Rendez l’information agricole accessible à tous: apprenez les principes élémentaires de l’utilisation des référentiels numériques ouverts

Faciliter l’accès ouvert à l’information scientifique et technique du domaine public est fondamental pour la recherche et l’innovation agricole. Les référentiels et les bibliothèques numériques ouverts offrent aux organisations et aux particuliers des possibilités sans précédent de saisir et de partager les produits de la recherche agricole sous une forme structurée, de promouvoir la transparence et d’améliorer la communication entre les chercheurs et autres groupes intéressés.

Le dernier module d’apprentissage électronique du Kit de ressources pour la gestion de l'information (IMARK) est intitulé : Bibliothèques, archives et documents numériques. Il expose les principes qui permettent de créer et de gérer des bibliothèques et référentiels numériques. Il explique tous les processus utiles à la planification et à la gestion des ressources, et présente les dernières technologies et tendances en matière de gestion et de préservation de données numériques. Les questions pertinentes concernant le cadre juridique du copyright et des droits d’auteurs sont également présentées.

Le module est disponible gratuitement en ligne et sur cédérom. Il est pour le moment disponible uniquement en anglais. La version espagnole sera publiée en juin 2011 et la version française à une date ultérieure. Pour plus d’informations, veuillez consulter le site web d’IMARK: www.imarkgroup.org

Ce module a été développé par la FAO, avec le soutien du Département du développement international du Royaume-Uni (DFID) et de International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications (INASP), dans le cadre de l’initiative "Cohérence de l’information sur la recherche agricole pour le développement" (CIARD) (www.ciard.net), qui est un partenariat mondial unique à l’appui de la communication de la recherche dans l’agriculture.

Haga que la información sobre la agricultura sea accesible ampliamente: aprenda lo esencial para establecer repositorios digitales abiertos

Para contribuir a la investigación y la innovación en la agricultura es fundamental facilitar el acceso abierto a la información técnica y científica de dominio público. La creación de repositorios digitales con documentos a texto completo, ofrece posibilidades sin precedentes para que las organizaciones y los individuos puedan capturar y compartir de manera estructurada los resultados de sus investigaciones en la agricultura. Lo anterior aumenta la transparencia y propicia la comunicación entre los investigadores y demás grupos interesados.

El nuevo módulo de e-learning (aprendizaje electrónico) denominado Bibliotecas, repositorios y documentos digitales, brinda los elementos esenciales para aprender a crear repositorios y bibliotecas digitales. Dicho módulo forma parte del Repertorio de Recursos para la Gestión de la Información (IMARK, por sus siglas en inglés), el cual abarca todos los procesos relevantes para la planificación y asignación de recursos, considerando a la vez lo más reciente en tecnologías y tendencias para la gestión de los datos digitales y su conservación. Cubre además los aspectos más relevantes relacionados con el marco jurídico del derecho de autor y sobre la propiedad intelectual.

El módulo se ofrece en línea y en CD-ROM de forma gratuita y actualmente está disponible en idioma inglés. A partir de junio 2011, también se ofrecerá en español. Para obtener más información, visite el sitio web del IMARK: www.imarkgroup.org

Este módulo fue desarrollado por la Organización de las Naciones Unidas para la Agricultura y la Alimentación (FAO), con el apoyo del Departamento Británico para el Desarrollo Internacional (DFID), la Red Internacional para la Disponibilidad de Publicaciones Científicas (INASP), en el contexto de mejorar "la coherencia en la información para la investigación agraria para el desarrollo" (CIARD) (www.ciard.net), una asociación mundial única que apoya la comunicación de la ciencia y investigación en la agricultura.

Make your agricultural information widely accessible: learn the essentials of open digital repositories

Facilitating open access to public domain scientific and technical information is fundamental for agricultural research and innovation. Open digital repositories and libraries offer unprecedented possibilities for organizations and individuals to capture and share agricultural research outputs in a structured way, to foster transparency and improve communication between researchers and other stakeholder groups.

The newest Information Management Resource Kit (IMARK) e-learning module entitled Digital Libraries, Repositories and Documents, offers learners the essentials for creating and managing their own digital libraries and repositories. It covers all the relevant processes for planning and resourcing, and considers the latest technologies and trends for digital data management and preservation. Relevant issues concerning the legal framework for copyright and intellectual property rights are also covered.

The module is offered online and on CD-ROM free of charge, and is currently available in English only. The Spanish version will be published in June 2011 and the French at a later date. For more information please visit the IMARK website: www.imarkgroup.org This module was developed by FAO, with support from the UK Department for International Development (DFID) and the International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications (INASP), in the context of better "Coherence in Information for Agricultural Research for Development" (CIARD) (www.ciard.net), which is a unique global partnership in support of research communication in agriculture.

Addressing animal health knowledge gaps in Southern countries

Livestock are a key asset for the global poor. However, access to relevant information is a critical issue for both livestock development practitioners and the poor themselves. This paper (in the Electronic Journal of Information Systems in Developing Countries) details the creation of an on-line Animal Health Resource Room.

The Animal Health Resource Room was created to deliver learning media i.e. videos and pamphlets to practitioners working with poor communities in Bolivia and India. Prior to developing the resource room, a study was undertaken to explore the priority animal health constraints identified by poor farmers in India and Bolivia.

Virtual communities of practice and agricultural extension

In a series of articles in the Journal of Extension, Patricia Sobrero reviews literature and experiences concerning virtual teamwork, virtual communities and learning in an electronic online environment.

