Integated Pest Management in Cotton

Evaluation Report (Pilot Offering)

 

Number of Respondents 6
How did you most commonly access this course ?

Company (office) LAN = 3
Internet Cafe = 1
Home (dialup) = 1
Home (high speed) = 1
Hours you required per week to complete all lessons range = 1.5 - 12

average = 6

Minimum time per week participants should expect to spend on this course range = 5 - 20

average = 9

   
Course Content - Quality and Usefulness
 

The most vital information required in order to make improvements in this course include your assessments of the Quality of the content of the various lessons as well as the Usefulness of the information they contain.  Quality is judged based primarily on the accuracy and completeness of the information.  Usefulness is judged based on the relevance and importance of the information to you in your work. 

   
 

Quality

  

Usefulness
 Lessons
 		  
Module 1. Introductions 4 2       5 1    

Botany and history of cotton

5 1       6      

Growing cotton

 3 3       2 3 1  

Introduction to the pest groups of cotton

 3 2   1   4 1 1  
Introduction to Helicoverpa 4 1   1   5     1
Introduction to other bollworms 4 1   1   4 1   1

Introduction to the sucking pests of cotton

 2 3   1   3 2   1

Introduction to cotton weeds

2   1 2   2 1 2 1

Introduction to cotton IPM principles and practicies

 5 1       5 1    
                   
Module 2. Observing Rule 1 - Grow a Healthy Crop 4 1 1     4 1 1  

Period 1 - Post harvest and off season

 3 1 1 1   3 1 1 1
Period 2 - Pre-plant planning 3 2 1     4 1 1  
Period 3 - Planting to flowering 4 2       5 1    
Period 4 - Flowering to one open bollworm per metre 4 2       3 3    

Period 5 - One open bollworm per metre to harvest

 5     1   4 1   1
                   
Module 3. Observing Rule 2 - Farmer's Role 3 1   1   4 1   1

Characteristics of successful cotton IPM program

 4     1   4     1

IPM program examples

 3 1 1     2 2 1  
   

Are there any additional topics you feel we should add to this course?

  • I think it was realy a good atempt. I could not decide what additional topic must be added.
    But very short and brife historties of successful IPM programs in Asia Pacific Area must be brought in each module

  • insect &weeds need more detail

  • We should have more details on the fertilizer doses and the right time of their application. We should also try to fit in more information on the different types of IGR's that are currently available in the markets.

  • insect pest relation with agroecosystem

  • We may design and develop case studies/Baselines on different cotton agro-ecosystems and ask each of the participants to identify with one of these systems and then proceed to take up various assignments. The present course is heavily based on the Australian system. The active course participants are mostly from India and Pakistan. In these countries the cotton farms are small and the problems of cotton cultivation are therefore to be tackled differently. The educational level of the farmers is also low. Majority of the participants are not able to provide adequate baseline information. The ideas of the course designer are wonderful but the matching input doesnt come from the participants as has been noticed from the kind of assignments submitted by the participants. The course therefore remains less interactive and textual.

    The entire cotton IPM revolves around H. armigera. That too when there are devastating yield losses during the epidemic years. Examples of one or two previous epidemics (from diverse ecosystems)should be included in the course.

    Long term and short term aims of the IPM modules should be emphasized during orientation.

  • I have a strong feeling that when we talk about IPM, we are giving less importance to INM, IPPM, (because all threee goes hand in hand) some more emphasis should be given on this

Any specific comments or recommendations on how to improve Module 1?

  • Module 2 were too lengthy and duration for its study was very little it must be increased.

  • plant physiology an with more detail as plant aqnd its behavior and managment is more helpful for getting better c/b

  • It is absolutely fine. I dont think it needs any change or modifications.

  • Congratulations - organizers!!! - As such the module 1 was done very carefully, even people with no knowledge on Cotton could also easily follow it-

Any specific comments or recommendations on how to improve Module 2?

  • It was realy good atempt but pro & cons of each methodology was not properly mentioned

  • This module too is fine.

  • recommendations should be on the basis of the varietal status of that particular area. e.g short, medium and long stature varieties.

Any specific comments or recommendations on how to improve Module 3?

  • This module is fine too

  • Same is the case in Module 3. A lot depends on the literacy rate of the farmer, availability of the media for communication, type of the demonstration etc.

  • Case studies on cotton IPM may be include
   

Interactions - Quality and Usefulness

 

We firmly believe that it is through interactions that real learning takes place.  This course uses a number of mechanisms to encourage interactions.  Interactions between participants and the content, interactions among participants and interactions between the facilitators and the participants.  We are, therefore very interested in hearing your assessments of both the quality and usefulness of the various forms of interaction. 

   
 

Quality

  

Usefulness

Interaction Mechanism

 

  
Discussion forums 2 2 1 1   4 1 1  
Weekly discussion topics 4 1 1     4 2    
Send email function 4 2       4 2    
Assignments 5   1     5   1  
   

Facilitators

 

We believe that the key to success of any educational activity is the skill and commitment of the facilitators.  Your assessment of their qualities can provide valuable feedback on how to do the job better.  Below we have listed several important factors that define a good and effective facilitator.  Please give us your assessment of the facilitators involved in this course by clicking the circle most closely approximating your opinion.

