June 2012 // Volume 50 // Number 3
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Editor's Page
JOE Resources Online
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"JOE Resources Online"
reminds readers and especially prospective authors of the online
resources that provide information about JOE and help for
authors. "June JOE" calls everyone's attention to an
article that should help prospective authors ensure data quality in
their research and evaluation studies and highlights several
noteworthy articles in an issue that is full of them.
Commentary
Disaster Preparedness and the Cooperative Extension Service
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This past decade has
recorded an increase in catastrophic events that have led to dramatic
changes for Americans. The wake of these disasters has resulted in
many lessons being learned. These lessons have been captured by
Homeland Security in the First Edition of the National Preparedness
Goal. Extension is uniquely positioned to assist with community
disaster preparedness, mitigation, and response efforts as outlined
in the National Preparedness Goal. This article captures examples of
Extension's involvement in the disaster realm and encourages
additional work in the many aspects of community emergency
preparedness.
Participate in the JOE Discussion Forum on “Disaster Preparedness and the Cooperative Extension Service”
Emergency Exercise Participation and Evaluation
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Extension is uniquely
positioned to participate in emergency exercises, formally or
informally, with the goal of engaging community members in emergency
and disaster preparedness. With their knowledge of community needs,
Extension personnel are valuable resources and can assist emergency
managers in the process of identifying local risks and
vulnerabilities as well as identifying capabilities that should be
tested and strengthened through the process of exercises. By
facilitating, participating in, or evaluating exercises, Extension
professionals can help communities better prepare for, prevent,
respond to, and recover from disasters.
Participate in the JOE Discussion Forum on “Emergency Exercise Participation and Evaluation”
Ideas at Work
A Conceptual Process Model for Improving Youth Science Comprehension
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Improving youth science
comprehension in the United States is imperative to reverse current
trends in student achievement and to meet an expected shortage of
scientists in the future. This lag in achievement scores and need for
future scientists is a problem. One challenge is to link
inquiry-based learning and experiential education with curriculum
designed to improve understanding, skill development, and reasoning
abilities to achieve the broader impacts of improved science
comprehension. The authors propose a conceptual process model for
delivering Extension programs designed to enhance youth achievement
in the sciences.
Parallel Volunteer Learning During Youth Programs
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Lack of time is a hindrance
for volunteers to participate in educational opportunities, yet
volunteer success in an organization is tied to the orientation and
education they receive. Meeting diverse educational needs of
volunteers can be a challenge for program managers. Scheduling a
Volunteer Learning Track for chaperones that is parallel to a
multi-day retreat for teens, addressed this need. Authors discuss the
need for the learning track, implementation, evaluation, and program
impact. Taking opportunities to meet adult educational needs during
youth events can be an effective and efficient use of volunteer time
at local and state levels.
Robotics Competitions: An Overview of FIRST© Events and VEX© Competitions
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Robotics competitions
generate excitement and raise the profile of a robotics program. This
article provides an overview of robotics competitions, concentrating
on those sponsored by FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of
Science and Technology) and RECF (Robotics Education and Competition
Foundation). FIRST® LEGO® League and VEX® robotics competitions
are the most well-known robotics competitions that these
organizations sponsor. Equipment, costs, timelines, and funding are
presented.
4-H and Forestry Afterschool Clubs: A Collaboration to Foster Stewardship Attitudes and Behaviors in Youth
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The University of Minnesota Extension's 4-H and Forestry Afterschool program combined the 4-H structure and various forestry curricula to foster positive attitudes towards the environment and stewardship-related behaviors as these may serve as precursors to later choices that benefit the environment. Evaluation of third through fifth grade club members revealed statistically significant changes in attitudes and behavior. Recommendations for implementing this model are provided.
