1. Sick Plants and a Hungry World: an online course for Master Gardener Volunteers
Sarah D. Ellis1, Michael J. Boehm1, Pam J. Bennett2
1Department of Plant Pathology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210
2Ohio State University Extension State Master Gardener Volunteer Coordinator, Springfield, Ohio 45502.
1. The Department of Plant Pathology developed a course entitled “Social Impact of Plant Diseases on Shaping Human Society” in 1990 and in 2001, the first online version
of this course was taught. In the past the course was only offered to students enrolled at Ohio State, but the department wanted to reach out to others who would also benefit from
taking the course. One group that is dedicated to lifelong learning is the Master Gardener Volunteers. These are volunteers from all over the United States and they specialize in
horticultural topics. They are required to earn continuing education credits each year. Most of the time they have to travel to workshops to earn these credits. The thought of having an
online course where they could earn Master Gardener continuing education credits was very enticing to the group. With this thought in mind, a collaborative effort between The
Department of Plant Pathology and the Ohio Master Gardener Volunteers took shape. Plant Pathology took the online course and transformed it into an online course specific to
Master Gardener Volunteers titled “Sick Plants and a Hungry World”.
Quick facts about course
•Aimed specifically towards Master Gardeners around the U.S.;
•Worked with Continuing Education and Communications and 4. To register for the course, volunteers are sent to a web site through
2. A pilot test with ten Master Gardener Volunteers was conducted Technology;
during the winter of 2009. These volunteers were chosen to represent OSU’s Office of Continuing Education. The decision to work with Continuing
•Available through Moodle; Education was made because they are able to handle the transfer of money.
all parts of Ohio. The test was conducted through the current Carmen
course management system. The volunteers were given ten weeks to •To gain access: pay Cont. Ed. and receive access code for class; Students also received an official certificate of completion through them. By
complete the self-paced course. Throughout the course they were •Self-paced 10 Modules available 10 weeks; working with Continuing Education, the Department of Plant Pathology and
asked to assess their experience and to note what the good points of •Course make-up: content, self-tests; the Master Gardener Organization signed a contract on how money will be
the course were as well as the things that needed to be improved so divided and how certificates will be distributed. When students register they
•When done: receive a certificate stating completion of course; pay $35.00 by credit card only. Of the $35.00 Continuing Education keeps
the course could be shaped for Master Gardeners. During the end of must complete all content and self-tests;
the ten weeks the group met to discuss the course and the future of $18.58 for University General Funds while Plant Pathology and Master
•Partnership with Ohio Master Gardener Program; support new Gardeners split the remaining $16.42. With the hope of creating more online
online courses. The pilot test was essential so that we could form a
course that was specific for that group. module development; and courses, the Master Gardener Organization has agreed to let Plant Pathology
•Price $35.00 per student; Department makes ~$8.50 and OMGP keep their share to support development of new courses. Registration can be
~$8.50 done at the following web site:
Results from pilot test of what Master Gardeners thought osucedreg.com/profile/form/index.cfm?PKformID=0x15405241.
of online course: General Moodle web site
•No discussions;
•Did not like the user-interface Carmen;
•Wanted more on specific diseases and management
strategies;
•Wanted a text book reference or printed version;
•A good beginning course in plant pathology; and
•Cheap price!
3. Moodle was chosen as the course management system for the
new Master Gardener course because is was free and easy to use. Since March 2009, 312 volunteers have registered for
The current course material was molded into a course specific for the the course and ~160 have received a certificate of
new group and with the help of Communications and Technology at completion. The above map shows the 24 states that
Ohio State the course was up-and-running by March 2009. The Course Homepage
Master Gardener continuing education course consists of ten represent where the volunteers live.
modules with topics ranging from basic concepts in plant disease
(such as the disease triangle) to prehistoric man and plant diseases,
and from the Irish Potato Famine to bioterrorism. The course is
completely self-paced so it can be taken anytime, from anywhere.
There is no grade for the course, therefore no assignments only self-
tests. Although the course is designed for Master Gardeners, anyone 5. To help market the course, Plant Pathology
interested can take the course as non-credit. Once the course is sought the help of Communication and Technology. Flyers
successfully completed a certificate from The Ohio State University were developed that were sent to all counties in Ohio by
Office of Continuing Education is awarded. Self-tests mail. Email messages with the flyer were also sent to all
state Master Gardener coordinators in the United State.
Posters were developed that have been used at many
conferences throughout Ohio, including the Ohio Master
Gardener Annual Meeting, Ohio Farm Science Review,
and Ohio Annual Extension Conference
6. Future courses are being developed that are targeted toward specific commodity groups and the
diseases that affect them. Master Gardeners are interested in learning about diagnostic plant pathology
Certificate given at since this is what they typically do in their communities. Specific classes to develop include: fruit and Course flyer used to
completion of course vegetable, turfgrass, ornamentals, tree diseases, greenhouse diseases, etc. The incorporation of more market the course
technology in these courses is also key. Podcasts, YouTube videos, blogs, wikis, and voice-overlaid
Camtasia PowerPoints are a few of the new programs we would like to include.