   
 

 Qualities
 
Knowledge of subject area 5 1    
Ability to communicate clearly and effectively 5 1    
Uses personal and professional examples to stimulate discussion 4 2    
Interacts on a regular, timely basis 5   1  
Skill in keeping the class motivated 4 1 1  
Works with lurkers 3 2 1  
Responds to student questions in a timely and consistent manner 5 1    
Monitors student learning groups and encourages collaboration 4 1   1
Overall rating of the facilitators 5 1    
         
   
Additional comments regarding the course facilitators.
  • Facilitators were really very much co-operative and give us encuoragement at each and every step.
    Number of facsilitators must be increased in acadamic side or in IPM area.
  • skilled and cometted all facilitors we realy gain lot . thanks thanks
  • They were all very helpful throughout the entire duration. Hats off to their patience for going through assignments that at times were similar to dissertations (mine included) and then coming back with comments that prodded us to think ahead. All of them were really good.
  • I appreciate their efforts and skill.
  • John Wightman has done a wonderful job in devising one of the most imaginative IPM course. A serious student can learn a lot from his thoughts. He has kept ample provisions for improvements at every step. The basic framework is unique and excellent.

    Dr Kennedy has done is job well. He has been very critical in his comments where warranted and encouraging too. We expect more discussions on biocontrol agents and direct inclusion of topics on them in future.
    Dr Rab has been quite alert to the happenings in the course.
    A truly useful course; I am grateful to all the facilitators, and to Pipot Abdon who has steered the couse very well.

  • should try to encourage every individual queries. because most of the queires in the discussion boards are not responded.
   
Course Functionality
   
 

 

Features
 
Ease of use for submitting assignments 5 1    
Ease of use for posting messages to discussion boards 5     1
Ease of use for sending emails 4 2    
Ease of navigation 3 3    
Ability to facilitate group work 4 1   1
Appearance (user interface) 4 1 1  
Compatibility with your computer and networking setup 3 1 2  
Reliability (i.e. bug free) 5     1
         
   

General

In addition to content and facilitation there are several other factors that contribute to the overall quality of an online course.  Below we have listed some of the most important. 

   
 

 
Additional factors
 
Course structure 4 1 1  
Ease of access under your circumstances 4   1 1
Duration of the course 3 2 1  
Time required to complete all exercises 2 3 1  
Difficulty of exercises 1 1 3  
Reading level of lessons 4 1 1  
Amount of fun 2 1 2  
Overall rating of the course 5 1    
   
Do you feel that there is a need and/or demand for training on Integrated Pest Management in Cotton among your colleagues? YES = 6     NO = 0
Do you think online learning is an appropriate way to provide Cotton IPM training for your colleagues? YES = 6     NO = 0
Would you be interested in participating in another online APRTC course? YES = 6     NO = 0
Do you think US$225 is a reasonable amount to charge for this course? YES = 4     NO = 2
 
What do you like best in this course?
  • - Use of easy and understandable text language
    - cooperative facsilitators
    - Assignments
    - Quick feed back of facsilitators after submission of assignment
  • facilitators helping atitude positive feedback motivation
  • The course material and the fact that the participants were from different zones which exposed us to the prevailing conditions in other countries.
  • I think it was a well organize course. It can be improved by making it more applied keeping in view the situation of the area of the enrolled students.
  • The logical steps in which the course has been devised. It takes care of all the possibilities and would stand the test of time and all kinds of situations.
  • lessons from Introduction till end are really excellent
    some of the discussions are thought provoking
    response from the course coordinators are more encouraging
    weelky topic on discussion board is quite interesting

What do you like least in this course?

  • I feel it too much that certain friends did not respond to their class mates. Like my country fellows did not coordinate with mine.
  • The length of some of the references cited in the course.
  • Discussion board was not well organized.
  • The timing.
    We can not give proper justice to the course when the cotton season is on. The course should be so timed that the cotton season in the participants country (mostly Indians and Pakistan nationals) doesnt clash
  • nothing as such. except for our proxy server- change (bugging)

Please give us any specific comments or recommendations on how this course could be improved?

  • - Much co-ordination between class fellows must be emphisized
    - Vidio conferancing must be added which should be held on each Sunday or at least one time during course.
    - Voice chating or chating Icon must be added on the screen of Training
  • plant managment( physiology with relation to insect and inputs
  • I noticed that references are a bit tedious at times to read completely and at times you lose track of what you are exactly trying to learn. I would suggest that the same is given at the end of the course in an edited form giving details of only the points relevant to the concerned module or lesson.
  • 1. Make it more applied.
    2. Organize the discussion board
    3. Give short assignments
    4. Add topic on the cotton fiber qualities and how one can improve the storage and picking of the cotton.
  • We should continue to generate information through participants from different batches and improve the course at the end of a year/two years. At the end of a specific time the participants and the facilitators can come together and interact right in the field situations.