Open-ended Cases in Agroecology: Farming and Food Systems in the Nordic Region and the US Midwest.
Our aim is to describe open-ended case studies for learning real-life problem solving skills, and relate this approach to conventional, closed-ended decision case studies. Teaching methods are open-ended cases in agroecology, an alternative to traditional strategies that lead students through prepar...
| Publicado en: | Journal of Agricultural Education & Extension Vol. 15; no. 4; pp. 385 - 401 |
|---|---|
| Autores principales: | , , , , , , , |
| Formato: | Artículo |
| Publicado: |
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Dec2009
|
| Materias: | |
| Acceso en línea: | Ver este registro en EBSCOhost |
| fields | @attributes: recordID: 1 pdfLink: plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ssf&AN=49236373&site=ehost-live header: @attributes: shortDbName: ssf uiTerm: 49236373 longDbName: Social Sciences Full Text (H.W. Wilson) uiTag: AN controlInfo: bkinfo: jinfo: jid: 1389224X S54 jtl: Journal of Agricultural Education & Extension issn: 1389224X maglogo: Y pubinfo: dt: Dec2009 vid: 15 iid: 4 pid: 337 pub: Taylor & Francis Ltd artinfo: ui: 49236373 10.1080/13892240903309645 ppf: 385 ppct: 16 formats: tig: atl: Open-ended Cases in Agroecology: Farming and Food Systems in the Nordic Region and the US Midwest. aug: au: FRANCIS, CHARLES KING, JAMES LIEBLEIN, GEIR BRELAND, TOR ARVID SALOMONSSON, LENNART SRISKANDARAJAH, NADARAJAH PORTER, PAUL WIEDENHOEFT, MARY affil: University of Nebraska, USA Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Norway Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden University of Minnesota, USA Iowa State University, USA su: Teaching Community development Agricultural research Farm produce Experimental agriculture Organic farming sug: subj: Teaching Community development Research and development in the physical, engineering and life sciences Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology) Other local, municipal and regional public administration Administration of Urban Planning and Community and Rural Development Other Farm Product Raw Material Merchant Wholesalers Farm Product Warehousing and Storage Agricultural research Farm produce Experimental agriculture Organic farming keyword: Autonomous learning Co-learning Experiential education Practical decision case studies Autonomous learning Co-learning Experiential education Practical decision case studies ab: Our aim is to describe open-ended case studies for learning real-life problem solving skills, and relate this approach to conventional, closed-ended decision case studies. Teaching methods are open-ended cases in agroecology, an alternative to traditional strategies that lead students through prepared materials and structured discussions to determine an outcome already known to the instructor. Our method promotes a culture of curiosity. Multiple evaluation criteria show how this learning strategy provides students with practice in researching, envisioning and designing potential scenarios for clients in the field. In agroecology case studies, students and instructors are co-learners in a discovery process that includes gathering information from key clients, interviewing major stakeholders, and building an understanding of the current context of the local farming and food systems. Two agroecology courses in Norway, a field course in the US Midwest, and an experimental course in Sweden and Vietnam illustrate this learning strategy. Student evaluations of learning have been highly positive, and skills and methods from courses have been applied in their thesis projects and professional careers. Practical results reveal that students are well prepared for an uncertain, complex, multi-dimensional and dynamic future, have the capacity to develop alternative future scenarios, and have practiced methods to evaluate options based on production, economic, environmental and social criteria and impacts. This innovative strategy is offered as a complement or alternative to conventional decision case studies and evaluated as an approach to experiential learning, an important and effective method for adult learners. pubtype: Academic Journal doctype: Article src: R language: English refInfo: copyright: @attributes: flag: N holdings: @attributes: islocal: N |
|---|