Benefits and challenges of online instruction in agriculture and natural resource education. Issue 8 (4th July 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Joshi, Omkar; Chapagain, Binod; Kharel, Gehendra; Poudyal, Neelam C.; Murray, Bryan D.; Mehmood, Sayeed R.
• Is Part Of: Interactive learning environments. Volume 30:Issue 8(2022)
• Page Start: 1402
• Page End: 1413
• Publication Date: 2022-07-04
• Subjects: SWOT-AHP -- learning perceptions -- online learning -- agriculture and natural resource; Educational technology -- United States -- Periodicals; 371.33
• DOI: 10.1080/10494820.2020.1725896
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1049-4820

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Many land-grant institutions with agriculture and natural resource programs in the United States offer online courses to meet student demand. The goal of this study was to understand how major educational stakeholders, including instructors and students, perceive the benefits and limitations of online teaching and learning in agriculture and natural resource sciences. This study utilized a mixed mode data collection method, which involved informal meetings as well as online survey administration. The data were analyzed through strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT)-Analytic Hierarchical Process (AHP) framework. The study results offer novel perspectives on the perceived utility and challenges of several attributes of online learning including work-home balance, lack of social interactions, virtual classroom opportunities for working professionals, and academic integrity and cyber scam issues among others. Our findings may be beneficial to academic administrators, instructors, and institutions in identifying opportunities, challenges, and adopting programmatic strategies to improve effectiveness of online learning.