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BLENDING THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY WITH TRADITIONAL EXTENSION PROGRAMMING

Teaching & Educational Technologies

Chris Bruynis
Associate Professor, Extension Educator & Area Leader
Ohio State University Extension
Chillicothe

Abstract

Due to small class sizes during recent Master Gardener training in several counties in Southern Ohio, coupled with some counties have vacancies in the Agricultural and Natural Resources Educator position, a group of Educators decided to offer training using a blended teaching approach. By using CarmenConnect (OSU licensed Abobe Connect) to deliver educational programming, multiple locations could be taught at the same time. Instructors either taught the lesson from one of the three training sites or remotely from their office. Additionally, instructors were requested to provide 20–30 minutes of hands-on activity, complete with materials list and facilitator instructions to complement the lecture portion of each class. Either the local host educator or a previously trained Master Gardener Volunteer facilitated the interactive portion of the lesson. Feedback from existing Master Gardener Volunteers revealed that the trainings were equally as effective as an entire face to face program and better integrated existing volunteers with the new recruits through the hand-on activities. Authors: Bruynis PhD, C. L., Iles, J., Neal, N., Dugan, D., Meyer, C., Meyer, G., Bergerfurd, B.
  1. Bruynis PhD, C. L. Assistant Professor, Extension Educator & County Extension Director, Ohio State University Extension, Ohio, 45601
  2. Iles, J. Extension Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Ohio, 43138
  3. Neal, N. Extension Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Ohio, 45160
  4. Dugan, D. Extension Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Ohio, 45121
  5. Meyer, C. Extension Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Ohio, 45011
  6. Meyer, G. Extension Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Ohio, 45036
  7. Bergerfurd, B. Extension Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Ohio, 45662