Online Training

Since January 2002, University of Illinois Extension has offered Master Gardener training on-line as an option for those who would like to take the Master Gardener course, but due to work schedules or travel concerns are unable to attend one of the face-to-face training programs. The 2008 class will run from January 14 through May 9, coinciding with spring semester on the U of I campus.

Applicants for this course MUST have at least some previous computer experience and feel comfortable with navigating the Internet and using email as well as basic programs such as Microsoft Word. Computer specifications may be found on the "System Requirements" document. Please keep in mind that if these specifications are not met- the course may be hard to access and download time is slow- leading to student frustration. Please make sure that proper computer specifications and internet access are taken care of before registering for this class.

The first week of the course all enrollees will participate in an On-Line orientation session about the Master Gardener program and U of I Extension, as well as an introduction to Illinois Compass, the computer program that is the framework of the on-line course. The 12 major course units will include Botany, Soils, Plant Diseases, Entomology, Integrated Pest Management, Herbaceous Ornamentals, Woody Ornamentals, Grasses, Houseplants, Small and Tree Fruits, Vegetables and Landscaping. Each unit will include a reading assignment from the manual, a PowerPoint presentation and notes to view, external links to visit, a homework assignment and a quiz. A 100 question final exam is also required. The course includes an obligatory discussion board tool for communication between participants and with the instructor. Participants may work at their own pace but should be aware that the course has specific deadlines for completion of homework and quizzes. No extensions will be granted without prior approval of the instructor.

Those interested in taking the On-Line course as a Master Gardener should apply through their local University of Illinois Extension Unit Office, following the same initial procedures as face-to-face Master Gardener applicants --- filling out an application form and completing an interview for units that interview applicants. Applicants must receive approval from their local Unit Leader and/or Master Gardener coordinator to take the training as a Master Gardener. Master Gardener candidates must serve their volunteer hours to the unit in which they register and are accepted into the class.

Those applicants choosing Non-volunteer /personal study option may take the on-line course as well. Indicate on the On-Line Registration Form you are taking the course as: Non-Volunteer/ personal study option. Return your registration and fee to local University of Illinois Extension office for forwarding to the state office. You cannot change your mind later and decide to become a Master Gardener if you choose this option.

The training fee for either category of trainee is $250, payable to the University of Illinois. This training fee includes a CD-ROM of the Master Gardener manual. If registrants would also like a hard copy of the manual, an additional $45 fee applies. Registered participants will receive their manual(s), PowerPoint CD, and course password, along with information about accessing the course for the first time prior to the start of the course on January 14.

Master Gardener applicants must fill out an application and will also be asked to participate in an informal interview. Applications will be accepted for 2008 online training through November 26, 2007.

Questions about the course may be directed to Karyn Traum- Champaign County Master Gardener Program Coordinator, 217-333-7672 or traum@uiuc.edu, or the Master Gardener State Coordinator-Monica David, 1201 S. Dorner Drive, Urbana, IL 61801; 217-265-5256 or modavid@uiuc.edu

2008-Computer System Requirements for the Master Gardener On-line Course

The Master Gardener On-line training course uses an on-line teaching program called Illinois Compass. Trainees can access the Illinois Compass platform through a web browser such as Netscape or Internet Explorer. Some of the files in the course are very large. If you have slow dial-up Internet access, you may find viewing the files time consuming, frustrating, and costly if done all on-line. A CD-ROM version of the powerpoint files used in the course will be provided. A powerpoint viewer is included on the CD-ROM.

The Illinois Compass software you will use resides on a server (a central host computer) on the University of Illinois campus. You will want to be sure that your computer's settings are optimized for running an online course. Illinois Compass uses Java technology extensively. In order for Compass to work properly, you need to have the appropriate Java plug-in installed on your computer. To get the most recent version of the Java plug in for your windows computer, go to www.java.com, click on the Download Java Software Now button and follow the directions. Macintosh users receive Java updates automatically via their software update control panel. Instructions for configuration of your computer as well as installing Java will be sent to you before the course begins.

You will also need Acrobat Reader (which can be downloaded free from the Internet) to view the CD-ROM version of the Master Gardener Manual. The Master Gardener On-line course has a messaging system within the course, so e-mail access is not absolutely necessary, but for direct communication with the instructor it is recommended that course participants also have an e-mail account.

If this is your first experience with on-line learning, you may want to take advantage of the on-line Illinois Compass tutorial that you'll find out about once registered for the course. There is also a student help document available on-line.

Recommended Browsers

Not all web browsers perform properly with Illinois Compass. Please refer to the table below for the browsers supported by Illinois Compass.

Not all web browsers perform properly with Illinois Compass. Please refer to the table below for the browsers supported by Illinois Compass.

Windows	Macintosh
Internet Explorer 5.5 (SP2), 6.0	Internet Explorer 5.1 (OS X 10.1) and 5.2 (OS X 10.2)
Netscape 7.0, 7.1,7.2	Netscape 7.0, 7.1, 7.2
AOL 8.0, 9.0	AOL OSX
Mozilla 1.5,1.7	Mozilla 1.5, 1.6, 1.7 (OS X)
Firefox 1.0, 1.5	Firefox 1.0 (OS X)
	Safari 1.2, 1.31 and higher, 2.01 and higher

Netscape 4.8, Safari, Opera, and other browsers will generally display Illinois Compass content, but may not work properly for all of the features such as quizzing and chat. We suggest that users of these browsers install the most current version of Internet Explorer or Netscape as a backup if they are having problems using any of Compass' tools.

Click here to apply for online training.