The first paper - Social Learning Through Virtual Teams and Communities - contrasts virtual teams, virtual learning communities, and virtual communities of practice.

The second paper - Essential Components for Successful Virtual Learning Communities - examines ways to to build successful virtual communities of practice in Cooperative Extension and across engaged universities.

The third paper - Virtual Communities of Practice: A 21st Century Method for Learning, Programming, and Developing Professionally - looks at how virtual Communities of Practice (CoP) can support the Extension mission.

Open educational resources - State of the art

The February 2009 issue of Open Learning is dedicated to Open Educational Resources (OER) - "teaching, learning and research resources that reside in the public domain or have been released under an intellectual property license that permits their free use or re-purposing by others."

The special issue, appropriately openly accessible, "present an overview of the OER movement, and the perspective is largely that of the OER provider."

In the words of Susan D'Antoni: "The production and use of OER raises a number of issues, and the concluding article addresses a crucial concern that brings us back to the perspective of the first article - open licensing. If materials are to be openly and freely shared, they must be licensed in a manner that promotes this objective. Ahrash Bissell's article aims to explain the logic of the open licensing that is essential to OER and to explore related considerations."

Looking for OER? Try out the search page by the Commonwealth of learning

ATI Interactive: e-extension for Philippine agriculture

The Department of Agriculture – Agricultural Training Institute (DA-ATI) maximizes the potentials of information and communication technology to empower stakeholders along agriculture and fisheries. The ATI is the "home of e-extension" in the Philippines.

'ATI interactive' is a source of information on various programs and services, knowledge products on various agriculture and fishery technologies as well as success stories and breakthroughs along extension and training, among others. It is a place for extension workers to share their views, stories and experiences in the field.

Check out the ATI e-extension portal - and especially the Interactive System for Agricultural Exchange and Electronic Learning.

En Zona Norte de Chile: finaliza curso de capacitación a distancia para Bibliotecarios y Documentalistas del Agro

La Fundación para la Innovación Agraria (FIA) y la Organización de Naciones Unidas para la Agricultura y la Alimentación (FAO) anunciaron el inicio de sus jornadas de capacitación 2009 en Gestión de Información Agraria.

La temporada se inició en abril con el curso "Construyendo Redes y Comunidades Virtuales", que concluyó hoy 5 de junio para un total de 70 horas. El mismo estuvo dirigido a personas que tienen a su cargo Bibliotecas Públicas y las unidades de información que integran la RedAgroChile, tanto de las regiones de Arica y Parinacota; Iquique, Antofagasta, Atacama y Coquimbo.

Esta capacitación se realizó 100% vía e-learning y se basó en el tercer módulo del Repertorio de Recursos para la Gestión de Información-IMARK, el cual facilita la FAO y sus instituciones asociadas.

Impact of ICTs in rural areas in Australia

A new report from RIRDC in Australia identifies "the impact of ICT applications on people and communities in rural and regional Australia."

The main outcomes of this research "indicate the very important roles of Neighbourhood Houses, Community Centres, Rural Transaction Centres, Social Clubs and Government Agents (QGAP), local councils and Technical and Further Education institutes to facilitate, introduce and support ICT implementation, adoption and provision of e-government and e-learning services and programs in rural and regional Australia.

Rural citizens are increasingly leveraging the initiatives to stay connected, to enhance skills, to interact with government, find job opportunities, communicate with friends and relatives, conveniently and at reduced costs.

The ICT initiatives have created public awareness, empowerment, community development and social inclusion in these communities. The initiatives have enhanced the confidence of the citizens in using the technology and applying it to work, for hobbies, and for further education."

eLearning for international agriculture development

A long standing dilemma, particularly in developing countries, has been in how to get important knowledge to those who most need it. Developing country agricultural professionals are largely isolated from the global knowledge system and poor rural farmers are isolated from national knowledge systems.

One approach that has shown considerable promise, at least for strengthening the knowledge of agricultural professionals who in turn pass knowledge on to farmers, is eLearning. This paper focuses on how two non-profit organizations dealt with challenges associated with eLearning for agriculture and offers a number of recommendations for future efforts.

The authors’ involvement in two eLearning for agriculture organizations illustrated a number of challenges. While they were not successful in using this approach to reach farmers directly, survey results suggested that by targeting “knowledge intermediaries” they did improve knowledge flow to the ultimate beneficiaries.

The authors advance 3 recommendations. The first is to address the numerous digital divide issues that plague rural communities. Telecenters and new technologies like the Fieldserver have shown promise. Second, more attention should paid to providing support and training opportunities in online course design and facilitation for agricultural educators. Third, they call for increased long-term, public-sector and donor support for agricultural eLearning.

Read the full article.

E-learning courses for agricultural information managers

Sri Lanka universities develop agricultural educational content with wikis

As part of its L3 Farmers project, the Commonwealth of Learning and the Sri Lanka Association of Distance Educators recently organized a workshop on Open (Agricultural) Education Resources. Participants from 5 universities learned to use WikiEducator to develop educational content, they also prepared interactive lessons on different topics.

The wiki pages show what went on in the 4-day workshop; visitors can also view lessons on the following topics:

1. Chilli Leaf Curl complex and its Management
2. Housing and Feeding of Poultry
3. Banana Cultivation
4. Chilli Diseases
5. Cost of Production in Rice Cultivation

The pages are still very much 'work in progress' but they show what can be done in a short time. Feedback and requests for further information should be sent to Krishna Alluri at COL.

See more posts on the L3 Farmers project.