Integated Pest Management in Cotton

Evaluation Report

 

Number of Respondents 12
How did you most commonly access this course ?

Company (office) LAN = 2
Internet Cafe = 4
Home (dialup) = 4
Home (high speed) = 1
Hours you required per week to complete all lessons range = 1- 12

average = 6.25

Minimum time per week participants should expect to spend on this course range = 2-14

average = 5.42

   
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 8   4 7 1

Botany and history of cotton

4 6 2   3 6 1 2

Growing cotton

 4 7 1   2 9 1

Introduction to the pest groups of cotton

 6 5 1   7 4 1
Introduction to Helicoverpa 8 4   6 6
Introduction to other bollworms 5 6 1   5 5 2

Introduction to the sucking pests of cotton

 3 7 2   3 6 2 1
Introduction to cotton weeds 4 5 1 2   3 4 4 1

Introduction to cotton diseases

2 6 2 2   2 4 5 1

Introduction to cotton IPM principles and practicies

 8 4   9 3
                   
Module 2. Observing Rule 1 - Grow a Healthy Crop 6 6     1 11

Period 1 - Post harvest and off season

 6 6     3 9
Period 2 - Pre-plant planning 6 5 1     5 5 1 1
Period 3 - Planting to flowering 7 5     5 7
Period 4 - Flowering to one open bollworm per metre 6 6     6 4 2

Period 5 - One open bollworm per metre to harvest

 6 5 1     5 5 2
     
Module 3. Observing Rule 2 - Farmer's Role 5 6 1     5 4 3

Characteristics of successful cotton IPM program

 2 10     2 9 1

IPM program examples

 4 8     4 6 2
   

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

  • Spray Application Techniques

  • Raring of various beneficials. More details about Trap crops.Role of application of pesticides in resistance management.
  • yes good spraying tecniques as a topic is missing
  • weeds controling,suking insects damage sumptoms and thier beneficials and yield assesment topics should be included.
  • nematology area was totally omitted so some informations should be given about nematodes and their management. more relavent informations about role of weed hosts in cotton pest management.
  • in thsi course more empahsis was given to the insect pest management only but the ipm includes all cther management tactis also. so the module should include all the practices to manage the diseases and weeds in the cotton crop.it also very good to introduce the use of biocontrol agents. here mostly importance given to traps and trpcrops
  • I felt very much delighted having a very nice schedule with all topics with necessary material
  • Farmers participatory approach towards the new technology and crop modelling against a pest may be included.
  • Tritophic interactions, resistance management, insecticide action and metabolism.

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

  • NA

  • it's ok.no need to improve it further.
  • this module was prepared in nice manner and it's more impressive to the new beginners. but some areas needs some improvement like major weeds of cotton and important nematodes causing major problem.
  • no
  • It seemed that The growing of cotton and pests which attack the crop were more concentrating on local conditions.
  • This stage i think no suggestion is required.
  • Cotton classification (species wise), current status of cotton cultivation,

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

  • NA

  • all the matteril is o.k.
  • by overall this module gives very good informations about the pest management practices at different crop stages. nowdays there is growing concerns about insect resistance management. so more information about resistance may be added
  • The seed treatment methods and specifically using the antagonistic organisms to mange disease should be introduced.the use of botanicals at the early stage of pests also given due importance at this stage.
  • the Module 2 was very nice and useful
  • No comments all are well.
  • Cotton quality, effect of weather factors on cotton quality. Status of Bt cotton.

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

  • NA

  • Project designs for imroving the adaption process of IPM
  • O.k no need to improve it.
  • it's looking good and gives more ideas about how to motivate the farmers at grass root level to adopt the ipm techniques.
  • The post harvest methods also given importance.
  • The idea of extension put together during this module really was a nice sugesstion. I appreciate the hardships taken by APRTC in imparting things for the benefit of the farmers.
  • I think no specific comments in this module
  • Success stories on IPM, indigenous technical knowledge in cotton.
   

