“This really supplemented my learning in pest and disease management. I am very grateful for the opportunity to have been involved in the program.”
Curriculum and Learning Tracks
The two-track School, offered an interactive certification program and a webinar series. Both provided instruction on identifying the major pests of greenhouse floriculture, making scouting faster and easier, communicating with growers and greenhouse owners and finding resources for identification and management of disease, insect and weed pests, as well as biological controls, while the certificate program included hands-on learning, with scouting equipment included in the cost of the course.
Lobdell was essential to the program’s success, helping to develop the curriculum and joining Stephanie Barnett, Margery Daughtrey, NYSIPM Senior Extension Specialist Betsy Lamb, John Sanderson and Cheryl Sullivan in teaching the courses.
“We started the School not knowing for sure whether or not people would sign-up, and we ended up with more certificate students than we could accommodate in the first run,” Lamb said, noting the diversity of participants. “We had college students, grad students, even a high school student, greenhouse employees and owners, a teacher and an extension specialist, all engaged and enthusiastic about serving as scouts.”
Success and Participation
In total, 24 of the 28 students registered for the certificate program met the requirements for a certificate, while 40 of the 47 webinar participants signed up for all six sessions. Post-course surveys indicated that the School was a resounding success, with 92% of certificate students saying they would recommend or take the course again.
“I was in college during the pandemic, so unfortunately, I missed more of the hands-on aspects of my greenhouse course,” one student said. “This really supplemented my learning in pest and disease management. I am very grateful for the opportunity to have been involved in the program.”
