|
Archives
March 1-31, 2007
OPAPA launches e-Learning program for AFNR sector
by Ellaine Grace L. Nagpala
The e-Learning program of the Open Academy for Philippine Agriculture (OPAPA) envisions creating a network of institution that will provide efficient e-Learning management for the agriculture, fisheries, and natural resources (AFNR) sector.
Through this program, it is expected that the e-Learning services of the different institutions will be harmonized through a well-planned e-Learning management of those in the AFNR sectors at the same time empower the stakeholders in AFNR on the value of e-learning products and services.
As a part of the initial implementation of the e-Learning program, a “Training on the Development of e-Learning Modules for the Open Academy for Philippine Agriculture (OPAPA)” was sponsored by the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) on 19-23 March at the Benguet State University in La Trinidad, Benguet.
The training seminar was the first in a series of activities that will be implemented for the e-Learning program of OPAPA.
Mr. Jose Jose Ray Y. Alo, an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) consultant from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) served as the resource person and facilitator for the event.
E-Learning is an improved teaching and learning strategy that uses new multimedia features and the internet. It is a type of learning that is supported by the use of digital tools and content which involves transformation and redesigning of traditional courses into an online version. E-Learning could be in the mode of online learning through web-based training or in an off-line learning mode through CD-ROMS or DVD compilations.
The Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) was represented in the training seminar by Ms. Julia Lapitan, assistant head of MISD; Ms. Apolonia Mendoza, research coordinator from RCD; and Ms. Rueth Cabral, programmer from MISD.
Other participants were representatives from the Philippine Council on Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD) and from the ATI regional offices. Topics on working strategy for e-Learning, writing for e-media, functional hypertext markup language and working with a web template were discussed.
Alo emphasized that in writing or rewriting for e-learning modules, online courses must be structured in units of learning that are shorter and more modular, hence a course outline was developed during the training. He added that e-Learning was conceptualized to utilize and maximize the available resources such as the ICT/web technology and not to replace the traditional way of conducting training programs.
To enable the participants to have a hands-on experience, workshops on module rewriting and module assembly were done alternately with the discussions.
At the end of the training program, the participants were able to create fourteen web-based course modules on agriculture and fisheries technologies. The modules contained topics on water management for corn, practice of minimal tillage for corn, nursery management and establishment of Arabica coffee, durian production, yield-boosting technologies for citrus, bamboo production, banana production, integrated pest management in mango production, tilapia culture production, slaughter goat production, production and management of organic fertilizer from solid wastes and the production of fermented juice and fermented fruit juice as organic fertilizer. 
March 1-31 2007 Articles:
:: CPAR consultation in 10 poorest provinces kicks-off in Masbate
:: Sec. Yap signs AO for CPAR implementation
:: Yap encourages vegetable industry towards profit and market promotion
:: Corn RDE sets directions and priorities for the next 5 years
:: PhilRice conducts training on producing crop suitability maps
:: BAR Assistant Director Solsoloy keynotes URS graduation
:: Increasing the intellectual property rights awareness
:: IP Management Seminar establishes partnership
:: 3rd BAR Seminar Series highlights modern biotechnology
:: BAR to restructure weak framework in Philippine agri
:: On promoting exportable agricultural products
:: International funding agency consults BAR on possible tie-up
:: OPAPA launches e-Learning program for AFNR sector
:: Setting R&D directions for community of practice
:: Establishing solid innovation policy for effective R&D technology transfer
:: BAR staff members attend e-gov project management seminar
:: JICA Philippines conducts workshop on agriculture/fishery technology development and extension
|
