INTERNET MASTER PROGRAM EXPANDS INTO DOUGLAS COUNTY IN 1998

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. "Douglas County is the sixteenth county in the state to implement Internet Masters program, thanks to the enthusiastic leadership of Jay Solomon, organizer 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 Jay Solomon.

Thirty-one people enrolled in the Douglas County class.

The program drew a diverse audience. Participant ages ranged from learners in their 20's to 50's. Twenty percent were in their 20's, 50% were in their 40's and 30% in their 50's. Fifty percent had a high school diploma or equivalent and 50% had an undergraduate degree.

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 Douglas County Internet Master class were able to do well with the curriculum.

Ninety percent of the Douglas County Internet Masters have a home computer. Eighty percent of the class members utilize a computer at work.

Prior to the Internet Master series of classes, learners reported a median of 13 hours per week on the Internet. During classes their use of the Internet increased to 20.3 hours per week. They projected that they will continue to access the Internet 20.4 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 1998 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.

Douglas County Internet Masters are enthusiastic about their participation.

*Internet Masters enrolled for a variety of reasons including; learning about html and designing WebPages, virus protection, to more fully use my computer, knowledge and understanding of the web, building a network of support people in the county, effective searches, having a night out, downloading, surfing, meet people with similar interests and professional development.

*If a person were thinking about enrolling in the Internet Master program I would advise them to do it! You will learn and re-learn and realize that you already know more than you think you did.

*I was pleased about the overall ease of making a web page!

*I think the teaching was great.

*If you are interesting in helping your community then get involved with this program.

(Programmers: Jay Solomon and Cynthia Crawford. 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.