online spreadsheet, or other tool, PAQ is creating these interactive features for inclusion in the module.
In this manner, the modules appeal to a wide variety of learning styles. Students keen on visual learning will have graphics and video. Students who prefer to read will have the text. Students who thrive on audible learning will be able to listen to the text being read while viewing slides and graphics. And students with a hands-on learning style will be able to use the interactive features of the modules to hold their interest and help them meet the learning objectives.
Each module has a quiz that the student needs to successfully complete in order to get continuing education credit for the module. The quizzes are being developed by PAQ and PPI to demonstrate the student’s grasp of the stated learning objectives for the module. The quizzes will be taken and graded online so that the CCAs could instantly see the results. PPI and PAQ are working with the American Society of Agronomy to electronically file the results of the quiz and the appropriate CEUs earned with the ICCA program.
The online quiz requires CCAs to enter their CCA number in order to receive credit for the module. Based on the CCA number, the system will determine if the CCA is from Illinois. If the CCA is from Illinois a discount will be applied to the fee for the course. The discount would reflect the support of FREC in underwriting a portion of the development costs for the module.
The plan was to have several modules completed in time for the Illinois CCA Conference in December 2004. We did not meet that goal, but we have produced a pdf version of the modules for each of the chapters and several chapters have their slide presentation posted and several others have the videos posted (see Table 1). One module on soil sampling has a completed, integrated system of text, pictures, and video. Our next step is to recruit a group of Illinois CCAs to test each type of module by viewing the material and taking the quiz. (If you or someone you know would be interested in participating in this test group, please contact Quentin Rund at (217) 762-7955 or qrund@paqinteractive.com.)
After this testing phase is completed we will continue with the development of modules for web distribution. The goal of the testing is to see if any particular module design produces higher scores or a better experience for CCAs. Our hypothesis is that the blended learning module will produce the highest satisfaction level for CCAs viewing the material and will also produce the highest quiz scores.
When the final modules are developed they will be submitted to the International CCA Program for approval as self-study CEUs. Each of the chapters will have an approved module by the end of the project, June 30, 2005. These modules will be available online through the ceu.farmresearch.com web site.
FREC support of the creation of the modules has facilitated their development into the premier offerings of the FAR/PAQ Interactive, Inc. web site for CCA continuing education units. By supporting the repurposing of this content to meet a demand for quality, self-study materials, FREC provided major support of an educational program that directly affects many members of the fertilizer industry. FREC support of this project will be publicized through the indication of sponsorship of module development and will be realized by Illinois CCAs who will receive a discount on the module fee due to FREC support. In this manner, FREC will receive recognition from the whole industry as a supporter of quality nutrient management education programs. Similarly, the Illinois fertilizer industry will realize a direct benefit to their contributions to FREC through the discount offered to Illinois CCAs.
Table 1. Status of Module Development
1 Quentin Rund, Senior Consultant with PAQ Interactive, Inc. is coordinating the production and testing of the Soil Fertility Manual modules. qrund@paqinteractive.com
