Project Description

UGA Cooperative Extension provides Georgia citizens resources to improve their quality of life. Extension agents, present in 157 counties, represent one of three different program areas: Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR), Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS), and 4-H Youth Development.

Every new agent participates in Extension Foundations Training, a course to acclimate them to the Extension culture as well as to provide them with tools they can use on the job. New agents also attend training specific to their program area. This is typically a broad training that covers many topics.

A broad education is not sufficient to truly prepare these agents for situations that they may face in their individual counties. Extension needs comprehensive, in-depth modules focusing on specific topics that will better prepare agents for their unique situations.

Extension is interested in establishing an online learning system to house modules on many different topics, provide a method for participation to be documented, and customize training "tracks". In addition, a sample module should be created to show how the system will be used. Content for Plant Pathology topics will be provided.