Building Partnerships: Connecting Communities, Master Gardener Volunteers, Industry, and Extension Through Tree Surveys
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Extension, Master Gardener
volunteers, and industry professionals can partner in order to
provide a significant benefit to a community. The result of this
partnership and subsequent tree inventory provides communities with
an essential street tree management tool at a substantial cost
savings. In addition, there is a greater awareness among the partners
regarding their assets and abilities that can lead to a positive
impact on a community.
Business Management Coaching: Focusing on Entrepreneur's Current Position and Aims
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One-to-one business coaching
over 6 months was provided to nine clients in Hawaii to help them
acquire business transition skills. The STARS model was used to
determine the individual business situation and to explore suitable
leadership strategies to move forward. Systematically, each client
developed a business model, business strategies, a marketing plan,
and financial and production plans. Follow-up evaluations 6 months
after coaching showed positive effects on the clients. Clients became
more aware of their business situations and were able to apply
appropriate strategies to increase their chances of success.
Tools of the Trade
Ensuring Data Quality in Extension Research and Evaluation Studies
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This article presents a checklist as a guide for Extension professionals to use in research and evaluation studies they carry out. A total of 40 statements grouped under eight data quality components—relevance, objectivity, validity, reliability, integrity, generalizability, completeness, and utility—are identified to ensure that research carried out by Extension professionals is credible, followed research protocols, was conducted in an ethical manner, and can withstand the test of scrutiny by reviewers. Researchers and Extension professionals can use the checklist to identify the areas that are methodologically sound and the areas that need improvement.
The Cornell Cooperative Extension Statewide Data Collection System: An Online Data Collection Tool for Parent Education Programs
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The Statewide Data
Collection System for Parent Education Programs is an online tool for
collecting statewide data on Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE)
parenting education programs. The process of the development and use
of this data collection tool are provided as a guide to Extension
systems. Results for data entered between March 2009 and July 2010
from participants in CCE parent education programs indicate
significant improvements on eight out of 10 measures of parenting
attitudes, behaviors, and knowledge, and highlight the value of this
online tool for assessing the impact of parent education programs in
New York State.
Farmland Assessment Through Multiple Regression Analysis
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Farmland owners and
agricultural producers often require accurate measures of the market
value of agricultural parcels. However, there are a number of
complicating factors that make estimation difficult. We demonstrate
how multiple regression analysis may be used to estimate the market
values while controlling for property differences and minimizing
human error. We provide an example that uses a set of 545 farmland
sales in Minnesota from 2009. Further, we demonstrate how the
analysis can be easily replicated by Extension educators for regional
farmland price estimation.
Estimating Retail Development Capacity: Gap Analysis in Action
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This article discusses one
method for converting retail trade gap data into estimates of retail
real estate development capacity using both public and proprietary
data sources. This information is useful to Extension agents and
economic development professionals interested in downtown
redevelopment and targeted retail business recruitment.
Making the Case for Demographic Data in Extension Programming
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Understanding one's
community is essential for effective Extension programming across all
program areas. The use of current and reliable demographic data is
crucial for Extension to develop effective education and programming
to track change and to uncover hidden community characteristics. We
discuss what demographic data are, present examples of programming
applications using demographic data and their importance for
communities, and detail how to access demographic data.
Tracking Online Data with YouTube's Insight Tracking Tool
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YouTube users have
access to the powerful data collection tool, Insight. Insight allows
YouTube content producers to collect data about the number of online
views, geographic location of viewers by country, the demographics of
the viewers, how a video was discovered, and the attention span of
the viewer while watching the video. This article reports on the
viral capacity of a video over a 24- month period.
Tea Time: Raising Awareness and Support for Extension
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In a time of reliance
on electronic media for information, chaotic programming
environments, and declining public resources, Extension workers need
to find unique ways to connect with stakeholders to maintain and
increase support for programming. To address this need, we developed,
conducted, and evaluated a series of stakeholder teas. We found this
method of communicating with stakeholders builds social, political,
and fiscal support for Extension programming.
