community outreach

Our faculty and students are involved in a number of research and outreach projects in Canada and around the world. These are some selected projects and areas of research.

Canadian Research Projects

• The Challenges of a Changing Environment: A Study of the Educational Needs of Leaders in Rural Volunteer Organizations
• Improvisation, Collaboration and Communities in Dialogue
• Communities as Learning System
• Negotiating Rural Futures: A Study of the Relationship Between Rural Communities and Boards of Education During Periods of School Consolidation
• Farming Systems Research
• Partnership, Accessibility, Connectivity, Transformation Strategies (PACTS)
• Farming Systems Research: Social Indicators

Communication Technology

Members of the department have played a key role in research and development of computer mediated communication (CMC), and computer assisted learning. The use of the Internet, World Wide Web and its implications for distance education in rural areas, nationally and internationally is a growing component of the program.

Video is a group and community process tool, and the department has its own recording and editing equipment to facilitate teaching and learning at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The communication technology stream is noted for its cooperative development and research activities around the world.

• Electronic Extension Platforms
• Don Snowden Program for Development Communication
• Internet Use in Rural Areas
• Gender and ICTs for Development

International Research/Development Projects

Capacity Development and Extension has amassed considerable research, teaching and project management experience in other countries including Russia, Bolivia, Brazil, India, Egypt, Ghana, Uganda, Senegal and Cameroon. Projects in these countries have looked at rural quality of life, agricultural extension practices, communication technology (including Internet connectivity) and distance education programs. Students may have the opportunity to become involved in future projects.

• Distance Learning Project in Seed Technology in India
• Diploma in Tropical Agriculture Through Distance Education/Independent Study in Cameroon
• Distance Learning Project for Agriculture and Rural Development in Egypt
• Farm Management/Distance Learning Project in Russia
• Resource Mobilization for Rural Radio in Africa
• Gender and Agriculture in the Information Society