Trends and Issues in Extension

My concluding NETC 2006 notes. This was a very good conference, reminding of a smaller version of NACDEP’s conferences. Here are some of my random thoughts:

• My goal at most conferences is to approach each session and learn how people develop their programs, ideas, etc. Not just to learn about the specific program. This always seems to give me insights and generates ideas that are often very different from the actual topic being discussed. NETC is a good conference for this rule of thumb.
• I came away from several sessions more convinced that we need more work on web based training. Particularly on video. Iowa State seems to be a leader in this role, with Penn State moving strong in that direction.
• How does increased connectivity change things? Are we preparing our websites and other web content to be downloaded to mobile devices?
• Economics will drive us to develop more web-based educational tools. There is some good preliminary research out there that can help us be better at educational design for this media. We need to focus more on reviewing and adopting it versus just throwing programs together.
• Extension systems continue to use only a small portion of their technology capabilities. There are several systems that could lead to more collaborations and better interactions with our clientele. For example, Basecamp and delicious for sharing and project management. Podcasts and blogs to reach clientele when they want the information. And wikis as a collaborative writing instrument. Why not involve systems specialists from several states to jointly write training materials collaboratively?
• A recommendation that I plan on sharing with my director is to consider post-program debriefings. As an administrator I plan on doing this more often. It simply is taking 30-60 minutes to briefly meet with attendees from the conference to find out what they learned, their accomplishments, where the field is headed and what impacts and/or recommendations do they have for OSU Extension and me. A quick and easy way to add value and leverage the time the participants have already committed.
• Lastly, the Florida folks did a great job of getting wireless access for the conference. My ideal conference that focuses on information sharing would go like this: 1.) have each presenter submit their presentations in word and/or power point prior to the conference. 2.) post these as downloads on a conference website. 3.) I would relish the chance to be able to open the downloads during the presentation and take notes, click on hyperlinks, etc. during the presentation. I’m guessing that most attendees currently would not do this, but I sure would.

Last week’s Business Week hard copy issue had a cover story on the US Economy that focused on the accuracy of the debt load and other economic measures. How did I find this out? Because I listened to Business Week’s weekly podcast on my way to the airport. Business Week’s podcast focuses not on reading the cover story, but on interviewing the author of the cover story (in this case, Michael Mandel). This led me to buy the magazine at the airport and read the article on the runway. What really caught my attention was not just the article contents (I like reading Mandel anyway), but the use of a blog by Mandel for commentary and questions. I think this is a good way of using three different media (four if you count the online version of the article) to support and augment the good old hard copy.

What ways can Extension professionals use to leverage their programming with more than one media? In the past we’ve done this with traditional media (newspaper announcements, newsletters, radio spots, displays in prominent places, etc.). Now we need to look at more alternates. Can we place news releases on our websites and direct media and others to them? Why not have a specific link for press releases or media information? If we produce something once (a newsletter, audio cast, etc.), can we post them online or to other sources? The answer of course is yes. See this older post for an example. My challenge to myself: How else can I be providing this information? Is this the best or only medium? Who do I intend to reach and how to they want the information?