Extension Facilitated Scenario Planning to Direct a Preferred Agriculture Future
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One role of Extension is to
challenge clientele about what the future of a given industry may
look like. Developing a scenario is a well-established process to
help frame the question, "What might we need to do?" and
guide future planning and decision-making. To develop a plan for a
preferred future, clientele can be instructed on what futures are and
challenged to think through potential factors that can influence the
future. From this discussion, a scenarios framework outlining
plausible, probable and preferred futures can be developed. This
article incorporates the methods and outcomes of a scenario workshop.
The Financial Education Tool Kit: Helping Teachers Meet State-Mandated Personal Finance Requirements
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States are recognizing the
need for personal financial education and have begun requiring it as
a condition for high school graduation. Responding to teacher
requests to help them meet state-mandated financial education
requirements, FCS educators in the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension
Service developed a financial education tool kit. This article
describes the contents of the tool kit and its many uses.
How Do You Successfully Start Out in a County Position?
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Agents may find themselves
working in a new location by choice or due to economic necessity.
When changing counties, it is good to remember five basic steps;
organize, meet, plan, produce, and balance to help get established in
your new community.
Feature
The Nature of Organizational Learning in a State Extension Organization
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Our complex and rapidly
changing world demands a more nimble, responsive, and flexible
Extension organization. The findings from a study involving
interviews across a state Cooperative Extension Service paint a
picture of organizational learning in Extension. Four key dimensions
of learning surfaced. Of particular importance are the application of
a model for organizational knowledge creation and the characteristics
of transformational organizational learning for innovation.
Recommendations focus on actively supporting organizational learning,
developing ways to tap the vast knowledge and skills of Extension
professionals, and institutionalizing means to transfer learning.
Home on the Range-Health Literacy, Rural Elderly, Well-Being
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The demographic and socioeconomic impacts of the baby boomer generation turning 65 in 2011 will be magnified in rural areas where elderly are already disproportionately represented. The overall goal of a collaborative, community-based project was to improve the health literacy, health outcomes, and overall well-being of rural elderly in four small, rural communities. The methodology involved implementing four documented interventions working with Extension agents, senior center directors, librarians, and public health nurses in the communities. Extension can play a critical leadership role working with other key community stakeholders in improving health literacy, health and well-being of rural elderly.
Nutrition and Physical Activity Policies and Practices in Family Child Care Homes in Oregon: Baseline Findings from the Healthy Home Child Care Project
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Baseline findings from the
Healthy Home Child Care Project include data from Family Child Care
Providers (FCCPs) in Oregon (n=53) who completed assessments of
nutrition and physical activity policies and practices and BMI data
for children in the care of FCCPs (n=205). Results show that a
significant percentage of FCCPs failed to meet child care standards
in several areas and that 26.8% of children under the care of FCCPs
were overweight or obese. These data supported the development of an
Extension-delivered intervention specific to FCCPs in Oregon and
highlight areas of concern that should be addressed through targeted
trainings of FCCPs.
Jump Into Action
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Jump Into Action (JIA) is a
school-based team-taught program to help fifth-grade students make
healthy food choices and be more active. The JIA team (physical
education teacher, classroom teacher, school nurse, and parent) work
together to provide a supportive environment as students set goals to
improve food choices and increase activity. Following the program,
students demonstrated increased self efficacy and knowledge of health
behaviors. Students also reported, 1) drinking less soda and sugar
added drinks, 2) spending more time being physically active, and 3)
consuming four servings of dairy products more frequently.
Extension Newsletters and Individual Counseling: Equally Effective in Changing Worksite Wellness Participants Dietary Intakes
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The
Affordable Care Act provides impetus for Extension efforts in
worksite wellness. The study reported here examined the
influence of two worksite wellness interventions, newsletters and
individual counseling. Surveys examined dietary and physical activity
behaviors of participants pre- and post-intervention (N=157).
