Proceedings of the Vertebrate Pest Conference

This study was undertaken to demonstrate and assess the efficacy of a new outreach education tool, an interactive touch-screen computer (kiosk) for ground squirrel control education. The target audience for the concept is the California agricultural industry and urban members of the public who are dealing with ground squirrel problems. Users of the computer kiosk are able to access various learning tools: a learning library, a quiz, video learning, an interactive decision-making tool, and they are able to print information and certificates. The computer kiosks are available at select California County Agricultural Commissioner offices. They are networked (computer linked) so that the education content is capable of being added to or amended from remote locations. In addition, the kiosks seamlessly gather statistical data and also collect voluntary information from users (i.e. email addresses and comments). The success of the computer kiosks demonstrated their potential for use in statewide continuing education and pesticide applicator certification efforts related to vertebrate pest control.