Application of Innovative e-Technologies for Distance Education: University of Florida Experience.

New technologies, both in the technical and educational arenas, can contribute significantly to building long-term capacity helping to solve problems of increasing population, limited water resources, land and water degradation and food security in developing and developed counties. The University of Florida – Soil and Water Science Department introduced innovative e-technologies for distance education to meet the needs of place bound students.  These approaches include:  (1) graduate degree program for place bound students in soil and water science with environmental specialization, (2) certificate programs in select areas of soil, water, and environmental sciences, and 3) use of innovative e-technologies to support extension, outreach, certificate and in-service training programs. Details about these programs can be viewed at: http://soils.ifas.ufl.edu/distance/index.html.