Descriptive statistics, paired samples t-tests, and
repeated measures ANOVA identified change in nutrient intakes;
McNemar's Test evaluated physical activity participation. Both
interventions significantly increased fruit/vegetable
servings, vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, and dietary fiber while
decreasing total fat, saturated fat, percent fat, and dietary
cholesterol. There is opportunity for Extension in worksite wellness
programming and research to strengthen evidence-based practice.
Identifying and Measuring Food Deserts in Rural Ohio
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The purpose of our article
is twofold. First, we introduce a framework for U.S. Extension
educators to measure the extent of food access at any scale when
information about food carried by retailers is limited. Second, we
create a baseline for the Ohio Food Policy Council so that work to
increase food access in rural areas will have a benchmark to measure
success. Three broad aspects of food accessibility—physical,
economic, and healthful—are considered. Lack of larger
supermarkets, lack of competition, and high concentrations of nearby
fast food alternatives are three issues that deserve attention in
rural Ohio.
In Vermont, Se Habla Español: Using Occupational Spanish to Help Dairy Farmers Manage a Changing Workforce
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Hispanic workers are an important part of the agricultural labor
force in the United States. In the past decade the geographical range
of this largely Spanish-speaking workforce has expanded into areas,
such as the state of Vermont, where few farmers speak Spanish. In
order to safely and productively manage these new workers, methods to
teach farmers how to communicate with this changing labor force are
needed. This article reports on the use of an intensive occupational
Spanish program designed to efficiently improve communication between
Vermont dairy farmers and their Hispanic workers.
Evaluation of a Sustainable Green Living Expo Event: Attendees' Reports of Satisfaction, Learning, and Behavior Change
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This article presents the
evaluation of the Sustainable Big Bend Green Living Expo and
Education Fair, which targets participants with a variety of learning
opportunities. Evaluation was carried out using onsite surveys along
with follow-up surveys and phone interviews. Results indicate that a
1-day sustainability event is a meaningful way to reach individuals
and that they have high levels of satisfaction, learning, and
self-reported behavior change. The study concludes that Extension has
a critical role to play in sustainable living issues and that
systematic evaluation can be valuable for program improvement as well
as documentation of outcomes.
SWAT (Student Weekend Arborist Team): A Model for Land Grant Institutions and Cooperative Extension Systems to Conduct Street Tree Inventories
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SWAT (Student Weekend
Arborist Team) is a program affiliated with Cornell University and
Extension founded to conduct street tree inventories in New York
State communities with 10,000 residents or fewer, a group of
communities underserved in community forestry planning. Between 2002
and 2010, SWAT conducted 40 inventories, and data from these
inventories has been used to create community forestry management
plans for inventoried communities. SWAT's inventory methodology and
the program's success provide a model for other land-grant
institutions and Extension systems to inventory publicly managed
street trees and support community forestry planning in smaller
communities throughout the United States.
Assessment of Bio-Security Risks Associated with 4-H Animal Science Exhibition Practices in California
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Bio-security related to animal agriculture is a high priority issue,
and recent incidents demonstrate the potential for disease
transmission and proliferation involving animals exhibited at public
venues. Data collected at the California State Fair and eight county
fairs in the north central region of California were used to assess
existing bio-security risks associated with 4-H project animals.
Outcomes revealed disease transmission risks associated with
exhibition practices including housing and visitor contact and
highlight the need to develop and provide relevant education
resources to 4-H youth, volunteers, and staff.
Research in Brief
The Value in Evaluating and Communicating Program Impact: The Ohio BR&E Program
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Assessing program
impact can provide useful program evaluation data. It also provides a
basis for program development, marketing, and justification. This
article discusses recent impact evaluation efforts and findings of a
long-time Extension program; referred to as Business Retention and
Expansion (BR&E). How such information can be communicated to
existing program underwriters and prospective program partners is
also described.
