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Funded Project |
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Funding Program:
Regional IPM Grants (S-RIPM) |
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Project Title:
Teamwork and Technology Deliver IPM Strategies and Resources to Homeowners by Empowering Master Gardener Volunteers |
Project Directors (PDs):
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Lead State: GA Lead Organization: University of Georgia |
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Cooperating State(s):
Alabama, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina |
| Extension Funding: $45,100 |
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Start Date: Jun-01-2009 End Date: May-31-2011 |
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Area of Emphasis: master gardeners |
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Summary:
Our project, Teamwork and Technology Deliver IPM Strategies and Resources to Homeowners by Empowering Master Gardener Volunteers is an Extension project. Urban agents rely on MG volunteers to expand their outreach efforts, however these volunteers lack the tools and knowledge they need to make specific IPM recommendations to homeowners. Our goal is to create advanced training for MGs in Landscape IPM using Internet Distance Education Technology and create support materials they can use in their outreach efforts to educate homeowners. This teaching technology allows us to compound the impact of our educational efforts. This project will lead to healthy, sustainable home landscapes.
There are four project objectives. (1) Training will be offered in five southern states for a minimum of 300 Master Gardener Volunteers. (2) MGs will receive three tools to assist them with homeowner clients after training: laminated flip card books of pests and specific IPM management for each, laminated signs to give clients reminding consumers of IPM practices and safe chemical handling, and several short videos. (3) We will produce short videos in Spanish and English to teach insect identification and critical safety issues when using garden chemicals. (4) All materials will be available via the Internet for everyone. Our team, five states, believes MGs can be very effective at increasing homeowner use of IPM strategies with additional training and the creation of simple tools. We have experience with Distance Teaching Technology and know we can offer effective, relevant instruction and hands-on activities. Objectives: There are four project objectives. (1) Training will be offered in five southern states for a minimum of 300 Master Gardener Volunteers. (2) MGs will receive three tools to assist them with homeowner clients after training: laminated flip card books of pests and specific IPM management for each, laminated signs to give clients reminding consumers of IPM practices and safe chemical handling, and several short videos. (3) We will produce short videos in Spanish and English to teach insect identification and critical safety issues when using garden chemicals. (4) All materials will be available via the Internet for everyone. |
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Final Report: |
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Results From report submitted by the PI to USDA CRIS report system PROGRESS: 2010/08 TO 2011/08 OUTPUTS: Trainings were delivered using the Internet distance education technology (Wimba Classroom) available at the University of Georgia. This technology allows an educator to make live presentations via the Internet. Local agents hosted the trainings in libraries, county offices, and other meeting rooms and Internet presentations were broadcast to the group. Agents also selected and presented hands-on activities that complemented their local programs and needs. The impact of this type of training on Extension Master Gardener volunteer confidence, knowledge, recommendations, and activities is unknown. Extension teams from Auburn University, Clemson University, The University of Georgia, and North Carolina State University designed a survey to assess the impact of advanced training on EMG volunteers. The survey was released through Surveymonkey.com two months after completion of the training, sufficient time to allow the impact of the training to affect volunteer activities. PARTICIPANTS: The survey was developed by: Dr. Ellen Bauske (University of Georgia), Ms. Kerry Smith (Auburn University), and Dr. Lucy Bradley (North Carolina State University). TARGET AUDIENCES: Extension Master Gardener volunteers in Alabama, Georgia, and North Carolina were targeted in this project and 472 volunteers participated in the Internet distance learning IPM training. One hundred and sixty-three volunteers participated in the survey. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. IMPACT: 2010/08 TO 2011/08 One hundred sixty-three EMG volunteers responded to the survey (35% response rate). Responses were received from Alabama (23%), Georgia (48%) and North Carolina (29%). Several survey questions were dedicated to assessing volunteer confidence in plant identification, pest identification, and pesticide usage. Prior to the training, 58% of the respondents felt they could identify garden plants to family. After the training, 93% felt they could. The training increased the number of respondents who felt confident distinguishing abiotic and biotic plant diseases (from 25% prior to training to 93.7% after training). More volunteers indicated comfort using pesticides safely and explaining how to use pesticides safely to others after the training (76.4% and 70.4%, prior to training, increasing to 98% and 95.6% after the training). More participants reported confidence distinguishing insect damage from disease damage (an increase from 37.9% to 91.8%) and determining the cause of common turfgrass problems (29.3% to 83.9 %) as a result of the training. The majority of the volunteers had (or were going to) change their own activities and had shared what they had learned with others. Seventy-eight percent had or were planning to change their own activities (for example increase monitoring efforts, use less pesticides, replant, etc.); 70% had shared what they had learned with others; and 61% had changed their volunteer recommendations, considerations, or activities as a result of the training. Almost half of the respondents volunteered for at least 1-5 hours per month and they had worked in demonstration gardens, school gardens, presented educational programs, created educational displays, answered telephones and made numerous personal contacts since they had taken the training. Clearly the training increased the knowledge and confidence of participating volunteers, making them more effective in extending the outreach of Cooperative Extension. |
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Outcomes N/A |
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Impacts From report submitted by the PI to USDA CRIS report system One hundred sixty-three EMG volunteers responded to the survey (35% response rate). Responses were received from Alabama (23%), Georgia (48%) and North Carolina (29%). Several survey questions were dedicated to assessing volunteer confidence in plant identification, pest identification, and pesticide usage. Prior to the training, 58% of the respondents felt they could identify garden plants to family. After the training, 93% felt they could. The training increased the number of respondents who felt confident distinguishing abiotic and biotic plant diseases (from 25% prior to training to 93.7% after training). More volunteers indicated comfort using pesticides safely and explaining how to use pesticides safely to others after the training (76.4% and 70.4%, prior to training, increasing to 98% and 95.6% after the training). More participants reported confidence distinguishing insect damage from disease damage (an increase from 37.9% to 91.8%) and determining the cause of common turfgrass problems (29.3% to 83.9 %) as a result of the training. The majority of the volunteers had (or were going to) change their own activities and had shared what they had learned with others. Seventy-eight percent had or were planning to change their own activities (for example increase monitoring efforts, use less pesticides, replant, etc.); 70% had shared what they had learned with others; and 61% had changed their volunteer recommendations, considerations, or activities as a result of the training. Almost half of the respondents volunteered for at least 1-5 hours per month and they had worked in demonstration gardens, school gardens, presented educational programs, created educational displays, answered telephones and made numerous personal contacts since they had taken the training. Clearly the training increased the knowledge and confidence of participating volunteers, making them more effective in extending the outreach of Cooperative Extension |
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