August 2024 - 8

HEADLINES/CALENDAR
The Value of Online Learning
By AmericanHort Staff
The internet has done for learning what the Gutenberg press
did for reading in the mid-1400s - spread knowledge to a far
greater number of people than who previously had access.
Thanks to online courses, the barriers to education -
time, expense and accessibility, to name a few - have all but
diminished. A quality education is available to anyone with
a screen and an internet connection. And best of all, online
education is often self-scheduled and self-paced, making it a
convenient tool.
With the aim of helping horticultural businesses succeed,
AmericanHort's online offerings provide practical
green
industry training to enhance skills and foster the growth of staff
and businesses alike. These offerings include topics and levels for
everyone, from those who are new to the industry to seasoned
industry veterans. No matter the field - nursery, greenhouse,
landscape, retail, or interior plantscaping - all segments of
the industry can find online educational opportunities in
AmericanHort's library.
In addition to offering practical
trainings and key topic
discussions, AmericanHort's webinars and other educational
opportunities benefit member companies and their staff in a
number of ways.
Self-Paced
In a live, one-time-only course, students might miss
something the teacher says,
feel uncomfortable asking
questions, or misunderstand what's being said for multiple
reasons. AmericanHort's online library of education allows
viewers to stop and start the webinar to catch what they
might have missed, pause to take care of family life and restart
when time allows. Offerings that allow for this self-paced
direction include
the Back2Basics webinar
series, which
provides foundational education for those just entering the
industry - as well as veterans who may want a refresher on
the basics - covering a range of topics and industry segments.
Alternatively, the Grow Forward series offers practical insights,
strategies and actionable tips for young professionals wishing
to find success in the horticulture business beyond the plants.
On Your Own Schedule
Career advancement and continuing education are
important, but so are your life, family and relationships.
AmericanHort recognizes it's essential for you to choose
when and how you move your career forward. Earning
certifications and taking part in advanced classes on your
own schedule are now options through AmericanHort's
online programs. For one, the new Greenhouse Technician
Certification is a self-paced online learning opportunity that
can expand your knowledge and advance your career. Other
opportunities are available with Mastery Series, a multipart
educational series that allows individuals to dive deeper into
a specific subject matter with experts in the field and walk
away with tools and plans to advance their businesses. The
Certification and Mastery Series are fee-based offerings for
both members and nonmembers.
Access Beyond Cultivate
Cultivate - the premier education event in the green
industry - has a lot to offer. Whether you can't sit in on
all the sessions you'd like to attend, want to take notes on
a session you already attended in-person, or think team
members would benefit from the training tools presented
during Cultivate, the On-Demand Education Pass provides
access to 40-plus world-class sessions recorded live and
available after the event. Recorded sessions include topics in
all segments of the green industry and are based on needs
identified by industry professionals.
Something for Everyone
The strength of AmericanHort's educational offerings is in
its diversity of programming.There are Greenhouse Technician
Certifications and webinars on gearing up for spring and
developing your sales teams. The library also offers inspiration
in the many Women in Horticulture webinars featuring
accomplished women in our industry. Community Connector
Roundtables inform and motivate during regularly scheduled
opportunities for members to learn the latest on issues within
each segment of the industry. The Industry Insider series keeps
the industry informed with panels of experts answering viewer
questions and discussing important matters of the day that
could impact your business.
No matter the industry segment, AmericanHort's online
library of webinars and programming educates, inspires and
informs its members so they achieve all they can for their
businesses and themselves. Access education available any
time at americanhort.org/learnonline.
8 | LAWN & GARDEN RETAILER | AUGUST 2024
http://www.americanhort.org/learnonline
August 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of August 2024
