304 Educational tools promoting biosecurity through discovery learning

Abstract

Abstract Education is the most important component in creating and sustaining a healthy national agriculture industry. As part of a large USDA NIFA Coordinated Agricultural Project, we created education products for youth and an online resource, the Healthy Farms Healthy Agriculture (HFHA) website, to help existing and future farmers and ranchers discover how to create and implement a biosecurity plan for their livestock farms. A national team of three subject matter experts, led by a distance education expert, created a series of six biosecurity modules designed for youth audiences between 6thand 12thgrade. Four modules cover biosecurity basics, disease transmission risks, and biosecurity strategies while the last two prepare youth to be biosecurity advocates by helping them create and deliver a persuasive presentation. We used discovery learning to engage students and improve comprehension and retention. In the process of development and deployment of the modules we employed a thorough review process with peer reviews and pilot testing of each of the modules. Peer-reviewers were asked to evaluate the modules on multiple aspects of five dimensions: content, interactivity, effectiveness, usability, and versatility. Modifications were made based on these reviews and the low-end of the target audience was increased from 3rdto 6thgrade. FFA and 4-H youth and adult leaders piloted the revised modules for various parameters including content, effectiveness, and recommendations for improvement. Feedback was used to finalize the modules which were then published on the HFHA website. A summative evaluation plan has been created. We will demonstrate all the products and share formative and summative evaluation tools and results for the biosecurity educational series. All evaluation procedures have the approval of the Institutional Review Board at Washington State University. Funding for this effort is partially supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, US Department of Agriculture, under award number 2015-69004-23273.