HEC INNOVATIVE ONLINE BIOENERGY EDUCATION

This project addresses the need for graduate-level professional education in bioenergy by developing and delivering four new online bioenergy courses at The Pennsylvania State University. These courses, taken together, will constitute a graduate certificate in bioenergy, and will also form part of a larger online MPS program in "Renewable Energy and Sustainability Systems" (RESS). Special effort will be placed on the creation of innovative hands-on practical/laboratory educational experiences that utilize a variety of learning tools and counteract the difficulties associated with distance learning of technical subjects. Course material will be created and integrated into an online learning environment, courses will be delivered, and the effectiveness of the courses will be measured through pre- and post- testing of the students. Of particular interest will be the effectiveness of the hands-on practical training component for developing student confidence and understanding. The impact of the project on instructor teaching attitudes and plans will also be assessed. Course materials developed by this project will be made available to other institutions, via a creative commons "share and share alike" license, to extend the impact of this effort, and will be promoted through existing regional bioenergy projects and networks.