ISHS Acta Horticulturae 641: XXVI International Horticultural Congress: The Knowledge Business: Horticulture Education and Knowledge Transfer
REACHING ACROSS WYOMING: HORTICULTURE QUESTION-AND-ANSWER SESSIONS VIA COMPRESSED VIDEO |
| Author: | K.L. Panter |
| Keywords: | distance education, Cooperative Extension, outreach |
| Abstract:
Interest in horticulture in the state of Wyoming increases annually. This is both a boon and a bane to the University of Wyoming Cooperative Extension Service, partially because of the state’s size and low population. With only 23 counties, Wyoming has a limited number of county-based Extension personnel. For campus-based specialists it is difficult to do routine on-site programs and visits. To help address this and assist county-based Extension Educators in timely horticulture problem-solving, a series of question-and-answer sessions was produced and distributed via compressed video in the summers of 2000 and 2001 (continued in 2002 as well). In 2000, nine 50-minute sessions were held with six sites. In 2001, 11 sites participated in eight 50-minute sessions. Participants included Extension Specialists, Extension Educators, county Horticulture Program Coordinators, Master Gardeners, and other citizens. Discussions centered on current problems and possible solutions. The use of compressed video allowed samples, photos, and other visual materials to be shown to, and solutions to be discussed interactively by, all participants simultaneously. Evaluations returned after completion of each year’s sessions indicated that 65% (2000) and 71% (2001) wanted to see such sessions continued during the next growing season. The information learned was used by 35% (2000) to 57% (2001) of respondents. | |
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