Beyond the Coconut Telegraph: A Web Instruction Idea for Master Gardeners

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Beyond the Coconut Telegraph A Web Instruction
Idea for Master Gardeners

• Allison Level
• Colorado State University
• Natural Resources Librarian

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Coconut Telegraph, What?

• Album image from http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coc
  onut_Telegraph

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Coconut Telegraph Fun

• Ah, put it on the coconut telegraph All the
  celebration and the stress Baby put it on the
  coconut telegraph In twenty-five words or less
• Coconut Telegraph by Jimmy Buffett
• How to get the word out and have some fun in
  Margaritaville style

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CSU Library Connections CSU Extension

• Subject librarian for the College of Natural
  Resources
• CSU Extension librarian liaison
• Volunteer life includes Colorado Master Gardener
  work for Larimer County since 2003

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Starting Out, Dirt and Weeds

• Planned library research sessions for new CSU
  Extension personnel
• Promoted research consultations, database help,
  etc.

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Preparing the Soil

• Provided CSU Library Research Information to new
  Extension personnel including new Larimer County
  Horticulture Agent
• Discussed the idea of a Larimer County MG
  information session

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Planting the Seed

• Offered a classroom MG session
• Was asked about a way to create information for
  broader impact
• Asked for Captivate 2 software
• Worked with instruction librarian
• Asked MGs who attended the class, what they felt
  would be useful

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Water Nurturing

• Blocked out time for project
• Created practice examples
• Tested ideas with horticulture agent
• Created a lesson plan
• Worked on tutorials
• Time elapsed, relearned software

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Grow, Grow, Grow

• Shared a test tutorial
• Incorporated feedback (need audio)
• Learned to record audio
• Created Web page for tutorials
• Launched publicity

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Garden is in Bloom!

• Tutorials were viewed
• Success! Good feedback
• Suggestions for other tutorials improvement
  (create handouts)

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Dirt Under The Fingernails

• How to create plant your garden
• Can I really learn Captivate?
• Tips for successful tutorials
• Tutorial example LIVE from the Web

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Tutorials Highlight Simple Computer Help Tips

• Use find feature to locate specific fact sheet
  by name
• Problem, the list is 9 pgs by number

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Find Feature Tutorial

• Reality, people search by words
• Shows computer features, cursor movement

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Tutorials Include Web Pages PowerPoint Slides

• Add notes or URL via PowerPoint

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Captivate 3

• Menu driven

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Some Captivate 3 Screens

• Setting your window size

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Captivate 3 In Progress

• Storyboard view of project

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Captivate 3 Edit

• Editing view

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Captivate 3 Details

• Sample timeline of slide

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Publish File, Then You Are Almost Done

• Create Web page for easier linking
• Upload files needed
• Computer needs Flash to run tutorial
• Test and go

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Have Fun, Avoid Burnout

• Plan time to work on the PROJECT
• Create reasonable tutorial topics
• Short sweet vs. long complex

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Tips for Success

• Plan out a skill to teach, Web site, or computer
  feature to highlight
• Write steps then practice
• Record the tutorial
• Create PowerPoint slides (if needed)
• Edit Captivate frames
• Add in PowerPoint

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Tips for Success

• Get the tutorial where you like it
• Run the tutorial then add spoken words
• Go frame by frame with audio
• Edit as you go, if you dont like the way it
  sounds, re-record that frame
• Play it again, for Sam, or your colleagues use
  feedback

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Give Captivate a Try

• Sometimes beauty comes in unexpected places
• Photo by Carla Casler, pincushion cactus in bloom

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But I Really

• Dont like my voice
• Like complex examples
• Dont have for software
• Dont know where to begin

• Find a volunteer
• Treat them as chapters and link
• Investigate campus technology to use
• Create tutorial for a class or group you usually
  teach

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Colorado Master Gardener Tutorials

• List of Tutorials
• Searching Fact Sheets the Find Feature --
  Dollar Spot (212 minutes)
• Google Advanced Search -- Attracting Butterflies
  (053 seconds)
• Google Advanced with Domain Limit -- Snow Mold
  (244 minutes)
• AnswerLink Search Tips -- Pruning Lilacs (307
  minutes)
• http//lib.colostate.edu/research/coopext/tutorial
  s.html

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Thanks!

• Contact Allison for more information
• Do you have MG training materials? Please let me
  know about them
• Comments suggestions about this project are
  welcome
• Thank you Cathy Cranston for help with software
  instruction
• http//lib.colostate.edu/research/coopext/tutorial
  s.html

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Questions?

• Are there any questions for the panel?

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