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FROM THE FIELD TO THE CLASSROOM: EXTENSION AGENTS PROVIING UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION

Teaching & Educational Technologies

Stephen Komar
Agricultural Agent
newton

Abstract

A team of County Agricultural Agents and Extension Specialists developed an undergraduate course for Agricultural and Natural Resources students enrolled at Rutgers University. The course, 11:015:315 Direct Farm Marketing and Agritourism was offered to undergraduate students enrolled during the fall, 2013 semester and was designed to prepare students to manage an agritourism or direct marketing operation. Participating students (n=17) were surveyed following completion of the 15 week course to assess the effectiveness of the curriculum. The student’s assessments were overwhelmingly positive with an overall rating for the course of 4.7 (1= Poor, 5= excellent). Teaching effectiveness of the instructors was highly rated (4.9) with the students agreeing that they learned a great deal during the course (4.6). The information presented was rated favorably with the majority of the students reporting the course as generating interest in the topics covered (4.8) and the format effectively encouraged students to learn the material (4.8). When asked for general comments, the students overwhelmingly reported that they enjoyed the realistic nature of the scenarios presented during the course and enjoyed meeting with actual agritourism operators to discuss the “real world” issues facing producers. Due in part to the positive feedback from the students, this course is now a required course for agricultural majors. The success of this program demonstrates the important contribution that off-campus faculty such as County Agricultural Agents can make to the success of undergraduate education. Authors: William Bamka, William Hlubik, Komar Jr., S. J., Brian Schilling, Michelle Infante-Casella, Jack Rabin
  1. William Bamka Agricultural Agent, Rutgers University, New Jersey, 08060
  2. William Hlubik Agricultural Agent, Rutgers University, New Jersey, 08902
  3. Komar Jr., S. J. Agricultural Agent, Rutgers University, Pennsylvania, 18337
  4. Brian Schilling Assistant Extension Specialist, Agricultural Policy, Rutgers University, New Jersey, 08901
  5. Michelle Infante-Casella Agricultural Agent, Rutgers University, New Jersey, 08312
  6. Jack Rabin Agricultural Agent, Rutgers University, New Jersey, 08901