Digital Literacy for Agricultural Professionals

Evaluation Report

 

Number of Respondents 13
How did you most commonly access this course ? Company (office) LAN = 5
Internet Cafe = 6
Home (high speed) = 1
Home (dialup) = 1
Hours you required per week to complete all lessons range = 3-21

average = 6.77

Minimum time per week participants should expect to spend on this course range = 2-18

average = 5.62

   
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. Welcome to Digital Literacy for Agricultural Professionals 9 4       9 3 1  

Email

 8 5       7 5 1  

Email Management

 11 2       9 3 1  

Using the course discussion board

 6 6 1     4 4 4 1
                   
Module 2. Introduction to Online Learning 7 6       8 2 3  

How do online courses work?

8 4 1     6 7    

Tips for online learning success

6 7       7 3 2 1
                   
Module 3. Searching for Information 9 3 1     10 3    

Listserv

 7 2 2 2   6 4 2 1
Search tools 9 3       8 3   1
                   
Module 4. Internet Tips and Tricks 10 3       8 5    

Virus protection

 4 8 1     7 3 3  

Dealing with PDF

 9 2 1 1   7 3 1 2

Using the windows clipboard

 5 6 2     3 6 3 1

 

                  
Module 5. Course Project 8 4 1     8 3 1  
   

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

  • The present course content is sufficient to change, if at all necessary.

  • maybe using scanners and uploading pictures to course site so that pictures so that there are faces to the name
  • If possible then there should be some exercises on using the MS excel
  • Some information about adobe photoshop should be included
  • no
  • There should be some exercises on Excel and Power point as we require it for data analysis and seminar presentations, respectively.

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

  • The course discussion board appeared very busy in the initial stages of the course. Later on only some of the postings could be seen and replied.Ofcourse, the short term course is fast and everyone move to the next module to complete the course.My personal opinion is that the frequency of contact with other participants getting reduced in advancement of course. I think, this could be improved further.

  • very good- Maybe add a thought of the week to encourage more discussion about online learning topics on the discussion board
  • its sufficient
  • no
  • Emai managemen tpart has to improve just
  • In the very begining i think this much is sufficient.

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

  • This is more satisfactory for this course.

  • very good- no suggestions
  • its sufficient
  • no
  • Tips of online learning is useful need ful to newcomers in this field. more tips more useful
  • Its good and sufficient

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

  • This is useful in searching some literatures for research or for presentation.This has given oppurtunity to get friends of like minded.

  • excellent information and very useful- no suggestions
  • If possible more information about the search engines should be given.
  • no
  • search tool gives good idea and good time management
  • Some information about the active listservres is required as most of the listserve sites were not responding
Any specific comments or recommendations on how to improve Module 4?
  • Regarding PDF, some of the software packages useful in making PDF file could be delt for usage so that,the files we make for our articles, research papers could be transmitted to other labs in a effective way.
  • no suggestions
  • Some exercises on excel should be added
  • no
  • Dealing with pdf file should be improved .
  • for me this was the most useful module, so its good and sufficient.
Any specific comments or recommendations on how to improve Module 5?
  • I personally feel there should be some improvement in this area.Most of the posted projects are unaligned,, mere copied and pasted from sources without edition and lacks continuity when read.
  • more encouragement to work in groups. maybe assign partners to work together to create a paper online
  • its sufficient
  • no
  • It will be more beneficial and exciting if the project title is assigned by the facilitators.
   

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 boards 6 5 2     6 5 2  
Group discussion board(to those who work in group) 6 3 2 1   8 2 1 1
Group email(to those who work in group) 6 4 1     6 2 3  
Send email function 8 3   1   9 2 1  
Chat 2 3 3 1   2 3 3  
Exercises 10 2       10   2  
Project (individual or group) 9 3       9 2 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 12 1    
Ability to communicate clearly and effectively 9 3 1  
Uses personal and professional examples to stimulate discussion 7 6    
Interacts on a regular, timely basis 8 3 2  
Skill in keeping the class motivated 7 3 2  
Works with lurkers 6 5 2  
Responds to student questions in a timely and consistent manner 9 3 1  
Monitors student learning groups and encourages collaboration 7 5    
Overall rating of the facilitators 9 4    
         
   
Additional comments regarding the course facilitators.
  • I am most satisfied with the facilitators job.The immediate response to our questions gives as pleasure. The way they provide us reply is more friendly and also supported with additional information deserves appreciation.
  • All the facilitators were excellent especiaaly Alex and Dr.Anshuman Kohli
  • I like to thank for the constant advise and encouragement by Dr. Kohli and especially for the information given by Alex.
   
Course Functionality
   
 

 

Features
 
Ease of use for submitting assignments 8 5    
Ease of use for posting messages to discussion boards 9 2 1 1
Ease of use for sending emails 9 2 1 1
Ease of navigation 5 7 1  
Ability to facilitate group work 3 6 2 2
Appearance (user interface) 5 6 2  
Compatibility with your computer and networking setup 5 4 3 1
Reliability (i.e. bug free) 6 6 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 7 5 1  
Ease of access under your circumstances 6 5 1 1
Duration of the course 7 4 2  
Time required to complete all exercises 6 3 4  
Difficulty of exercises 2 6 5  
Reading level of lessons 6 4 2  
Amount of fun 3 6 3 1
Overall rating of the course 8 5    
   
Do you feel that there is a need and/or demand for training on Digital Literacy among your colleagues? YES = 13   NO = 0
Do you think online learning is an appropriate way to provide Digital Literacy for your colleagues? YES = 13   NO = 0
Would you be interested in participating in another online APRTC course? YES = 13   NO = 0
Do you think US$225 is a reasonable amount to charge for this course? YES = 9   NO = 3
 
What do you like best in this course?
  • Technical terms regularly supplemented by our facilitators for the course.It is more useful.
  • This course helped sharpen my internet skills
  • i enjoyed every thing from module 1 to 5.
  • The email management.
  • i like more giving daily tips by the course facilitator. i prit all those matter and made it like a book .it will be very much useful to all
  • I like the module 4 and 5. I also like the listserve which enabled me to interact with the people having similar interests.

What do you like least in this course?

  • Not faced so far. It's simply fun and learn situation in this course.
  • While I enjoyed the daily emails from the course facilitators, I often felt that I was spending too much time cutting and pasting them to a word doc so that I could save them for later. Maybe send one email of the tech tips on an attachment so that they could be read and filed away. They were extremely useful, but maybe there is a better of sending the information out.
  • Searching the answer of question because we are depending on a other fellow for question who was very lazy to ask the question which lead to an unnecessary delay in my course work. I feel the question should be asked by the facilitators
  • Listserve
  • interaction should be improved among the students
  • searching the question

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

  • If possible, number of participants can be improved with diversified groups from various countries to have better discussion.Otherwise, the course is excellent for this short time.
  • its fine
  • Add some recent software's information
  • imrove interaction
  • Include some exercises on Excel and powerpoint.