Ag-Telecom Annual Report: USDA/98-EA
Certified Pesticide Applicator Training
Principal Investigators:
Dean Herzfeld, University of Minnesota
Larry Coyle, University of Minnesota
Carol Ramsay, Washington State University
Paul Baker, Arizona State University:
Mike Weaver, Virginia Tech
objectives:
Introduction:
The major goal of the grant proposal was to design and produce a module of a national system for technology-enhanced pesticide training and education that could be replicated in other national certification programs. The team, consisting of three subject-matter experts from Arizona, Virginia, and Washington and a production team centered in Minnesota, developed three demonstration training modules. These three modules, Drift, Equipment, and Protecting Groundwater, provide a template for how "anytime, anywhere" training for certification programs can be developed by a distributed team.
The three modules underwent a process of peer review, where the subject-matter experts gave access to colleagues and presented the site at conferences to get feedback as the modules were being developed. In addition, the production team conducted a usability test of the site to gain additional information. The resulting feedback was incorporated into the final design of the site. The vast majority of the feedback was extremely positive both on the visual design and types of interactive exercises provided.
In addition to the three modules, the production team created a Web-based multimedia development tutorial and resource site. The New Media Mentor site (http://www.extension.umn.edu/projects/mentor/) is designed not only to illustrate the overall workflow for a multimedia project but also to give users real-life examples of projects and documents.
Lessons Learned:
* Working with both subject-matter experts and production team members who are scattered across the country requires a communication system to insure the smooth advancement of the project. For this project, we developed a Web-based system where work from animators, illustrators, and graphics artists could be posted for approval and important production and design notes could be kept readily accessible to all team members.
* Some face-to-face meetings are necessary for a project of this scope. We found that an initial face-to-face kick-off meeting, with the entire team, complemented by a single 3-4 day, face-to-face, individual session with the subject-matter experts at a later time, worked well.
* The heavy work and travel schedules of the subject-matter experts made collaborative work challenging. Subject-matter experts need adequate release time from their regular duties in order to be productive members of the team.
timetable:
No slippage
Certified Pesticide Applicator Training (CPAT):
This site contains the three demonstration modules developed for the project. The site is password protected. The site can be accessed by using the following username and password:
[Actual username and password have been removed for security purposes]
New Media Mentor
http://www.extension.umn.edu/projects/mentor/
This site contains documentation related specifically to the CPAT project, such as the project charter, projected costs, and examples of the communication Web site.
Documents on New Media Mentor Site for CPAT project:
* CPAT: Design for the Tracking System
Guidelines and requirements for the design of the tracking system for the Certified Pesticide Applicator Training project.
* CPAT: Distributed Production Team Checklist
This is a sample checklist created for communication between the graphic artists, illustrators, and flash animators and the content experts.
* CPAT: Possible Delivery Scenarios
This HTML file was developed to propose three different delivery scenarios to State Lead Agencies across the U.S.
* CPAT: Project Objectives and Deliverables
A list of the objectives and deliverables for Phase I of the Certified Pesticide Applicator Training Project.
* CPAT: Usability Test Document - Demographics
This form was used to collected demographic information during the first usability test of the Certified Pesticide Applicator Web site.
* CPAT: Usability Test Document - Lesson Form
This document was used during the first usability test of the Certified Pesticide Applicator Training Web site.
* CPAT: Agenda for 3-Day Workshop w/ Content Expert
This is a sample agenda used for a face-to-face 3-day workshop with one of the content experts.
* CPAT: Cost Estimate for National Pest. Training
An Excel(TM) spreadsheet containing the cost estimate for a national pesticide training program with a three-year phase-in.
* CPAT: e-Learning Tracking Software Alternatives
A description of e-Learning tracking software possibilities for the Certified Pesticide Applicator Training project.
* CPAT: Kick-off Meeting Agenda
The agenda for the kick-off meeting for the project.
* CPAT: Project Charter
The Certified Pesticide Applicator Training project charter for Phase I.
outcomes:
No cost overruns or unexpected high unit costs
Grant Fund Expenditures:
Academic Salaries $28,333
Academic Benefits $3,808
Professional Services $26,533
Printing $5
Software $826
Travel $1,343
Subcontract - VPI $5,800
Subcontract - Wash. St. $5,762
Subcontract - Arizona $5,793
Indirect costs $21,297
Total $99,500
Grant Match Expenditures:
Effort certification $38,584
Sub-recipient match $24,450
Other direct costs $36,466
Total match $99,500