INTERNET MASTER PROGRAM EXPANDED INTO OSAGE 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. "Osage County is the seventh county in the state to implement Internet Masters program, thanks to the effective leadership of Kathy Dothage and her colleagues." explains Regional Director Mark Stillwell.

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 Kathy Dothage, coorganizer of the Osage County class.

Nineteen people enrolled in the Osage County class. It is remarkable that all but one completed the entire ten week series of classes.

The program drew a diverse audience. Participant ages ranged from one in their 20's to learners in their 60's, with the greatest number being in their 40's and 50's. About 30% of the participants have an undergraduate degree, 30% have a high school diploma or equivalency, and about 35% have advanced college work. The class was nearly evenly split between men and women. 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 Osage County Internet Master class were able to do well with the curriculum.

Ninety-five percent of the Osage County Internet Masters have a home computer. Eighty-nine percent of the class members utilize a computer at work.

Prior to the Internet Master series of classes, learners reported a median of I hour per week on the Internet. During classes their use of the Internet increased to a median of 6 hours per week. They projected that they will continue to access the Internet 5 hours per week. This is nearly an increase of 4-5 hours day per week on the Internet. 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.

Osage County Internet Masters are enthusiastic about their participation.

*If a person were thinking about enrolling in the Internet Master program, I would say, "Go for it. Do it."

*The classes give you a great all around knowledge of the Internet.

*Class members listed many highlights of the class: E-mail, meeting different people in the area, web page design, search engines, downloading files from the Internet, accessing news on the 'net.

*Networking with other Internet learners was also a highlight for the Internet Masters.

*"The teachers and the people in class were highlights," commented one class member.

*One person enrolled in class specifically to help an adult child on the coast and communicate with grandchildren all using E-mail. "The best part of class," they wrote at the end of classes, "was getting E-mail from my grandchildren."

*This class has given me the confidence to help others.

(Programmers: Kathy Dothage, Mark Stewart, Mary Sobba, Don Day, Maryann Redelfs. 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.