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Central MO UO/E
University Outreach and Extension

How the Internet Master program got its start

In 1996, the University of Missouri's Outreach and Extension program received grant funding to provide educational programs for Internet training. Knowing there was great interest in the Internet and many people who could benefit from learning to be Internet literate, Don Day and Maryann Redelfs (technology specialists for University Extension) decided to borrow from the Master Gardener Program and use the concept of "training trainers," who would then volunteer to train others.

About the same time, Cynthia Crawford (a University Extension specialist from Marshall, Mo.) was approached by a Saline County Internet user who was interested in establishing a program to provide technology training in their area. They all got together and . . . the Internet Master Program was born!

The Internet Master Pilot Program was held in Marshall during the spring of 1996 with a class of 22 volunteers. Four additional courses - each with up to 25 students - were held in the fall of 1996 in Boonville, Columbia, Marshall and Sedalia. Add it all up, and you'll see there are currently more than 100 certified Internet Masters across central/west-central Missouri.

The Internet Master program has garnered tremendous response, and continues to grow. This program will be implemented by University Extension statewide.