North Carolina State University Forestry Extension developed The Forestry and Natural Resources Desktop Reference Library (DRL) to help Extension county agents overcome a lack of training in forestry and natural resources. DRL is a Web-based, distance learning and information resource project that incorporates synchronized multimedia and the World Wide Web to provide up-to-date research-based information on forestry and natural resources. DRL is the result of collaboration between researchers and Extension faculty to provide a time- and space-independent model for information exchange between the university and Extension agents

Bardon, Robert E

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Clemson University: TigerPrints

Providing Knowledge at the Click of a Mouse: Forestry and Natural Resources Desktop Reference Library

The Journal of Extension Volume 41 Number 3 Article 21 6-1-2003 Providing Knowledge at the Click of a Mouse: Forestry and Natural Resources Desktop Reference Library Robert E. Bardon North Carolina State University, robert_bardon@ncsu.edu This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 License. Recommended Citation Bardon, R. E. (2003). Providing Knowledge at the Click of a Mouse: Forestry and Natural Resources Desktop Reference Library. The Journal of Extension, 41(3), Article 21. https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/joe/vol41/iss3/21 This Tools of the Trade is brought to you for free and open access by the Conferences at TigerPrints. It has been accepted for inclusion in The Journal of Extension by an authorized editor of TigerPrints. For more information, please contact kokeefe@clemson.edu. 	 JOEHOME JOURNAL GUIDELINES ABOUT	JOE CONTACT NATIONAL	JOB	BANKCurrent	Issues Back	IssuesJune	2003	//	Volume	41	//	Number	3	//	Tools	of	the	Trade	//	3TOT2Providing	Knowledge	at	the	Click	of	a	Mouse:	Forestry	andNatural	Resources	Desktop	Reference	LibraryAbstractNorth	Carolina	State	University	Forestry	Extension	developed	The	Forestry	and	NaturalResources	Desktop	Reference	Library	(DRL)	to	help	Extension	county	agents	overcome	a	lack	oftraining	in	forestry	and	natural	resources.	DRL	is	a	Web-based,	distance	learning	andinformation	resource	project	that	incorporates	synchronized	multimedia	and	the	World	WideWeb	to	provide	up-to-date	research-based	information	on	forestry	and	natural	resources.	DRL	isthe	result	of	collaboration	between	researchers	and	Extension	faculty	to	provide	a	time-	andspace-independent	model	for	information	exchange	between	the	university	and	Extensionagents.	IntroductionCooperative	Extension	Service	county	agents	serve	as	the	front-line	educators	and	informationresources	for	the	citizens	of	their	states.	Many	of	these	agents	are	tasked	with	multiple	areas	ofresponsibilities,	often	outside	their	traditional	area	of	education.For	example,	in	North	Carolina,	Extension	agents	on	average	have	four	areas	of	responsibility,	ofwhich	forestry	is	one.	Only	one	percent	of	the	North	Carolina	Extension	county	agents	have	adegree,	BS	or	MS,	in	forest	management	(Bardon,	2001).	Juxtaposing	the	dearth	of	professionaltraining	in	forest	and	natural	resource	management	at	the	county	level	with	the	demands	on	thefield	faculty's	time	underscores	the	importance	of	developing	an	information	and	continuingeducation	resources	that	will	meet	the	agents'	educational	and	information	needs.North	Carolina	State	University	Forestry	Extension	recognized	the	potential	of	the	electroniccommunication	medium,	primarily	Internet	delivery,	as	a	possible	solution	to	the	county	agents'educational	and	information	needs.	Forestry	Extension	has	developed	the	"Forestry	and	NaturalResources	Desktop	Reference	Library	(DRL)"	<http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/nreos/desktop/>",	a	Web-based,	distance	learning	and	information	resource	project	to	meet	the	needs	of	Extension.What	Is	the	Forestry	and	Natural	Resources	Desktop	Reference	Library	(DRL)?DRL	is	a	time-	and	space-independent	model	for	information	exchange	between	the	university	andExtension	county	agents.	It	is	the	result	of	collaboration	between	researchers	and	Extensionfaculty	based	on	a	needs	assessment	of	the	Extension	agents	(Bardon,	2001).	The	project	is	aWeb-based	resource	incorporating	synchronized	multimedia	and	the	World	Wide	Web	to	provideup-to-date	research-based	information	on	forestry	and	natural	resources	(Figure	1).Figure	1.The	Forestry	and	Natural	Resources	Desktop	Reference	Library	Home	Page	Robert	E.	