Extension Professionals' Strengths and Needs Related to Nutrition and Health Programs
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We report results of a
Web-based nationwide survey of nutrition and health Extension
specialists representing 42 states. Survey items (n = 36) assessed
five areas: curriculum review, nutrition and physical activity,
professional training, communication, and evaluation. An internal
curriculum review was common, but few states shared their criteria or
process on-line. The majority of respondents reported discussing
physical activity, and over half lead physical activities. Most
favored on-line professional development training and a one-stop
website for sharing information and resources. Evaluation data were
most commonly collected for food safety, healthy eating and physical
activity, and food resource management.
Factors Influencing Perceptions of Service Quality in Cooperative Extension Workers
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The authors examined
the direct and indirect impact of empowerment on service quality as
perceived by Extension staff. Using a sample 283 respondents, the
results revealed that along with empowerment, constructs such as job
satisfaction and organizational identification positively affected
service quality. Undoubtedly, each of these variables contributes in
explaining how employees perceive their service performance, together
with elements of customer orientation.
Participation in Volunteer-Driven Programs and Their Effects on Homeowners' Landscaping Practices
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Based on responses from a regional survey, Master Gardeners
are more likely to report changes in yard landscaping and fertilizer
and chemical use practices than are non-participants. Water quality
monitoring volunteers are more likely to report changes in uses of
fertilizers and other chemicals and in yard irrigation. Water
resource protection group participants are more likely to report
changes in all types of yard management practices examined.
Respondents' demographics, place of residence, environmental
attitudes, and news sources are also correlated with reported changes
in behavior. We employ these factors to control for systematic
factors related to participation on these programs.
The Need for Accurate Prediction Equations for the Carcass Lean Content of Pigs
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Prediction equations for
pork carcass lean percentage are widely used in Extension, teaching,
and research. Prediction equations using carcass or live animal
measurements are used in carcass contests, live animal evaluation,
and marketing. Fat–free lean gain is used to estimate the daily
lysine requirements for pigs in swine nutrition guides. The use of
inaccurate equations has substantial economic impact. Extension
specialists must make the effort to confirm the accuracy of the
equations they recommend for use. Standards of prediction accuracy
and biases must be developed to assure that accurate equations are
developed and recommended for industry use.
Assessment of Pork Producer Educational Needs for Adoption of Group Sow Housing
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Pork producers in Michigan
and several other states are mandated through regulation or
legislation to house gestating sows in groups. Focus groups with
Michigan pork producers were completed to determine their educational
needs to transition from individual housing to group sow housing.
Pork producers indicated that their strategic education needs were:
retrofitting existing facilities, feeding systems, employee training,
new construction, genetics, and production scheduling. Regarding
implementation, producers indicated that education would be needed on
defining a sow group, stockperson training, medical care, and feeding
and watering. Depending on the topic, producers indicated different
educational media preferences for program delivery.
Factors Considered When Making Corn Foliar Fungicide Application Decisions in Illinois
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Foliar fungicide use on corn
in Illinois has increased drastically beginning in 2007. In an effort
to better understand the factors considered in corn fungicide
application decisions, attendees of a series of meetings in Illinois
were surveyed. Results indicate that disease pressure was the most
important factor considered by the greatest percentage of survey
respondents (38%). Factors not related to disease or disease risk
were considered the most important factor for 23% of the respondents.
These results indicate that additional Extension programming is
needed to teach the importance of considering disease and disease
risk when making a fungicide decision.
The Changing Interest in Organic Agriculture in Texas and Its Implications for Texas AgriLife Extension Service
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The study reported here
sought to determine the level of demand Texas AgriLife Extension
agents are receiving for information on organic agriculture and their
interest in training on organic agriculture. A majority of agents
perceived the interest in organic agriculture was low to moderate in
their respective counties, but was increasing. Agents indicated they
had not received much formal training in organic agriculture but
expressed an interest in training and noted traditional information
resources and Extension workshops would be the most useful.