UVALDE — An Internet-based tool designed to help landowners and land managers to manage their land in an environmentally-friendly manner is now available in South Central Texas and the Hill Country through Texas Cooperative Extension.
“Living in the Country: A Resource for Landowners,” is an interactive learning module about range management, water conservation and quality, land fragmentation, and natural resource conservation. Users can access the site at http://extensionlearning.tamu.edu/projects-tom/wal2/login.asp.
The target audience is landowners and land managers in Texas who want to learn about their resources and manage them in a more effective manner. In many cases these landowners or managers have an interest in wildlife, or may own horses or operate an enterprise raising meat goats.
“This is an exciting project for us,” said Extension Director Darrell Dromgoole. ” Our clientele has difficulty in scheduling time to attend our traditional meetings, but continues to request educational material at their convenience. This educational module provides another option for using our services.”
Faculty from Extension District 10, in conjunction with Texas A&M’s agriculture education department and rangeland ecology and management department, developed the project over the past year.
The course provides in-depth subject matter in a series of user-friendly interactive lessons. The first part of the module, through a self-administered quiz, helps landowners determine how much they know about agriculture and natural resources and familiarizes them with the subjects.
Users can then enter a section in the module providing interactive planning that helps them develop a land management plan or explore specific enterprises for their land.
Throughout the course, users can contact county agents with specific questions. Agents can advise the user about resources, goals and a work plan based on the landowner information gathered during the quiz, which is maintained in a database. County agents will also use this module as part of their teaching tools when they conduct educational meetings related to land management.
“This system is another educational tool, like our workshops or field days,” said Dromgoole. “It is also less formal than a classroom, reaches a broader audience and adds value to our traditional programs.”
One of the benefits of the program, he added, is that participants work at their own pace, with Extension educators helping them to interpret focused, research-based information.
Dromgoole said other interactive modules for youth development and family and consumer sciences will be added. Also, other forms of interactive learning, such as videoconferences, may be integrated into the program in the future.
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