Online turfgrass program earns national honor from Sloan Consortium

University Park, Pa. -- When Penn State launched its online campus eight years ago, A. J. Turgeon was ready. A pioneer in using educational technologies to extend learning beyond classroom walls to students around the world, Turgeon, professor of turfgrass management, already had all of his case studies for Turfgrass Management 436 on the Web and had designed many of the course's instructional modules.

Today, the Sloan Consortium (Sloan-C) is honoring the turfgrass program, which includes turfgrass management and advanced turfgrass management certificate programs and bachelor of science in turfgrass science, as the 2006 Most Outstanding Online Teaching and Learning Program. The consortium will present the award during its 12th annual International Conference on Asynchronous Learning Networks Nov. 8–10 in Orlando, Fla.

"Penn State's World Campus came along at just the right time for me," said Turgeon, who was the first University faculty member to begin teaching in the World Campus. "The World Campus enabled me to realize my own vision of effectively using educational technologies to enhance the quality of resident instruction, while extending its reach to students from around the world." Turgeon's leadership of Penn State's online turfgrass program has evolved from one course to 10 and resulted in more than 3,200 enrollments since 1998.

For Turgeon, teaching online has provided new experiences and insights. One thing he learned early on was that the practicum component of the course, where teams of six students analyze and solve turfgrass problems and challenge each other's solutions, was the centerpiece of the course. "The lessons provided the students with the tools they needed to interact, but the practicums were the interactive vehicle for learning," Turgeon said.

Turfgrass students Derek Paris, assistant turfgrass manager for the Green Bay Packers, and Michael Vessely, superintendent of the grounds and general manager of Chesapeake Run Golf Club in Indiana, agree that group discussions are one of the best things about the courses. Vessely, who expects to graduate with a bachelor of science in turfgrass science next fall, appreciates "being able to learn what people are doing at Augusta National to improve their course or what the grounds crew at Lambeau Field is doing to prepare for the football season. The World Campus is the only place where you can meet all these people in one spot."

Gary E. Miller, Penn State associate vice president for Outreach and vice chair of the Sloan-C board and member of the consortium's Annual Conference Planning Committee, which he chaired for three years, said, "A key element in the success of the turfgrass programs has been the leadership and pedagogical innovation provided by Dr. A. J. Turgeon. Online learning provided the opportunity for him to innovate with real-world case studies that give even the most distant student practical experience with the application of scientific principles."

One of those students, Bob Ehrler, now a golf and sports turf consultant, was able to achieve his lifelong dream of completing his college education, thanks to the online program. Ehrler, who started his college career in 1962, became the first student to complete the online bachelor of science in turfgrass science program in December. He credits his Penn State education with enabling him to excel in his chosen field, including completing the rigorous turfgrass management requirements of the British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association to become a master greenkeeper.

Turgeon and his turfgrass management faculty colleagues are continuing to innovate in the online turfgrass program. Next summer, they will introduce a Web-based internship and seminar program. Students will complete a summer project under the guidance of a local supervisor and then make a presentation on their project during a fall seminar.

Sloan-C President Frank Mayadas said this year's award winners are being "recognized for showing exceptional leadership in advancing online education." Created with funding from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Sloan-C is an association of more than 1,000 institutions and organizations of higher education engaged in online learning.

This year's Sloan-C award is Penn State's fourth. In 2003, a Faculty Self-study Research Project received an Award for Effective Practice, and in 2002, the University received two Awards for Effective Practice: Excellence in Online Cost Effectiveness and Excellence in Online Faculty Satisfaction.

Established in 1929, Penn State's turfgrass program is one of the first in the nation. It is widely recognized for its research and development of improved turfgrass varieties and other products used worldwide. "It can truly be said the sun never sets on Penn State turfgrass," Turgeon said. For information, visit http://www.worldcampus.psu.edu/BachelorinTurfgrassScience.shtml online.