National eXtension Initiative

The eXtension Governing Committee has approved the 2011 – 2014 eXtension Strategic Roadmap. The Roadmap focuses on the following priorities moving forward:

•Blockbuster Communities – This will involve enhancing the customer experience to generate transformative learning and greater customer reach. By participating in Learning Networks and curation, we will ensure customer involvement and collaboration to create true customer “delight.” This will be achieved through genuinely understanding and respecting customer expectations for Web-based communities and delivering against these expectations.

•Partnerships and funding – This will include securing successful sponsorships, partnerships, and collaborations that meet identified needs and provide the additional investment funding.

•Local value enhancement – This involves creating useful and valuable content for Cooperative Extension specialists and county agents/educators, while ensuring they are aware of how to contribute, and how to access educational resources and information to help them to serve their constituents more efficiently and effectively.

•Performance measurement – This includes creating a dashboard of performance metrics that the entire Cooperative Extension System will find appropriate and acceptable.

•Productivity improvement – This involves placing available time and money against the highest payoff priorities while making the process of creating new subject matter networks more efficient and effective.

•Professional development – This involves providing professional development leadership for Cooperative Extension and offering professional development in areas that guarantee a 21st Century workforce i.e., new technologies, content and program development, and collaboration and sharing.

Work to address these priorities is organized into six Action plans:

1) User Focus,
2) Partnerships & Funding,
3) Content Development,
4) Shared Vision,
5) Transparency & Accountability and
6) Professional Development.

As you would expect, work described in the Plans is already underway as we seek to add value to Cooperative Extension’s 21st Century Network. To review the 2011 – 2014 eXtension Strategic Roadmap and the Action Plans detailing work to be carried out please visit http://create.extension.org/StrategicPlans

The eXtension Evaluation Community of Practice is a group of Extension professionals with expertise in program evaluation and the goal of becoming a resource for the Cooperative Extension System (CES) on program evaluation. The CoP has been meeting for the past year and has been developing a strategy and plans to provide evaluation resources and assistance to the CES. Activities accomplished thus far have included: conducting webinars on program evaluation (see http://www.extension.org/learn for announcements), publishing over 60 FAQs on program evaluation (just search “program evaluation” on the public website to see these), creating an evaluation resource clearinghouse (see http://nc4-heval.wikispaces.com/Evaluation+Resources+Clearinghouse), and developing a course on Program Development and Evaluation and other evaluation modules (to be released soon). In addition, the CoP conducted an online interest survey of the 112 CoP members (see the results at http://collaborate.extension.org/mediawiki/files/2/26/EXtension_Evaluation_CoP_Interest_Survey.pd) and will be using that information to develop and provide additional assistance and resources on program evaluation to the CES.

For further information, suggestions, or comments, please contact the Evaluation CoP Co-Chairs:

Michael Duttweiler (mwd1@cornell.edu)
Michael Newman (mnewman@ext.msstate.edu)

Free webinars include:

June 9 – Economic Development by the Numbers: Helping Communities Make Sense of the Data, http://www.extension.org/pages/17915/monthly-webinar-series-offers-tips-and-strategies

June 21 – Irrigation Efficiency – Pipeline Distribution Systems, http://www.extension.org/pages/58457/irrigation-efficiency-pipeline-distribution-systems

June 21 – Queen Bee Breeding Cooperatives, http://www.extension.org/pages/58677/webinar:-queen-breeding-coops

June 24 – Short Rotation Woody Crops in the Northeast, http://extension.psu.edu/energy/wood-energy/northeast-wood-biomass-energy-program/webinars

June 24 – Improving Implementation of Nutrient Management Plans, http://www.extension.org/pages/56461/improving-implementation-of-nutrient-management-plans

July 20 – Advances in Equine Genetics, http://myhorseuniversity.com/resources/webcasts/july_2011

July 29 – Forest Biomass and Bioenergy: Opportunities and Constraints in the Northeastern United States, http://www.extension.org/pages/54432/webinar:-forest-biomass-and-bioenergy:-opportunities-and-constraints-in-the-northeastern-united-state

See the related news release at http://www.extension.org/pages/58651/free-extension-webinars-in-june-provide-latest-research-and-practical-information.

The environmental scan of military families programming for Extension has closed the books on year one and a report has been published. This report summarizes the results and includes three waves of data collection, beginning in August 2010 and ending in May 2011. While we believe this is a good start at identifying Extension programs serving military families we also believe that there are even more programs being offered and the Military Families eXtension Learning Network will continue to collect data and information.

The full report can be found at: http://collaborate.extension.org/mediawiki/files/8/8d/ESCanReportMay2011.pdf

We are pleased to have this information to help inform and guide stakeholders as the partnership moves forward. Please do not hesitate to contact Sarah Baughman, Evaluation & Research Specialist at sarahbaughman@eXtension.org or Kyle Kostelecky, National Project Leader, at kyle.kostelecky@eXtension.org if you have any questions regarding the report.

