INTERNET MASTER PROGRAM EXPANDED INTO ADAIR COUNTY

The subject matter is new. The program delivery method has a history of more than 75 years of success.

Since the early 1900's University Extension has had a history of success teaching early adapters and community innovators about farming practices and family living practices that would improve lives. In turn, the early adapters and innovators tried the new methods and then turned around and taught their friends and neighbors about the new practices. Today the cutting edge subject matter is computer technology and the Internet.

The Internet Master concept was first piloted in Saline, Boone, Cooper and Pettis Counties in 1996 with the leadership and vision of Don Day, Maryann Redelfs and Cynthia Crawford, Central Missouri Regional Specialists. "Adair County is the twelfth county in the state to implement Internet Masters program, thanks to the enthusiastic leadership of Kent Shannon and Don Smith, co-organizers of the program," explains program evaluator Cynthia Crawford.

Patterned after the Master Gardener program, Internet Masters attend a minimum of 30 hours of instruction on the Internet and facilitating community education. Internet Masters receive in-depth instruction on Internet service providers, E-mail, searching the World Wide Web, downloading files, creating a web page, using browser programs, virus protection, evaluating information from the World Wide Web and tapping into individual teaching and learning strengths. Following classes, the Internet Masters are to do a minimum of 30 hours of volunteer community education about the Internet within a year of completing the program.

"When we use the words Internet Master, we're talking about developing a mastery of the Internet. This is not just a quick, introductory learning experience," explains Kent Shannon, coorganizer of the Adair County classes. Twenty people enrolled in the Adair County class.

The program drew a diverse audience. Participant ages ranged from learners in their 20's to 60's, with the greatest number being in their 30's and 40's. About 23% of the participants have an undergraduate degree, 40% have a high school diploma or equivalency, and about 37% have advanced college work. Women made up half of those enrolled. Statistical analysis reveals that there is no statistically significant difference in increase in knowledge and use of the Internet and increase in facilitating community education for age, education or gender. Both men and women, people of all ages and educational background in the Adair County Internet Master class were able to do well with the curriculum.

Eighty-six percent of the Adair County Internet Masters have a home computer. Eighty-six percent of the class members also utilize a computer at work.

Prior to the Internet Master series of classes, learners reported a median of 11 hours per week on the Internet. During classes their use of the Internet increased 17 hours per week. They projected that they will continue to access the Internet 16 hours per week. The Internet Masters found the information from classes to be usable and applicable both immediately and long term.

Is the curriculum effective? In a word, yes. A repeated measures design was used to compare the Internet Master's knowledge and use of the Internet at the beginning of class one and at the conclusion of class 10. There was a statistically significant difference in knowledge and use of the Internet at the .0001 level.

In addition, the repeated measures design was utilized to compare the Internet Master's confidence in facilitating community education from the beginning of class 1 to the conclusion of class 10. There was a statistically significant difference in confidence to facilitating community education about the Internet at the .0001 level, as well.

Internet Masters will fill out evaluations again at the conclusion of their 30 hours of volunteer community education. If the 1997 Internet Masters are consistent with the 172 that graduated from the program in 1996, they will find that their knowledge and use of the Internet and their confidence to facilitate community education will be further boosted by their volunteer hours.

Adair County Internet Masters are enthusiastic about their participation.

*Program participants enrolled for a number of reasons, including the opportunity to help others learn, to learn about web pages, basic terminology, for a business, and to further Internet knowledge.

*Class members had a long list of class highlights, including confidence building, participation in news groups, web pages, browsers, meeting Internet enthusiasts, new knowledge, E-mail, and downloading files.

*Class members were excited about navigating the Internet and using search engines.

*"If a person were thinking about enrolling in the Internet Master program, I would advise them to go for it."

*"Take it when it comes to your area."

*"It was non-threatening and will certainly expand your knowledge of the Internet."

(Programmers: Kent Shannon and Don Smith. Cynthia Crawford - evaluation and reporting)

University Outreach and Extension does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability or status as a Vietnam-era veteran in employment or programs.