The seeds for EARTH’s innovative e-Learning by Doing Program were planted in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, during a time of great challenge for EARTH and for people all over the world. Most universities were mandated to stop in-person classes, and the academic leadership was faced with a challenge: how would the university continue to offer its hands-on, “learning by doing” curriculum in a virtual setting? At EARTH, 70% of instruction occurs in the labs and the field. How could this engaging teaching approach continue with faculty, students, and staff in separate bubbles? With determination and a lot of hard work, all classes were virtualized, and within just two weeks faculties began delivering the courses online. EARTH stayed open and students were able to continue their studies. But while the move to virtual classes was successful, the classes were lacking the “by doing” aspect that is such a vital part of the academic program. From this time of challenge came the idea of the e-Learning by Doing Program.
In 2022, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, EARTH Dean Yanine Chan, along with consultants and faculty, and with the full support and guidance of President Arturo Condo, came up with the idea of initiating a series of engaging online micromodules in agricultural topics that would be free to students, professionals, and institutions all around the world. Director of e-Learning by Doing, Christian Segura Robles, explained EARTH’s unique approach to the project creation. “We opened up the program to not only use it for our own students, but to see how others in the world could use it, to make a bigger impact. The program’s micromodules are a bridge to get more young people interested in the field of agriculture. They are seeing agriculture in a new way, understanding that it is a vocation that is using the latest technologies and innovations.”
The e-Learning by Doing Program was created to take advantage of new technologies to develop a collaborative virtual learning environment. Its accessible and immersive learning micromodules allow learners to acquire skills in topics including precision agriculture, sustainable production, agribusiness, and renewable energies. One of the assets of the program is that it can be accessed by anyone around the world. Once the materials are downloaded, no internet connection is needed. In addition to micromodules, the app EARTH Farm Labs was recently launched, providing experiential learning through virtual simulations that represent corn cultivation on a farm. With this app, users have the opportunity to explore, participate in, and make decisions that affect the production process on their farm.
Feedback from teachers, students, and users around the world has been highly positive. The online and interactive format of the e-Learning by Doing class materials appeals to the coming generation, and people of all ages and backgrounds can learn about topics they don’t normally have access to. Since the launch of the project in September of 2023, over 1,000 users from 49 countries have registered on the platform. At EARTH, the faculty uses micromodules to reinforce class lessons and help explain complex topics. The e-Learning by Doing materials are currently being utilized in several of our courses, including Genetics, Pest and Disease Control, Tropical Crops, and Calculus.
One of the most exciting uses of the program has been by EARTH graduates and current students in their home countries. Last year, EARTH’s Colombian Alumni Association (AGEARTH) utilized the program with 11th graders at a rural high school to encourage young students to pursue careers in the agro-industrial sector. Over 300 students, 54% females and 29% of afro-Columbian or indigenous heritage, used materials from the e-Learning by Doing program. AGEARTH plans to continue this initiative in rural schools in other regions of Colombia and hopes to expand to other countries in Latin America.
During his end-of-year vacation, EARTH student Yohannes Bimrew (Class of 2025) provided training on e-Learning by Doing to teachers and students at Tesfa Kokeb Primary School in his home country of Ethiopia, offering them a firsthand experience with the app and the online platform. He also took the opportunity to meet with local farmers and express the need for training and capacity-building, particularly in e-Learning and technology in agriculture. Closer to our Guácimo campus, students from Colegio Técnico Profesional Siquirres Limón – Costa Rica recently used the Farm Labs app to compete in a corn production management simulation. These types of initiatives aim to dispel the notion that agriculture is an outdated career by demonstrating the latest technological applications and future potential of the field.
It is clear from talking to the e-Learning by Doing team and by looking at the results, that this project is having an impact on high school students, university students, professionals, and non-degree learners around the world. Currently offered in English and Spanish, Dean Yanine Chan sees the second phase of the project including more language options and a wider variety of courses appropriate for students still in high school to people who already have a degree in Agriculture or prior experience in the field. Plans for Phase 2 include expanding the portfolio of classes, enhancing EARTH’s capacity to continue producing high-quality and accessible digital materials, and strengthening our ties with educational institutions, NGOs, corporations, and the Mastercard Foundation network to create a robust digital education ecosystem. The future of e-Learning by Doing is full of possibilities.
Christian Segura Robles expressed what it meant to see the program grow and expand its reach. “We have learned a lot, and we are prepared for the second phase to make more impact and go to another level with our courses while keeping our high quality. I am excited to see e-Learning by Doing reach more people, especially more young people, to offer something that will help them change their lives, develop new skills, apply for better jobs, and even create their own companies.”