The Freshwater Aquaculture Community launched content at the recent National Aquaculture Extension Conference in Memphis, Tennessee, June 7. The community is actively seeking members and used the conference a a recruiting event. Dr . Paul Coreil, Vice Chancellor & Director, Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service spoke about eXtension and being a part of the Community. Freshwater Aquaculture is excited about engaging new clientele and providing information for existing customer in a format, time frame and manner when it is convenient for their customers. Check out the new content at http://www.extension.org/freshwater%20aquaculture.

A media alert on this CoP launch can be found here: http://www.extension.org/pages/58792/freshwater-aquaculture-new-feature-on-extension-website

eXtension recognizes that not everyone can attend the workshop but we can bring the workshop to you. Join us online for the broadcast webinars that highlight our keynote speakers and selected workshop presentations. Read more about how to join the webinars and view the presentation lineup at: http://workshop.extension.org/?page_id=105

May news releases from land-grant universities included:

13–University of Missouri
8 each–University of Illinois, University of California, North Carolina State University
7–University of Arkansas
5 each–University of Vermont, University of Nebraska, North Dakota State University, Mississippi State University, Colorado State University
4–Kansas State University
3 each–University of Georgia, Oklahoma State University, Ohio State University, Michigan State University, Iowa State University
2 each–University of Nevada, University of Florida, University of Arizona, Louisiana State University, Alabama Cooperative Extension
1 each–Washington State University, Utah State University, University of Wyoming, University of Wisconsin, University of New Hampshire, University of Kentucky, University of Connecticut, South Dakota State University, Purdue University, Penn State University, New Mexico State University, Montana State University
1–Original release
35–Other sources
146–Total Releases

May news releases were posted to the following resource areas on eXtension:

12–Families, food and fitness
10–Gardens, lawns and landscapes
8–Family caregiving
7 each–Personal finance, Plant breeding and genomics
6 each–Blueberries; Climate, forests and woodlands; Parenting
5 each–Bee health, Horses
4 each–Companion animals, Corn and soybean production, Cotton, Dairy, Entrepreneurs and their communities, Organic agriculture
3 each–Drinking water and human health, Extension master gardener, Goats, Military families, Wildlife damage management
2 each–Beef cattle, Community planning and zoning, Cooperatives, Farm energy, Floods, Food safety, Home energy, Small meat processors
1 each–Agricultural disaster preparedness; Animal manure management; Child care; Diversity, equity and inclusion; Geospatial technology; Hogs, Pigs, and Pork; Imported fire ants; Science for youth

Resource area not yet public: 11 posted for Freshwater aquaculture

146 Total

eXtension Professional Development offers a variety of sessions this month and ongoing from around the country. Please share this announcement with others and encourage them to pick a topic and try it out. All sessions are open to all Cooperative Extension faculty, staff and employees. Though you may indicate your interest on the page for each PD Event at http://learn.extension.org (log in with your eXtensionID). Give us 30-60 minutes and we’ll teach you something useful!

In June we’re excited to offer web-based participation in sessions being held at both the ACE/NETC conference in Denver CO June 11-13, as well as the National eXtension CoP and Institutional Teams Workshop in Louisville KY June 28-29.

30-60 MINUTE SESSIONS
In June we’re excited to offer web-based participation in sessions being held at both the ACE/NETC conference in Denver CO June 11-13, as well as the National eXtension CoP and Institutional Teams Workshop in Louisville KY June 28-29.

JUNE
June 7, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. ET Irrigation Scheduling
June 7, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. ET Social learning
June 7, 2011 at 12:00 noon ET Migrating Content From the Wiki to Drupal
June 8, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. ET 4-H Social Media: Online Safety Best Practices
June 9, 2011 at 3:00 p.m. ET Migrating Content From the Wiki to Drupal
June 15, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. ET 4-H Social Media: Measuring Your Impact
June 21, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. ET Irrigation Efficiency – Pipeline Distribution Systems
June 21, 2011 at 12:00 noon ET For Youth, For Life CoP
June 28, 2011 at 2:30-3:15 p.m. ET Ask an Expert/Question Wrangler Meet-Up, at Brown Hotel, Louisville KY (not a web conference L )

