This section represents the artifacts from elective courses taken during the PRTSM graduate program and highlights major lessons learned along with reflections from each course.
AEE 577: Evaluation in Agricultural and Extension Education
Primary Artifact: Planning an Evaluation – Adventures in Life: Skills for Your Future
Author: Caroline Goss
Date: April 26, 2021
Artifact Reflections:
During this assignment, I learned how to plan an evaluation from program inception to evaluation and analysis. This project enabled me to think about the entirety of the process and how intentional one must be in order to achieve a meaningful evaluation. Throughout this process I learned how to identify program objectives, design an evaluation using the Logic Model, develop performance and outcome indicators, and then use evaluation tools to collect the data. I then created a plan for data analysis and included a timeline for when each piece would be completed.
This process was more involved than I initially expected, but in being more thorough in the planning of this evaluation, I was able to conduct a better evaluation and thus received more reliable and valid data in the process.
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FOR 531: Wildland Fire Science
Primary Artifact: Fire Weather Forecast
Author: Caroline Goss
February 6, 2022
Artifact Reflections
Throughout this course, I not only learned about the principles of fire science, I also practiced using tools available to evaluate fire weather and behavior. During the Fire Weather Forecast assignment, I looked at and analyzed various conditions including atmospheric stability, air masses and fronts, ventilation rates, among others, to determine what the fire weather forecast for my area would be over the next few days.
This exercise enabled me to analyze which days would or would not be good for a prescribed fire and allowed me to practice the material learned in class. This assignment, along with others in the class could be used or modified to convey fire science principles with older 4-H’ers.
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HS 532: Introduction to Permaculture
Primary Artifact: Permaculture Design Project
Author: Caroline Goss
Date: June 5, 2022
Artifact Reflections:
The Permaculture Design Project was the first project for this course and my first experience with landscape design in addition to my first project incorporating permaculture. Thus, this project involved a steep learning curve for me. However, I found that I really enjoyed the process of design and utilizing permaculture principles like stacking functions and clever design features to maximize the productivity of a small plot of land.
As engaging, challenging, and fun as this project was, I could see Ashe County 4-H taking on a project similar to this one to create a community garden or similar project. Overall, this course was one of the most interesting courses I took during my PRTSM graduate program, and I am excited to continue learning about this field.
Caroline Goss Portfolio 