National eXtension Initiative

eXtension will launch tomorrow, February 21, 2008 as a part of the USDA Ag Outlook Forum. Details of the launch ceremony are:

Thursday, February 21, 2008
3:15 p.m.

• Opening Remarks by Colien Hefferan, Administrator, CSREES, emcee
• Ribbon cutting by Secretary of Agriculture Schafer (Deputy Secretary Conner)
• Introductions/recognition of Dignitaries/Special Guests by REE Deputy Under
Secretary Merle Pierson
• Remarks by Gale Buchanan, Under Secretary REE
• Introductions/recognition of eXtension Staff, Dan Cotton, Director, eXtension
• Introductions/recognition of eXtension Community of Practice leaders, Carla Craycraft & Craig Wood, eXtension co-Associate Directors, Content Development
• Introductions/recognition of CSREES NPLs/liaisons to CoPs, Greg Crosby, CSREES NPL & Member, eXtension Director’s Council & Governing Committee
• Introductions of eXtension Partners/Sponsors, Colien Hefferan, Administrator, CSREES and Community of Practice leaders
• Peter McPherson, President, National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges.
• Concluding Remarks, Colien Hefferan, Administrator, CSREES
• eXtension eXhibits Open (Salon J); eXtension Briefings begin (Salon K)

eXtension Briefings can be found at http://about.extension.org/wiki/Briefing_Final

Google Presentation is a new tool introduced in September for the collaborative development of slide shows. It is cut from the same cloth as Google Docs and Google Spreadsheets and shows great promise as a new collaboration technology. Participants will be given an introduction to the tool’s use, discuss its advantages and disadvantages, and see how this tool can be used to facilitate online learning. The session will include a demonstration of several recent enhancements to the Google Presentation system. (For all Extension)

Plan to join us on February 26, 2008 for this online professional development opportunity presented by Kevin Gamble, associate director of eXtension.

Give us 30 minutes and we’ll teach you something useful! This session will be held at our Web Conferencing Center at http://connect.extension.iastate.edu/learn and your telephone. Plan to join the session 5 minutes before the starting time. Each session will be held at 3:00p Eastern Time (2:00p CT, 1:00p MT, 12:00n PT, 11:00a AT; 9:00a HT) unless otherwise noted. Get more information about participating…

Google Webmaster Tools is a system where you can get information about how Google sees your site and troubleshoot potential problems. This presentation will show you how to configure your site to use the tools. It will also show what information Google Tools will tell you about your site. (for all Extension)

Plan to join us on February 19, 2008 for this online professional development opportunity presented by Brian Webster, Iowa State Extension, and on behalf of the ACE IT SIG.

Give us 30 minutes and we’ll teach you something useful! This session will be held at our Web Conferencing Center at http://connect.extension.iastate.edu/learn and your telephone. Plan to join the session 5 minutes before the starting time. Each session will be held at 3:00p Eastern Time (2:00p CT, 1:00p MT, 12:00n PT, 11:00a AT; 9:00a HT) unless otherwise noted. Get more information about participating…

Celebrate the launch of the eXtension with colleagues from across the country…and people from all over the world… at the eXtension Virtual State Fair in the 3-D online community Second Life! Come to Morrill Island in Second LIfe at http://slurl.com/secondlife/Morrill/165/136/29 to join in the festive atmosphere and watch the ceremony.Watch real life video of the eXtension ribbon cutting ceremony streamed into Second Life from the USDA Ag Outlook Forum in Washington DC. Visit the Expo Tent spotlighting 16 Communities of Practice. Take a virtual horseback ride, tour the animal barns, try out the bumper cars…and the virtual cotton candy is calorie-free! Fireworks, games and live music performances will be scheduled throughout the three day celebration, on February 21, 22 and 23, 2008

For more information and a schedule of events, go to: eXtension Launch Celebration Announcement.

Are you tired of creating a new account on every web site you visit? Do you not sign-up for new sites because they require you to create yet another account? Do you go to sites and can’t remember your login, password, or both? OpenID is a new technology that aims to solve these problems. Everyone with an Extension ID already has an OpenID. Come to this session to learn how it works, and about the growing list of Web sites where it can be used. Once you go OpenID you’ll never want to go back… (for all Extension)

Plan to join us on February 12, 2008 for this online professional development opportunity presented by Kevin Gamble, associate director for eXtension.

Give us 30 minutes and we’ll teach you something useful! This session will be held at our Web Conferencing Center at http://connect.extension.iastate.edu/learn and your telephone. Plan to join the session 5 minutes before the starting time. Each session will be held at 3:00p Eastern Time (2:00p CT, 1:00p MT, 12:00n PT, 11:00a AT; 9:00a HT) unless otherwise noted. Get more information about participating…

To visit Second Life, you must first sign up for a free account at www.secondlife.com, and create your personal avatar. Second Life can be a confusing place, so eXtension is offering orientation for new avatars two times a week, Mondays and Thursdays from 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM SLT (2:00-4:00pm ET). Just bring your new avatar to the eXtension building on Eduisland, and Second Life resident “Thynka Little” will be there to answer your questions, or you can send your questions via email to luann.phillips@extension.org.

Sessions are schedule for Feb. 11 and 13; 18 and 20; and 25 and 27.

This meet-up will feature a fashion exchange and appearance tutoring. Come get ideas for helping your avatar look its best for the eXtension Launch event and other activities in Second Life. Meet at Morrill Island in Second Life.

Friday, February 8, 2008
12 PM SLT (same as 3:00 PM ET)

Twice every month the CES Second Life educators meet in-world to learn new skills and visit interesting educational builds. The learning parts of the meet-ups are led by fellow participants, and are designed to be lightweight and appropriate for all skill levels. If you are interested in what’s being planned, join the Cooperative Extension Second Life Educators group in Facebook.

We’ll cover the basics you need to get started working in an eXtension wiki. Whether you’re part of a Community of Practice, helping to copy-edit articles in CoP wiki, or working in Collaborate wiki, join us so you can get started! (for all Extension)

Plan to join us on February 6, 2008 for this online professional development opportunity presented by Beth Raney, professional development leader for eXtension.

Give us 30 minutes and we’ll teach you something useful! This session will be held at our Web Conferencing Center at http://connect.extension.iastate.edu/learn and your telephone. Plan to join the session 5 minutes before the starting time. Each session will be held at 3:00p Eastern Time (2:00p CT, 1:00p MT, 12:00n PT, 11:00a AT; 9:00a HT) unless otherwise noted. Get more information about participating…