Tuesday, November 6, 2007
143-2

Use of Web CT Vista to deliver the Florida Certified Crop Advisor Self-Study Program.

Edward Hanlon, Aaron Sotala, Ronald Thomas, and Shuchi S. Shukla. University of Florida, Southwest FL REC-Immokalee, 2686 State Rd. 29 N, Immokalee, FL 34142-9515

Instead of designing a self-contained Web site, the authors accepted a challenge from the Dean for Extension, UF/IFAS, to adapt the WebCT Vista formal course management system to an extension training function. The authors have developed a Self-Study Program for Florida Certified Crop Advisors (CCAs) that is flexible enough to be used to offer Continuing Education Units (CEU). One of the primary obstacles to be overcome was the student authentication and registration process for Vista that ties in with the UF Gatorlink system maintained by the Registrar. Because CCAs are not typically UF students, a mechanism had to be created to allow them to access Vista. Although that mechanism is not perfect, it allowed the authors to begin delivery of their program while working with Vista administrators on a better, more permanent solution. The current Self-Study Program contains 40 offerings in the four competency areas required by the CCA program. Study materials consist of a link to electronic files residing within the UF/IFAS EDIS system for on-line study, PDF versions of those files for off-line study, and an on-line quiz. Upon submission, quizzes are scored automatically and results are sent via an alert email to the program coordinator. Quiz information is archived, and an additional email is forwarded to the CCA system to record the score and officially count the quiz as evidence of CEU completion. For CEUs in the Pesticide competency area, the CCA may elect to receive credit for both the CCA program and the Florida Pesticide License Program via a choice on the quiz. A copy of the quiz is then also sent to that program's coordinator. System use and results of a survey of CCA users will be reported in the poster.