National Seed Science Distance Education Program
There is a growing need for seed science education because of the expanding technologies associated with the seed industry. Over the years, there has been a trend to place low priority on offering adequate coursework to students interested in seed science and technology. The National Seed Science Distance Education proposal is developed at Colorado State University with cooperative institutions that include: Iowa State University, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University , University of Kentucky , National Center for Genetic Resources Preservation, Alabama A&M, and other universities that will participate in the future. This three year project will develop six new one credit modular courses to be offered through web-based learning. A national seed science distance education steering committee has been established through the Cooperative Regional Research Project W-168 to receive and evaluate course proposals as well as coordinate discussion relevant to a national seed science curriculum. The objectives of this proposal are to:
1) increase the efficiency and effectiveness of delivering seed science courses to students, 2) assist in educating students for careers in the seed industry, 3) develop a National Seed Science Distance Education program in seed science, 4) provide courses for Seed Science professionals to continue their education and to meet their professional society's education requirements and 5) share knowledge, resources, and information about seed science to our national claimants.
The effectiveness of delivering these courses through web-based learning will be assessed by surveying students enrolled in the courses and obtaining feedback from universities and industry professionals.
