E-learning

Time:

15th May – 3rd July 2015

Main objective:

to prepare the selected students (6 / partner university) for the intensive summer school

Platform:

Moodle, managed by prof. Peter von Fragstein (Kassel), prof. Ewa Rembiałkowska & Dr. Dominika Średnicka-Tober (Warsaw)

Learning objectives:

To get understanding of the principles of organic production with the perspective of potential peculiarities within the European frame.
To get acquainted with the place the organic systems hold in own country.

Topics of e-materials (with responsible countries):

Introduction into organic farming – Germany (Prof. Peter von Fragstein)
Crop management* (incl. veg production ) – Italy (Dr. Roberto Mancinelli & Dr. Emanuele Radicetti)
Plant protection – Estonia (Prof. Anne Luik and Assoc. Prof. Eve Veromann)
Alternative crops – Czech Republic (Assoc. Prof. Petr Konvalina & Assoc. Prof. Jan Moudry)
Food quality – Poland (Prof. Ewa Rembiałkowska & Dr. Dominika Średnicka-Tober)Q
Marketing and environmental management – Spain (Prof. Teresa Briz and Prof. Maite Gomez– Spain (Assoc. Prof. Teresa Briz & Assoc. Prof. Maite Gomez)
Environmental impact – Czech Republic (Assoc. Prof. Petr Konvalina & Assoc. Prof. Jan Moudry)
Ecosystem services – Finland (Docent Irina Herzon)

* Animal husbandry will be covered at the summer course.

Tools/methods to be used:

Online depository of resources for download:

PP presentations / video lectures
research papers

On-line quiz
On-line community/activities on-line:

An introductory round for students and teachers (short hello + photo)
Mid-way feedback round (forum)

Group work

E-course = individual and group work:

Individual work: 15th May – 3rd July 2015. Students work entirely independently and asynchronously on the topics during the whole course period. They learn by (a) reading the literature, (b) looking through the handouts and presentations and (c) going through on-line quiz.
Group work: 24^thMay – 26^th June 2015. Review of the organic sector from own country by students of the same country (= 6 students as a team). Topic: Place of the organic sector in the agriculture of our country. Issues to be covered:

(1) agricultural sector overall: production, environmental impacts, social impacts and values;

(2) organic production types, impacts, challenges, opportunities;

(3) if available, distribution chains;

(4) (potential) contribution of organic sector to addressing (some of the) problems.

Teachers advise on the sources to use (e.g. Eurostat, research papers, reports). The student groups submit drafts for feedback (1 page A4 plan with key findings) not later than on the 26^th June 2015. The student groups prepare brief presentations (15-20 minutes) to be presented at the beginning of the summer course (presentations of 15-20 min. + 10 min. question/discussion per group x 7 groups = 210 min = 3,5 hours). Detailed instructions of the group work will be placed on the platform on the 24^th of May.