Basic Botany On-Line: A Training Tool for the Master Gardener Program

A team of educators and Web designers at Oregon State University developed a non-credit, on-line training module for the Oregon Master Gardener program. The project goal was to increase accessibility to the Master Gardener program and is the first step in developing similar modules for other topics covered in the Master Gardener training. The 48 Master Gardener participants felt the module was a useful training tool. They also noted that the convenience of completing the material at their own pace and during a time that fit into their schedule made this type of training tool useful to them. Background Extension educators throughout the country are increasing their use of the World Wide Web (DeYoung, Harris, & Larsen, 1995; Lippert, Plank, Camberato, & Chastain, 1998), including using the Web to deliver Extension educational information and programming to clients (Tennessen, PonTell, Romine, & Motheral, 1997). This information can be delivered locally, regionally, or even nationally, which greatly increases the number of clients Extension educators can reach. An equally important benefit is that these clients have the opportunity to access this information at their convenience, thereby removing the constraints of time and location. Adults make up a large percentage of the clients served by Extension, including participants from the Master Gardener (MG) program. As learners, adults bring a unique set of characteristics to any learning environment, one of which is a preference for a more learner-directed education style (Wilkes & Burnham, 1991). Knowles Ann Marie VanDerZanden State Master Gardener Coordinator Internet Address: [email protected] Bob Rost Communication Specialist Extension and Experiment Station Communications Internet Address: [email protected] Rick Eckel Associate Director Distance Education Internet Address: [email protected] Oregon State University Corvallis, Oregon