BardonAssociate	Professor	and	Extension	SpecialistNorth	Carolina	State	UniversityRaleigh,	North	CarolinaInternet	Address:	robert_bardon@ncsu.eduDRL's	Web	site	was	developed	and	designed	to	be	simple	and	user-friendly.	Currently,	DRL	coverseight	major	categories	(modules)	in	which	a	wealth	of	information	is	provided:HardwoodsManagement	IssuesMarketingPinesTax	IssuesTree	ImprovementUrban	ForestryWater	QualityDRL	also	provides	access	to	Extension	specialists	for	those	needing	further	assistance	orinformation.DRL's	Module	DesignModule	design	was	kept	simple.	Each	module	has	a	similar	page	layout	(Figure	2),	listingpresentation	topics	and	their	length	and	links	to	publications	and	information	resources	from	NorthCarolina	State	University,	other	universities,	state	and	federal	agencies,	and	private	agencies.	Thisallows	the	user	to	become	familiar	with	the	site,	retrieving	information	in	a	rapid	and	efficientmanner.Figure	2.The	Forestry	and	Natural	Resources	Desktop	Reference	Library	Module	Page	LayoutPresentations	are	developed	either	as	slide	presentations	or	video	presentations	that	can	beviewed	with	RealPlayer.	(Visit	<http://www.real.com/>	to	download	RealPlayer	for	free.)	Slidepresentations	were	developed	by	sychronizing	audio,	captured	by	computer,	and	computergenerated	slide	presentations.	Slide	presentations	are	limited	to	no	more	than	20	minutes	inlength.	Limiting	the	presentation	length	requires	the	presenter	to	get	right	to	the	point	and	allowsusers,	who	may	have	a	limited	amount	of	time,	to	refresh	and	enhance	their	level	of	knowledge.Presentation	design	is	kept	simple	so	the	user	focuses	on	the	information	presented,	not	on	theslide	layout.	Video	presentations	are	live	presentations	captured	using	RealProducer	Plus	software.Video	presentations,	which	are	not	limited	in	length,	can	last	from	20	mintues	to	approximately	90minutes,	allowing	for	more	in-depth	information	than	slide	presentations	afford.	Videopresentations	require	more	time	to	down	load	than	slide	presentations	do	and	can	be	saved	andviewed	at	a	time	more	convienent	to	the	user.DRL's	BenefitsThe	DRL	benefits	the	user	in	several	ways.	Benefits	include:A	resource	of	current	science-based	information	on	numerous	forestry	and	natural	resourcestopics.A	portal	to	various	sources	of	forestry	and	natural	resource	information.Access	to	both	on-line	video	and	print	media.Access	to	forestry	and	natural	resource	information	24	hours	a	day,	7	days	a	week.Access	to	specialists	for	assistance	with	follow-up	information	or	other	resources.The	DRL	benefits	the	university	in	several	ways.	Benefits	include:A	training	resource	for	county	Extension	agents.A	portal	for	disseminating	research-based	information.A	communication	link	between	county	Extension	agents	and	specialists.Opportunity	for	collaboration	between	research	faculty	and	Extension	faculty.SummaryThe	DRL	is	a	Web-based,	distance	learning	and	information	resource	project	developed	out	of	aneed	for	continuing	education	of	Extension	agents.	DRL	provides	an	important	Internet	venue	forfacilitating	the	transfer	of	research-based	information	on	forestry	and	natural	resourcemanagement.	To	visit	the	Forestry	and	Natural	Resources	Desktop	Reference	Library,	just	visit<http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/nreos/desktop/>.ReferencesBardon,	R.	E.	(2001).	Evaluation	of	forestry	programming:	Leading	to	recommendations	forimprovement.	Journal	of	Extension	[On-line],	39(3).	Available	at:http://www.joe.org/joe/2001june/rb3.htmlCopyright	©	by	Extension	Journal,	Inc.	ISSN	1077-5315.	Articles	appearing	in	the	Journal	become	the	property	of	theJournal.	 Single	 copies	 of	 articles	may	 be	 reproduced	 in	 electronic	 or	 print	 form	 for	 use	 in	 educational	 or	 trainingactivities.	Inclusion	of	articles	in	other	publications,	electronic	sources,	or	systematic	large-scale	distribution	may	bedone	only	with	prior	electronic	or	written	permission	of	the	Journal	Editorial	Office,	joe-ed@joe.org.If	you	have	difficulties	viewing	or	printing	this	page,	please	contact	JOE	Technical	Support©	Copyright	by	Extension	Journal,	Inc.	ISSN	1077-5315.	Copyright	Policy

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Providing Knowledge at the Click of a Mouse: Forestry and Natural Resources Desktop Reference Library

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