Poultry production online

Where broilers and layers encounter virtual pedagogy

Abstract

Programs traditionally offered through distance and/or residential models of delivery are being challenged by the value and accessibility of online learning. For the Australian Poultry CRC, the opportunity to both upgrade its foundational units and shift the delivery mode to enhance unit accessibility resulted in funding being allocated for conversion of those units to online delivery. This paper provides the background to the project, the rationale for the development paradigm, the delivery model that emerged through interactions between content and educational specialists and the outcomes of an evaluation conducted over Semester 2, 2008. The project reinforced the value of applying established online learning frameworks to the transformation of educational resources, the importance of subject matter experts collaborating with educational design specialists and the potential for specialist models such as Three-Phase Design (3PD) to facilitate emergent learning opportunities. The project also addressed three key challenges –conversion of face-to-face practical exercises to the online context, changing from a content-rich to an activity- intensive environment and building a functional online course within a short time-frame.