December time to plan
master gardener training
considers new models
ecember is an important month for the Horticulture PFT (Program Focus Team) to meet; our meeting was held in Manhattan on December 12 and 13. The primary focus of this PFT meeting was working on the development of a new model for delivering Master Gardener basic training. The model is patterned after the Wisconsin’s “flipped classroom” basic training program.
Our current Master Gardener training program is faced with some significant issues. As budgets tighten and resources available for supporting the Master Gardener training program shrink, it is becoming more difficult for our state specialists to schedule time and cover the cost of the travel to on-site training events. Additionally, a significant number of individuals have declined participation in the Master Gardener volunteer program because their work schedule prevents them from attending daytime training events.
In the flipped classroom model, the classroom lecture is delivered by a series of short 8- to 10-minute videos. The volunteer trainees would be able to view the video lessons at their own pace, and at a convenient time. We are looking into the possibility of embedding test questions in the video which would have to be correctly answered before the participants could move on to the next video lesson in the series. The trainees would also meet in a classroom setting (possibly evening meetings) to review lessons, have questions answered, take tests, and gain important “hands-on” training.
Changing over to this program delivery model is expected to take several years to implement. Currently, the first module of video lessons in basic botany is being prepared with an expected trial date for the fall of 2018. Horticulture agents and specialists are working together to develop these modules. I’ve been working with state specialist, Ward Upham, on the basic botany training module. I’m also working with Judy O’Mara and Megan Kennelly (and others) on the plant pathology module.
Other activities that I’ve been involved with during November include weekly appearances on the KGGF 690 AM radio show, “Green Side Up,” and writing a newspaper article, “Caring for your Christmas tree.”
Jacob Weber
Horticulture
D
POINSETTIA HOLIDAY PLANT
CHRISTMAS CACTUS CARE
AMARYLLIS
GIFF PLANT