190 likes | 468 Views
Forbes Magazine (6/23/03). Forbes reported that Ford and General Motors are teaming up to develop a six speed automatic transmission. This is a technological breakthrough and is designed to keep the two companies on the forefront of the industry.
E N D
Forbes Magazine (6/23/03) • Forbes reported that • Ford and General Motors are teaming up to develop a six speed automatic transmission. • This is a technological breakthrough and is designed to keep the two companies on the forefront of the industry. • Who would have thought it – the two automobile giants working together!
Do Universities Work Together? • Yes……in research • Funding agencies favor joint research proposals. • But, do we work together in teaching? • Now, more than ever, there is a need for collaboration in teaching. Why?
Are any of these statements true at your place? • University budgets are constant or declining. • Staffing levels are constant or frozen or are declining. • Student enrollment is increasing! • There are increasing institutional demands on the faculty. • There are increasing demands from students for distance education courses. • Other universities have similar courses to what you teach.
One possible solution! • Work with other universities to develop on-line courses and then share them.
Collaboration in Teaching -- Shared and Jointly Taught On-line Courses in Agricultural and Extension Education
Background Information • In December of 1999 three universities decided to cooperate in the teaching of an on-line graduate course in agricultural and extension education • The Course: • Adult Education in Agriculture • The Universities • North Carolina State University • Mississippi State University • Utah State University
The Plan • 45 hours of content was identified for the course • Each university was responsible for developing 1/3 of the classes • The course was entirely web based. • The course was field-tested with 16 NCSU graduate students in the spring of 2000.
Implementation • The course is taught every spring • Students from all 3 universities sign up for the course at their own university. • AEE 523 – NC State • ASTE 6240 – Utah State • AGED 5308 – Texas Tech (replaced MSU) • One Instructor teaches the course (via the Internet), grades papers, administer exams, etc. • Students interact with each other via course chat rooms
Benefits • The course is offered every year, but you have to provide teaching staff only once every 3 years. Basically, you get a “free” teacher most years. • Your students are exposed to and interact with “outside” professors and students. • Course is better than if only one university taught it.
A Big Step • NCSU received a $99,996 grant in 2003 to cooperate with a cadre of other universities to place 5 core undergraduate agricultural education courses on the web. • AEE 206 Introduction to Ag Ed • AEE 303 Youth Program Management (FFA) • AEE 322 Experiential Learning (SAE) • AEE 424 Program Planning • AEE 426 Methods of Teaching Agriculture
The USDA Project • Collaborators were solicited over the American Association for Agricultural Education list-serve. • Collaborators were selected based on expertise, enthusiasm and geographic location. • The courses use the “open courseware” concept
The Collaborators New Hampshire Montana State Washington State Cornell Purdue West Virginia (2) Nebraska Missouri Tennessee Tech Arkansas State Texas Tech (2) TAMU -Commerce Texas A&M
Benefits • Any time ideas are shared, they are improved on…thus higher quality courses. • Smaller universities have access to courses. • Faculty time is saved. • More students are being served.
The Next Step • Share a degree program • A Cooperative Masters Degree in Agricultural Education has been established by North Carolina State University and North Carolina A&T State University
The Joint Program • 36 Semester Hours • All courses are on-line • Students declare a “home” institution • 6-12 hours must be completed at the cooperating university • Student’s committee has faculty from both universities
Collaborative on-line teaching and degree programs are the way the cookie will crumble in the future! • Lead, follow or get out of the way!! collaborate left behind