Contacts:
Richard Carter, Brenton Center, (515) 294-6950
Ed Adcock, Agriculture Information, (515) 294-2314

FROM A DISTANCE, ISU OFFERS A WORLD OF AGRICULTURE EDUCATION

AMES, Iowa -- Five years ago, Iowa State University agronomy professor Ken Moore and a group of his colleagues didn't know they'd be making history when they stood outside Moore's office talking about master's degree options.

That discussion lead to the creation of ISU's master's of agronomy program, the first distance-education effort of its kind.

"We were listening to clientele who told us they needed a different degree program that they could complete wherever they were located," said Moore.

The master's of agronomy program is one example of expanding distance education efforts in ISU's College of Agriculture. Last fall 119 courses were offered, up from 76 two years ago. Distance education in the college provides off-campus students access to degree programs, courses and instructional materials. Many take advantage of learning over the Internet.

Although the college's involvement in distance education has grown steadily for 20 years, there is enormous growth yet to come, said Richard Carter, director of the college's distance education programs. Carter predicted the college will ultimately have more students off-campus than on.

In the master's of agronomy program, course materials are delivered on the Internet and on CD-ROM. Students in the program see it as a way to advance their careers, said Moore. Many are crop consultants, and Moore said he expects the ISU program will become the "degree of currency in the industry."

Distance education has opened up new ways for universities to share courses. For three years, ISU's animal ecology department has been trading courses with the University of Minnesota. Department chair Bruce Menzel said, "At an acceptable cost, we can provide courses that our students wouldn't normally have access to."

High-tech advancements are enhancing the identification of insects in a course offered on the Web. "We're not trying to replace a lab, but maybe we can improve the experience for students off-campus," said entomologist John Obrycki.

Interactive, three-dimensional movies allow students to use their computers to inspect insects from every angle. One animation shows an insect eating, which helps to demonstrate how each mouthpart contributes to the complex activity of chewing.

"The technology gets the insect out to someone who would never get a chance to see it," said John VanDyk, program coordinator in entomology.

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