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 7 4 1 4 6 1 1
Send email function 10 2 8 4
Assignments 8 3 1 7 3 2
   

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 9 3    
Ability to communicate clearly and effectively 8 4    
Uses personal and professional examples to stimulate discussion 6 6    
Interacts on a regular, timely basis 7 5    
Skill in keeping the class motivated 8 4    
Works with lurkers 3 7 2  
Responds to student questions in a timely and consistent manner 8 4    
Monitors student learning groups and encourages collaboration 8 4    
Overall rating of the facilitators 8 4    
         
   
Additional comments regarding the course facilitators.
  • Very friendly facilitators
  • They had made the course highly interactive and had been motivating the traninees as and when required.
  • Extra oridinary co-operation.
  • All the facilitators have command on thier subject and I must appreciate that they know the skills like motivation and encouragement of the participants.
  • they are doing their role in great manner. they had done a good job in organising. collaborating and motivating us for successfully attending this course with lot of encouragement, involvement.
  • They are very much motivated during the course time.The disscusion forums are very good to know the new ideas.
  • The facilitators were dealing very nicely with the participants and they have maintained a constant pace throughout the course, which really should be the cause for this course.
  • My sincere thanks to all the facilitators for their nice and cordial dealing the course concepts during our programme of work.
  • Messages/subject matter disscussed in the discussion boards should be short carrying pertinent points. Too long a discussion in the boards consumes more time and also poses difficulties in concentrating.
   
Course Functionality
   
 

 
Features
 
Ease of use for submitting assignments 9 3    
Ease of use for posting messages to discussion boards 10 2    
Ease of use for sending emails 10 2    
Ease of navigation 5 6 1  
Appearance (user interface) 5 6 1  
Compatibility with your computer and networking setup 7 5    
Reliability (i.e. bug free) 11 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 3 7 2  
Ease of access under your circumstances 6 4 2  
Duration of the course 3 5 3 1
Time required to complete all exercises 1 7 4  
Difficulty of exercises 3 4 3 2
Reading level of lessons 5 4 3  
Amount of fun 3 4 3 2
Overall rating of the course 6 6    
   
Do you feel that there is a need and/or demand for training on Integrated Pest Management in Cotton among your colleagues? YES = 11     NO = 1
Do you think online learning is an appropriate way to provide Cotton IPM training for your colleagues? YES = 12     NO = 0
Would you be interested in participating in another online APRTC course? YES = 12     NO = 0
Do you think US$225 is a reasonable amount to charge for this course? YES = 6     NO = 6
 
What do you like best in this course?
  • Course information provision, encouragement and critical analysis by the facilitators
  • Discusion Board
  • User friendly
  • it provide me way that how to design a complete IPM program
  • information on pests & biological control of insects pests.
  • IPM practices other than chemical control method.
  • the way of organising the course structure is most impressive. discussions boards are most useful in knowing different practices followed in various parts of the world.
  • The new method of learning and intraction with the people of other country which is not possible with the ordinary curriculum.
  • The interaction in discussion forum
  • The way in which the course was handled was really interesting. Also, this was my first online course and hence the experience was very informative and interesting.The discussion boords were really helpful as it allowed to gain some insight knowledge on the practices of farmers and scientists acroos the barriers.The facilities such as sending mails, submitting asignments, etc were really breathtaking.
  • I really appriciate the organisation and the board members for giving this type of online courses will definetly helpful to research scholar. The way in which your assigment style is realy attracted me me
  • Submission of assignments and course discussion boards

What do you like least in this course?

  • none
  • signing in
  • nothing
  • all things are alright
  • BIRD PURCHES
  • chemical control options.
  • the period of time should be extended to one more week for engaging ourselves in preparing the assignment and participating in the discussion board with lot more involvement.
  • no
  • The confined way to email
  • The assignment section had a little flaw. It allowed a lot of time for the participants to make out their assignments initially, but for assignments 5,6 and 7, as they were supposed to be submitted at the same time, caused a little disturbance.But for that, the course was really nice.
  • I don't feel any least in this course. It is all o.k
  • Too long a discussion sometimes from the facilitators

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

  • none
  • Over All the course was good. In my oppinion time was a bit short. Due to which things may have done in a rush. A little knowledge of Pest monitoring such as Pest souting and spraying technique might add informative portion to this course
  • Based on the assignments submitted by the participants of this course a country specific complete IPM module should be recommended by the facilitators which should be ready for implementation in that particular country.
  • Include more biological control agents.
  • in this course more topics should be included like suking insects,cotton phenology and assesment of fertilizer need,irrigation requirement and yield assesment tecniques other than laboratory tests.
  • thank u for offering me this golden opportunity. i have mentioned some comments in above.
  • The impotance should given to all the pest management practices.
  • There should be collaboration in exercise or assignments
  • The work of the APRTC is uncommendable.However, I can figure out a few suggestions.1. The allocation of time should be a little bit more for the assignments, while a little time is enough for the introductory courses.
  • I think the course time may be extended.
  • Interactions among the particpants and fun aspects need improvement