Master Gardener FAQ

A. Registration
B. Course Materials
C. Technical Help
D. Tests
E. Assignments
F. Office Hours

A. Registration

1. Is the Master Gardener Training Program only offered online?
   Yes, each course within the Master Gardener Training Program is available online using Moodle, an online learning tool that is accessible on the internet at (http://elearn.nsac.ca). You will receive an e-mail from us which will give you a login name and password so that you can begin accessing all of the materials on the course website. Please see #5 and 6 for details on your login information and when you will receive it.

2. Do I have to register for all four courses at once?
   No. You may register (and pay) for the courses as you wish to take them.

3. Can I take more than one course at a time?
   The majority of our students are working either part time or full time, and some are taking other courses as well. It is important to consider your current time commitments when deciding how many courses to take. Most of our students register for (and complete) one course at a time. There are a few who have committed to two courses at one time. You can register for one course beginning in October, and overlap this one with another intake.

4. Is there a deadline from the time I begin the program to the time I finish it?
   No. The suggested timeline is two years, assuming that a student takes and completes two courses per year. However, as many students have other commitments, and life’s surprises often get in the way, there is not a time limit on completing the program. (i.e. All four courses).

5. I have sent in my course selection form and my tuition payment. Now what?
   You will be sent an acceptance letter, receipt for tuition, and the Resource Manual by mail. (See #13 for information on the Resource Manual). Please allow 2 weeks for us to process your application.

6. I have registered for the course, when do I get my login name and password?
   An e-mail will be sent to you shortly before the course begins. This could be a few days before the start date, or up until 4:30pm on the start date. Remember that our course start dates are the first week of January, March and October. You will be informed of your start date in your acceptance letter.

7. I just received my login information but I can’t login - help!
   Your account is not activated until the date that is specified on your acceptance letter, which will be in the first week of your enrollment month: January, March or October. Even if you receive your login information before the start date, you will not be able to login until the accounts are created. This may not occur until 4:30pm on the official course start date.

8. How will I know what to do when I start the course?
   The first thing students should do upon entering a new course is to become familiar with the course site. Try navigating through the course and become familiar with how you access the various resources. Read the “Important Course Information” section. This section provides details on all the important components of the course. If you take the time to read this section, the course will go much smoother for you.

9. How much time do I have to complete one course?
   Students are given 6 months to complete one course, however, the March enrollment is accelerated and students have four months to complete. An optional 1 month extension is available for each of the courses.

10. I’m from Quebec, or another area outside of Ontario and the Atlantic Provinces. Which program should I take?
    The decision is yours. If you are close to the Ontario border and think that you may join one of the Master Gardener of Ontario (MGOI) groups, then you may want to consider taking the Ontario program. If you wish to become certified as a member of the Atlantic Master Gardener Association (AMGA), you must be prepared to complete an on-campus summer school in Truro, Nova Scotia for one week before you can graduate.

11. Are the Ontario and Atlantic Programs the same?
    The programs are presented in the same manner, and the content does not differ tremendously between the two programs. Because of the different climates and growing conditions between these two areas, some of the cultural information and references have been made specific to the region. Also, if you wish to become certified with the Atlantic Master Gardener Association (AMGA), you must complete the one week on campus Summer School.

12. How do I know if any other master gardener trainees are in the course with me? (in other words, am I alone?)
    Visit the discussion forum within the course, and introduce yourself! Ask the others where they are from, and what their gardening interests are. You just might find a friend in your area! You will also be given access to the Master Gardener Café. This is a free online site in NSAC’s Moodle where all Master Gardener participants can “meet”. You can use the forums in this site to communicate with other avid gardeners. The Center for Continuing & Distance Education staff may also post important program/course information here from time to time.

B. Course Materials

13. If the courses are online, what is the Resource Manual for?
    Each course has a printed Resource Manual that is sent to you by mail before the course begins. The Resource Manual has supplemental readings for the course, that is, articles of interest that complement the material found on the course website. The Resource Manual is NOT a substitute for the course. All of the course content is on the course website.

14. Will I need to buy any additional materials for the course?
    There are no other text books that are required for the courses, with the exception of Botany for Gardeners by Brian Capon which is a required text for the Science of Gardening.

15. Where can I buy Botany for Gardeners?
    This can be ordered from the NSAC bookstore by calling (902) 893-6728 or visiting http://nsac.ca/bookstore/. It can also be ordered from http://amazon.ca.

Technical Help

16. The course has begun and I still can't login!
    If you are trying to login and your given username and password are not working, please double check to be certain you are not using capitals or have made a typo. Moodle is case sensitive! If you still cannot login, please contact us at dehelp@nsac.ca.

17. I have dialup internet. Can I still take the program?
    While many of our students with dialup internet access have completed the course with success, you will have a more satisfying experience with the course if high-speed internet is available to you. Please visit our Technical Requirements page to ensure that your computer will be compatible.

18. I wouldn’t consider myself “highly computer literate”. Will I do okay in the course?
    If your computer experience is minimal, but you have used email and surfed the web before, you should be just fine. You should be comfortable (or know someone who is) with performing small modifications to your browser, when and if necessary (i.e. allowing cookies and popup windows for Moodle). The courses are designed and modified with a large range of user experiences in mind. You may find you need to take a deep breath and read things extra carefully from time to time, but where there’s a will, there’s a way!
    If you need technical assistance, please contact dehelp@nsac.ca.

19. I have a Mac. Can I still take the Master Gardener Program?
    Most definitely! Generally speaking, all Moodle resources function regardless of whether you use a Mac or a PC.  In Plant Identification and Use, the Latin names of all the plants are provided in WMA format. If you are running a Mac, you will need a program such as Flip4Mac (http://www.flip4mac.com/download.htm), which will allow you to listen to Windows Media Audio files through Quicktime

20. I find it easier to read printed pages than online material. Is there some way I can print parts of the course?
    Some of the resources can be printed but not all. Anything that is available in a “book” can be quite easily printed. If you require assistance with this, please contact dehelp@nsac.ca .

Tests

21. I got a question wrong on a test, but I know it is the right answer. Why is this happening?
    The computer is set up to mark only so many variations of an answer. Each and every test is reviewed by the program’s Teaching Assistant. Every answer is looked at to ensure that a simple spelling mistake was not made by the student. If the Teaching Assistant finds that a question was marked wrong but the answer is valid, the mark will be adjusted accordingly. Please allow three business days for the tests to be reviewed by the Teaching Assistant before protesting a mark. Please note that this only pertains to the tests, and not the self tests.

Office Hours

23. I e-mailed a question to one of your staff, and no one has responded yet.
    The Continuing and Distance Education office is open Monday to Friday 8:30 am until 4:30 pm, Atlantic Standard Time. You can expect a reply to your inquiries, including test requests, within three business days. However, you can leave a message or email at any time.

If you find you are getting frustrated with any aspect of the course, be sure to slow down and read the instructions that are provided. Every word that you see on the course page is there for a reason, so the solution to your frustration is probably right in front of you, literally!

Any questions regarding use of Moodle or technical questions can be directed to dehelp@nsac.ca. If you have questions regarding the course, please contact cde@nsac.ca.

Additional help files are linked on Moodle homepage.  Please visit this page for help with Moodle related questions.