Beyond the Coconut Telegraph : A Web Instruction Idea for Master Gardeners Allison Level Colorado State University Natural Resources Librarian

Coconut Telegraph, What?  Album image from:

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

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

Starting Out, Dirt and Weeds  Planned library research sessions for new CSU Extension personnel  Promoted research consultations, database help, etc.

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

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

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

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

Garden is in Bloom!  Tutorials were viewed  Success! Good feedback  Suggestions for other tutorials & improvement (create handouts)

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

Tutorials Highlight Simple Computer Help Tips  Use “find” feature to locate specific fact sheet by name  Problem, the list is 9 pgs by number

Find Feature Tutorial  Reality, people search by words  Shows computer features, cursor movement

Tutorials Include Web Pages & PowerPoint Slides  Add notes or URL via PowerPoint

Captivate 3  Menu driven

Some Captivate 3 Screens  Setting your window size

Captivate 3 In Progress  Storyboard view of project:

Captivate 3 Edit  Editing view

Captivate 3 Details  Sample timeline of slide:

“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

Have Fun, Avoid Burnout  Plan time to work on the PROJECT  Create reasonable tutorial topics  Short & sweet vs. long & complex

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

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 don’t like the way it sounds, re-record that frame  Play it again, for Sam, or your colleagues; use feedback

Give Captivate a Try  Sometimes beauty comes in unexpected places  Photo by Carla Casler, pincushion cactus in bloom

But I Really…  Don’t like my voice  Like complex examples  Don’t have $ for software  Don’t 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

Colorado Master Gardener Tutorials  List of Tutorials:  Searching Fact Sheets & the Find Feature -- Dollar Spot (2:12 minutes)  Google Advanced Search -- Attracting Butterflies (0:53 seconds)  Google Advanced with Domain Limit -- Snow Mold (2:44 minutes)  AnswerLink Search Tips -- Pruning Lilacs (3:07 minutes) 

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 

Questions?  Are there any questions for the panel?