Editor's Page

As is the case with every issue of the Journal of Extension, the April issue reflects the scope of Extension. From high tech to high touch, from information about the skills of some Extension professionals to information Extension professional can use to fulfill their responsibilities to those they serve, this issue "covers the waterfront."

But two things struck me particularly about this issue. I hope they strike you, too.

JOE "Works"

Three of the articles in this month's issue cite previously published JOE articles. The articles joining the JOE dialogue are "Beyond Perception: A Pretest and Posttest Evaluation of a Regional Internet Extension Inservice Training" and "Simple, Low-Cost Data Collection Methods for Agricultural Field Studies," in the "Feature Articles" section, and "Computer-Based Instruction: Getting Started in Freshwater Aquaculture," one of the "Tools of the Trade."

This is a good sign. What it signals is that JOE works. It's relevant. It speaks to the interests of today's Extension professionals and addresses the challenges they face.

JOE Has Help for People Who Want to Publish

One of the challenges Extension professional face, of course, is getting published. Among the articles I mention above, "Simple, Low-Cost Data Collection Methods for Agricultural Field Studies" offers helpful information for Extension field agents who lack the resources to conduct publishable research--or who think they do.

The article also cites two earlier JOE articles that address the publishing challenge for the less professorial among us:
"Publishing Research in Extension"
http://www.joe.org/joe/1998june/tt2.html and
"How to Get Published in a Professional Journal"
http://www.joe.org/joe/1990fall/tt2.html

Some of us in Extension already "know how to do it," and some of us need the help of those who know. All three articles extend that help.

Laura Hoelscher, Editor