INTERNET MASTER PROGRAM EXPANDS STATEWIDE WITH IN-SERVICE FOR EXTENSION SPECIALISTS

Twenty-six Extension specialists in Missouri came together January 28, 29 and 30 and then again February 24, 25, and 26 to receive training on the Internet Master content and concept. In turn, they will replicate the programming in their regions.

The Internet Master program offers ten 3-hour sessions of instruction at the community level on the Internet for a total of 30 instructional hours. "When we use the word 'master' we mean that the course is in-depth and not just a quick introduction to the Internet. We help our learners work toward a mastery of the Internet," comments Maryann Redelfs, Central Missouri Regional Information Technology Specialist. "In addition to receiving instruction," adds Don Day, also a Central Missouri Regional Information Technology Specialist,  "we are clear that Internet Masters are to do 30 hours of volunteer community education on the Internet upon completion of the class. That expectation is very clear in our marketing and application process. The few that choose not to volunteer pay an additional $300 beyond the regular registration fee of $90." Redelfs and Day patterned the Internet Master program after the Master Gardener program and they both had experience coordinating and teaching in Extension agricultural specialist roles.

The program was piloted with six classes in Saline, Boone, Pettis, and Cooper counties in 1996. Careful evaluation of the pilot classes indicated that there was a statistically significant increase in knowledge and use of the Internet (at the .0001 level) among the 172 learners and there was also a statistically significant increase (also at the .0001 level) in confidence and ability to facilitate community education about the Internet by Internet Masters. Additional data is being collected and analyzed to document the impact of the volunteer community hours on the Internet Master as well as for their communities.

During the six days of training for the 26 Extension specialists, there was a statistically significant increase (at the .0001 level) in their knowledge and use of the Internet. Learners came into the training already proficient in the use of E-mail. The areas of greatest increase in knowledge and use of Internet aspects were:

• creating web pages
• downloading files
• virus protection
• evaluating the quality of information from the Internet
• browser software programs

The specialists also reported a statistically significant increase (at the .001 level) in their teaching and facilitation skills for community Internet education.

An additional outcome of the training was that the specialists anticipate spending three and one-half more hours a week on the Internet, going from an average of 9 3/4 hours per week on the Internet prior to the training to an average of 13 1/4 hours per week after the training. This is a statistically significant increase at the . 01 level of significance.

It is also interesting to note some descriptive statistics of those that enrolled in the training. The data were collected with the Learner Type Measure, an instrument used as part of the 9th session to help learners develop their teaching and facilitation roles.

• 85% (17 of 20 reporting) have home computers in addition to computer access at work.
• All but one had a masters or Ph.D. degree.
• 74% (14 of the 19 reporting) have high math ability.
• 74% (14 out of 19) do not have high musical ability.
• 70% (14 out of 20 people reporting) do not have trouble paying attention in academic settings.
• 85% (17 of the 20 reporting) feel it is important to be punctual in social settings.
• 100% (all 20 reporting) in general enjoyed school.
• 100% (20 people reporting) were Caucasian.
• 70% (14 of 20 people reporting) were male.
• 84% (16 out of 19) reported being highly self aware

University Extension has established an Internet Master Evaluation Shop to work in partnership with trainers to collect data in order to document and report impact and outcomes of the Internet Master Program in Missouri. This evaluation effort is scheduled to be in place through December of 1998.

(Programmers Don Day, Maryann Redelfs, Mark Stillwell, Cynthia Crawford; Evaluation and reporting Cynthia Crawford)

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