James F. Evans Collection, Research directors at American land-grant universities are optimistic regarding the future of agricultural biotechnology and expect the ongoing "biotechnology revolution" to benefit the public, including consumers and farmers. Unresolved public policy questions involving biotechnology do concern many of the research administrators who responded to an opinion poll, but the prevailing attitude appears to be on of confident expectation that solutions will in time emerge for all outstanding biotech problems. Asked about "biotechnology's ethical questions," a majority of the respondents that U.S. land-grant institutions are well equipped to deal with such questions. The respondents said biotechnology may pose environmental risks, but they did not expect biological catastrophes to occur. They said biotechnology could be used to foster low-input methods of agricultural production, and they were in favor of pursuing biotech research that might improve agriculture's sustainability. (original)
Makuch, Joseph R. (author), Robillard, Paul D. (author), and Makuch: Water Quality Information Center, NAL; Robillard: Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park
Format:
Journal article
Publication Date:
1994
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 97 Document Number: C07856
computer-assisted instruction, James F. Evans Collection, Successful integration of CIA (computer-assisted instruction) into Cooperative Extension in-service training programs requires acceptance of CIA by staff. This study examined Extension agent attitudes toward paired/cooperative CIA. Subjects were thirty Pennsylvania Extension agents. A one-group pretest-posttest design was used. Subjects completed attitude surveys before and after using a CIA tutorial with a partner on "proper water well location and construction." Although subjects' overall attitudes toward CIA became more favorable following CIA use in pairs, the difference was not significant. However, on the two subscales measuring comfort and creativity, subjects attitudes toward CIA became significantly more favorable.
Donnellan, LaRae M. (author), Ross, Susan M. (author), and Donnellan: Extension Associate Professor and Acting Head, Office of Information, University of Vermont, VT; Ross: Assistant Professor of Communication, Clarkson University
Format:
Journal article
Publication Date:
1990
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 76 Document Number: C04140
