Welcome to the first edition of Training Module Mania!, a monthly supplement from the PSEP Office that will explore each training topic (‘module’) of private applicator training and the resources available to Educators for delivering that topic. Our goal with this series of articles is to help you find the training materials you need and examine how best to use them. This month, we will focus on the Label module.
Of all the modules that constitute private pesticide applicator training, the Label module is, in a way, the most important. Successful pesticide label comprehension is the bedrock of responsible, effective pesticide use. We often say that pesticide labels are legal documents, which is both true and important. But they are also practical documents. Labels are where the concepts presented in other modules, such as toxicity, risk, and environmental protection are translated into concrete information that guides an applicator’s decisions and actions. They are where the rubber meets the road. It is critical to highlight the value of label information during training.
Materials available for teaching the Label module are:
• PowerPoint presentation with discussion questions (available on OneDrive/SharePoint, formerly Box) Revised July 1st, 2021
• Original PowerPoint presentation without template updates.
• Label Exercise for private applicators (activity guidance on pg. 64 of In-Service Manual ; discussion questions/answer key on pg. 97 of In-Service Manual; full activity including map, label, and discussion questions in Private Applicator Reference Guide) New Version in revision, set to be released before December 1st, 2021. Look for updates in the 2022 In-Service Manual
• Video version of the original PowerPoint (available on OneDrive/SharePoint)
• Supplementary video, “Using Pesticide Labels to Make an Informed Purchase” (available on UNLExtensionPSEP YouTube channel, and on OneDrive/SharePoint) Embedded in updated PowerPoint as well.
• What you need to know about reading a label (SPANISH) PDF. This product was created by PennState and we have permission to use it.
The In-Service Manual provides a comprehensive checklist of topics that, by law, must be covered in private applicator training. This checklist is found in Appendix A, pages 47-48. Immediately after this checklist, on pages 49-50, is a Curriculum Table of available training materials, sorted by module. Use the requirements checklist and Curriculum Table to plan your training sessions.
The PowerPoint presentation for the Label module is one in a set of nine that cover everything required for private applicator training. Thus, if you so desired, you could simply present these nine slide decks and fulfill the requirements for training private applicators. However, you may find that replacing some PowerPoints with activities, videos, and discussions increases the impact and engagement of your training sessions.
This year, we are working to create “enhanced” versions of these presentations suffused with discussion questions. We hope this will make them more interactive and spur critical thinking. For the Label module, some of these discussion questions will reference the Milestone label used for the Label Exercise. This can serve to prepare the class for a transition to the Exercise after the presentation.
Another important note on the presentations: you can often find presenter notes below the slides that explain the slide creator’s intent behind including certain things and how to discuss them. These notes can be extremely helpful to the presenter. The notes may include exact wording that can be used for a given slide, however, it is typically best to speak in an unscripted, informal way.
During the second half of 2020, Educators and the PSEP Office developed a set of videos covering each of the nine module PowerPoint presentations discussed above. If you feel uncomfortable lecturing on a certain module, you can choose to play that module’s video instead. Some modules even have multiple versions presented by different Educators, allowing additional flexibility. The video for the Label module was completed by Kelly Feehan. These videos are based on the original, un-”enhanced” PowerPoints, which will still be available if you are not comfortable with the new discussion-oriented PowerPoints.
The Label Exercise is a key opportunity to get applicators to “put on their thinking caps” and become active participants in their training. The private applicator version of the exercise involves an imagined application of the herbicide Milestone to pasture land. A set of questions are provided that require reading and comprehending the herbicide label. This exercise is housed in the Private Applicator Reference Guide. The answer key is included in the In-Service Manual, as is guidance for conducting the activity. Our hope is that you will use the Label PowerPoint with discussion questions in tandem with the Label Exercise to make the training more interactive. Using discussions as a teaching tool allows learners to find answers on their own and feel empowered to ask questions and discuss until solutions are reached.
We can assume that our applicator clientele speak English (they have to be able to read and understand English pesticide labels), but some may speak Spanish as their native language. To assist in their learning we have included a Spanish-language PDF titled “What you need to know about reading a label”. It was created by Penn State and we have obtained permission to share it while giving credit to them. Feel free to offer this to any clients who may benefit from it.
One other potential resource to use while delivering the Label module is a video clip titled, “Using Pesticide Labels to Make an Informed Purchase”. While it was created with the general public in mind, private applicators may develop an appreciation for why selecting their products carefully can benefit their operation.
During training, we recommend that you spend about 20-25 minutes teaching this module. Consider devoting most of this time to the private applicator Label Exercise.
Pesticide safety education is a worthwhile endeavor. Our job as educators is to engage the audience and build their appreciation for the responsibilities they assume when using pesticides. Across the nation, Pesticide Safety Education Programs have the mission of encouraging the judicious use of pesticides. This mission protects human health, the environment, and our producers’ bottom lines.