INTERNET MASTER PROGRAM EXPANDED INTO MARION COUNTY IN 1997

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. "Marion County is the ninth county in the state to implement Internet Masters program, thanks to the enthusiastic leadership of Don Smith," 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 Don Smith, organizer of the Marion County class along with Kent Shannnon.

Thirty nine people enrolled in the Marion County class. The program drew a diverse audience. Participant ages ranged learners in their 20's to learners in their 60's, with the greatest number being in their 40's. About 45% of the participants have an undergraduate degree, 33% have a high school diploma or equivalency, and about 21% have advanced college work. Women made up 63% of those enrolled.

Eighty-five percent of the Marion County Internet Masters have a home computer. Eighty-two percent of the class members utilize a computer at work.

Prior to the Internet Master series of classes, learners reported a median of 6 hours per week on the Internet. During classes their use of the Internet increased to 10 hours per week. They projected that they will continue to access the Internet 10 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. Overall, within class members there was a increase in confidence to facilitating community education about the Internet from the beginning of classes to the conclusion of classes at the .072 level.

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.

Marion County Internet Masters are enthusiastic about their participation.

They commented that they enrolled for a number of reasons, including for use in their business, using the Internet, to reteach to their students, improve computer skills, research, and for self-improvement.

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

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