ACE/NETC Version 2.011 – June 10 to 13 from Denver CO
* The following sessions will be web conferences for you to participate in at a distance:
June 11, 2011 at 10:15 a.m. ET Surviving Budget Cuts: New Partnerships – New Money
June 11, 2011 at 11:15 a.m. ET Extension’s Learning Space
June 11, 2011 at 12:45 p.m. ET Driving Content to a Mobile Platform: Are We Killing The Internet In The Process?
June 11, 2011 at 3:30 p.m. ET Challenges in Evaluating Social Media
June 11, 2011 at 4:30 p.m. ET Combining Photographs with Slogans to Promote Organizational Image
June 11, 2011 at 5:30 p.m. ET Facebook Is a Tool, Not a Strategy: Goals, Guidelines, and Strategies for Successful Social Media Initiatives
June 12, 2011 at 11:45 a.m. ET Pack your Bag: Telling the Story in Print, Picture, Video and Audio
June 12, 2011 at 12:45 p.m. ET Stop Broadcasting and Start Having a Conversation
June 12, 2011 at 3:30 p.m. ET A High-Yield Proposition for Communications: Universities and Commodity Organizations
June 12, 2011 at 4:30 p.m. ET User Testing — Easy Strategies for Making Stuff that Doesn’t Stink
June 12, 2011 at 5:30 p.m. ET Apocalypse-Proofing Your Organization
June 12, 2011 at 6:30 p.m. ET Building, Maintaining and Sustaining Private and Public Web Content through a Multi-Site Drupal Environment
June 13, 2011 at 10:15 a.m. ET Developing Scenarios: Useful Tools for Thinking About the Future
June 13, 2011 at 11:15 a.m. ET Designer + Programmer = Masterpiece
June 13, 2011 at 12:45 p.m. ET Lost But Not Forgotten: The Ongoing Story of How Once-Lost Treasures Continue to Bring Our History to Life
June 13, 2011 at 3:30 p.m. ET Remote Training
June 13, 2011 at 4:30 p.m. ET Facebook Advertising: Simple, Effective and Inexpensive
June 13, 2011 at 5:30 PM EDT Overhauling an Extension Publications Website: You Mean We Want People to Find and Use our Pubs?

eXtension National CoP and Institutional Teams Workshop, June 28 to 29 from the Brown Hotel, Louisville KY.
* The following sessions will be web conferences for you to participate in at a distance:
June 28th at 8:00AM – 9:15 a.m. ET General Session Keynote: eXtending Our Efforts: Leveraging and Measuring Social Media with Jason Falls
June 28th at 9:30AM- 10:15 a.m. ET Success Factors for Developing Your eXtension CoP Social Media Strategy
June 28th at 10:45AM -11:30 a.m. ET Follow Your Living Stream of Social Networking Contributions: The real time Web
June 28th at 11:45AM -12:30 p.m. ET Redefine, Rediscover, Re-energize – Content Evaluation and Management Using Google Analytics
June 28th at 1:15PM – 2:15 p.m. ET General Session NIFA Grant Opportunities with Greg Crosby
June 28th at 2:30PM – 3:15 p.m. ET Building Online Content to Last
June 28th at 3:45PM – 4:30 p.m. ET Taking Control of your Web Conferencing Needs
June 29 at 8:00AM – 9:15 a.m. ET General Session Keynote: General Session with Michele Payn-Knoper
June 29 at 9:30AM- 10:15 a.m. ET Marketing to Promote Extension’s Online Resources
June 29 at 10:45AM -11:30 a.m. ET Successful Strategies for Scholarship, Peer Review and Recognition in a COP
June 29 at 11:45AM -12:30 p.m. ET Engaging Academic Faculty Members in Creating eXtension Content
June 29 at 1:30PM – 2:15 p.m. ET Reporting CoP Evaluation Results
June 29 at 2:30PM – 3:15 p.m. ET Building evaluation into extension programming: If you aim at nothing you hit it each time.
June 29 at 3:45PM – 4:30 p.m. ET Web Conferencing Best Practices

JULY
July 5, 2011 at 2:30 p.m. ET Institutional Team Web Conference
July 19, 2011 at 12:00 noon ET For Youth, For Life CoP
July 20, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. ET PowerPoint: Friend or Foe?
July 26, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. ET Question Wrangler Monthly Meetup – July 2011

More sessions are listed for August and beyond. For complete descriptions and details go to http://learn.extension.org/. See information for each session, an overview of upcoming eXtension Professional Development sessions, links to historical sessions (and recordings once they are available). Log-in with your eXtension ID to indicate your interest in and attendance of the offered sessions. Add your professional development events that are open to extension.

Check out http://learn.extension.org/and let us know what you think. Start including your favorite session links in Twitter, Facebook and more! If your extension service or CoP has held professional development and has an open recording available, add it at learn.extension.org!
Any web-based professional development sessions open to Cooperative Extension may be listed at http://learn.extension.org. Look there under Upcoming Events (http://www.extension.org/learn/events/upcoming), browse by recent tags, or search to find professional development in your areas of interest. If you know of professional development events that are open to Cooperative Extension but not yet listed there, please add them by clicking “Create a new PD Event.” Each event then has a URL that may be used to share with colleagues! Each PD event page includes the title, description, presenters, link for participation and recording, as well as a check box to show your interest and/or participation in the event.

RECENT SESSIONS
Find links to the recordings of recent events at http://www.extension.org/learn/events/recent.