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Online Green Industry Professional Development Courses

Search for Excellence in Consumer or Commercial Horticulture

Ruth Benner
Extension Educator
Penn State University
ERIE

Team Members: Abbey, T1, Barger, L2, Benner, R*3, Berghage, R4, Butzler, T*5, Clitherow, M6, Delvalle, T*7, Feather, S8, Ford, T9, Fowler, J*10, Himes, D11, Hoffman, M12, Kopco, J13, Korman, A*14, Masiuk, M15, Diehl Mazzone, J16, Nagy, A17, Pickoff, M*18, Pittman, K19, Ruyak, D20, Savage, J21, Seaman, J22, Sulpizio, J23, Young, N24
  1. Extension Educator, Penn State University, York, Pennsylvania, 17406
  2. Lead Instructional Designer, Penn State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, 16802
  3. Extension Educator, Penn State University, Erie, Pennsylvania, 16509
  4. Associate Professor of Horticulture, Penn State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, 16802
  5. Extension Educator, Penn State Extension, Mill Hall, Pennsylvania, 17751
  6. Marketing Strategy Specialist, Penn State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, 16802
  7. Extension Educator, Penn State University, Pottsville, Pennsylvania, 17901
  8. Extension Educator, Penn State University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15219
  9. Extension Educator, Penn State University, Ebensburg, Pennsylvania, 15931
  10. Extension Educator, Penn State University, Franklin, Pennsylvania, 16323
  11. Sustainable Communities Manager, Penn State University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15219
  12. Assistant Professor and Program Coordinator Landscape Contracting, Penn State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, 16802
  13. Extension Educator, Penn State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, 16802
  14. Extension Educator, Penn State University, Nazareth, Pennsylvania, 18064
  15. Assistant Director, Horticulture Programs, Penn State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, 16802
  16. Research Technologist, Diagnostician, Instructor, Penn State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, 16802
  17. Assistant Teaching Professor, Penn State University, Sharon, Pennsylvania, 16146
  18. Extension Educator, Penn State University, Newtown, Pennsylvania, 18940
  19. Extension Educator, Penn State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, 16802
  20. Executive Director, Penn-Del Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture, Emmaus, Pennsylvania, 18049
  21. Assistant Teaching Professor in Horticulture, Penn State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, 16802
  22. Program Manager, Penn State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, 16802
  23. Extension Educator, Penn State University, York, Pennsylvania, 17406
  24. Educational Content Manager, Penn State University, Collegeville, Pennsylvania, 19426

Abstract

The Penn State Extension Green Industry Team developed 35 online courses to address the need for training resources for the green industry. The project team included extension educators and Penn State University faculty who collaborated to develop the curriculum, content, visual elements, and assessment tools, as well as conduct peer reviews of the courses. The resulting self-paced, asynchronous courses are offered at several learning levels, with options for entry-level, intermediate, and advanced workers. The courses utilize videos, images, short readings, and knowledge check questions to teach each topic. From 2021 to 2023, 2,030 participants completed courses. Evaluation data indicates that 81% of participants reported an increase in knowledge, and 91% of participants reported the intension to implement the knowledge they gained from the courses in their work or daily life. The courses also allow participants to earn professional continuing education credits and pesticide applicator recertification credits. In the past three years, the courses generated $132,747.00 in our efforts to support future green industry programming in Pennsylvania.

Entry