Learn about Plants, History and Society without leaving home!

Sick Plants and a Hungry World is an online course offered to Master Gardeners by the Department of Plant Pathology at Ohio State University. Over 200 individuals from 16 states have registered for the course since its launch in March 2009.

What was the future in teaching and learning is now the reality. Online courses can now be found on any topic and are not just for those seeking college degrees, but also for those dedicated to lifelong learning. One group who falls under the latter category are Extension Master Gardeners. With this in mind, a collaborative effort between the Department of Plant Pathology and the Ohio Extension Master Gardener Volunteer program took shape. An online course first offered asynchronously to Ohio State students has now been transformed into an online course specific to Master Gardener Volunteers delivered through the Moodle course management system.

Course Summary

The course entitled Sick Plants and a Hungry World is targeted to Master Gardeners and others interested in learning about stories of plant disease from a world and historical perspective. Modules cover topics such as the Disease Triangle, Irish potato famine, and bioterrorism through reading assignments and self-tests. An excerpt from the course is available at:

http://plantpath.osu.edu/extension/online/course.

Course Details

• Timeframe and pace: Ten self-paced modules over the course in ten weeks; Self-assessments allow students to test themselves on the material.
• Cost: $35.00
• Certificates of Completion: Those completing the course receive a certificate of completion from the Department of Plant Pathology at Ohio State University.
• Continuing Education Units – Rock County Master Gardener Volunteers will be awarded 4 CEUs for successful completion of the course.
• Registration Online: Students register through the Office of Continuing Education at Ohio State and have ten weeks to complete the self-paced course.
• Download the course information flyer.

To register for the course go to:

http://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=864524 (takes about five minutes).

After registering you will receive an email with the course web site and passcode.You will need to go to the Moodle course web site and create a username and password (different from the passcode). You will then receive a second email where you will need to confirm your username and password. Once this is done you will be taken back to Moodle where you will need to enter your username and password. It will then ask you for the passcode you received in the first email (this is the only time you will have to do this). After entering this you will be taken to the course homepage.

More Information on Sick Plants and a Hungry World

For frequently asked questions about the course please visit this link:

http://plantpath.osu.edu/extension/online/faqs. Here you will read about questions many Master Gardenters have had about the course over the past year. More information about the course can be found at: http://plantpath.osu.edu/extension/online or contact Sarah Ellis at ellis.293@osu.edu - Department of Plant Pathology, The Ohio State University.