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Contents
Editor's Page
- Editor's Page
- "Bringing the Message Home" discusses the kinds of international
articles JOE is looking for. "Engagement, History, Community"
highlights several issues engaging authors in the June JOE. They have
a lot in common.
Commentary [All
6/2002 Commentary articles]
- Going International in Extension: A Done Deal?
- Gallagher, Thomas J.
- The author describes three previous JOE Commentaries on internationalization in Extension and
recounts the lessons he learned through his own experience in Ukraine. He
argues that, while not a "done deal," an internationalized Extension
is just such a good deal that it will be the norm for the future.
- View reader comments for this Commentary in the JOE Discussion
Forum. (This forum is no longer accepting new entries.)
- Cooperative Extension and Faith-Based Organizations: Building Social Capital
- Prins, Esther; Ewert, D. Merrill
- This article explores the historical relationship between Cooperative
Extension and faith-based organizations. Using historical texts, the authors
show that since the passage of the Smith-Lever Act in 1914, Cooperative Extension
has worked with faith-based organizations, such as congregations, to promote
community renewal. Extension and congregations--then and now--share a deep commitment
to building community. The authors conclude that by remembering its historical
roots, Extension can renew a vision for creating a just, democratic society.
In this way, Extension can help create healthier communities.
- View reader comments for this Commentary in the JOE Discussion
Forum. (This forum is no longer accepting new entries.)
Feature Articles [All
6/2002 Feature Articles]
- Rousing the People on the Land: The Roots of the Educational Organizing Tradition in Extension Work
- Peters, Scott J.
- Recent calls for "engagement" have land-grant institutions
searching for ways to develop "two-way" partnerships between universities
and communities for broad civic purposes. The renewal of a powerful but little
understood tradition of educational organizing in Cooperative Extension work
can help place Extension on the front lines of this important work. In this
article, the author traces and discusses the roots of the tradition of educational
organizing, shedding light on one of the most inspiring forgotten chapters
of cooperative Extension history.
- Shaping Communities Through Extension Programs
- Bowling, Chester J.; Brahm, Barbara A.
- A community's essence, which is the combination of its identity,
purpose, and culture, is dynamic. It is influenced or shaped in part by what
the community knows. Extension, through its educational programs, plays a
large part in creating community knowledge. This article shows how Extension
educators can extend and accelerate the community-shaping process by using
action research processes like Appreciative Inquiry. It also describes the
Porch Cookie Project, one adaptation of Appreciative Inquiry.
- Community Supported Agriculture (CSA): Building Community Among Farmers and Non-Farmers
- Sharp, Jeff; Imerman, Eric; Peters, Greg
- Conflict at the rural-urban interface may often be due to a lack
of social connections or communication between farmers and non-farmers. Extension
educators may be at a loss as to how to bring these two groups together. Community
Supported Agriculture (CSA), or a variation of CSA, may be one avenue for
developing connections. Findings from a qualitative study of a Midwestern
CSA reveal a number of ways CSA met the goals of participants while also building
community among farmers and non-farmers. Extension personnel might promote
CSA at the rural-urban interface to build community and support for local
agriculture.
- Be “Logical” About Program Evaluation: Begin with Learning Assessment
- Arnold, Mary E.
- In an effort to build program planning and evaluation capacity
in Extension faculty, this article focuses on assessing the learning that
takes place in an educational program. Using logic modeling as the basis for
meaningful evaluation, specific steps are outlined for measuring learning
outcomes. These steps include articulating outcomes, turning outcomes into
knowledge statements, and constructing a tool to measure perceived changes
in knowledge. Although Extension educators are concerned not just with learning,
but with action and social change that also occur, focusing on learning assessment
provides a perfect opportunity to build skills in program planning and evaluation.
- The Effect of Competitive and Cooperative Learning Preferences on Children’s Self-Perceptions: A Comparison of 4-H and Non-4-H Members
- Fetsch, Robert J.; Yang, Raymond K.
- 4-H stakeholders have argued for years about the merits of individual
competition versus team cooperation. Although a 1988 National 4-H Competition
Task Force Report called for more research on competition and cooperation,
our Journal of Extension search found
only two articles with children's empirical data from 1975 to 2001. In this,
the first apparent research-based comparison with a large sample of 4-H and
non-4-H members in a mountain state, children preferred both cooperation and
competition. Furthermore, cooperation rather than competition was the way
to build self-worth. Eight practical recommendations are offered to 4-H/youth
development program leaders, specialists, volunteers, and parents.
- A Successful Portable Computer Lab Training Program
- Parsons, Robert L.; Hanson, Gregory D.; Beck, Timothy J.; Martin, Andrew B.
- Penn State Cooperative Extension and the Pennsylvania Farm Credit
System joined forces to fund a portable computer laboratory. A simplified
lab management procedure allowed Extension agents to offer 33 computer operation
workshops for 300 participants at minimal participant cost. Participants indicated
their future use of computers would focus on farm financial, crop, and livestock
management. Although considerable competence was gained, more than 50% viewed
themselves with poor to moderate computer skills at the end of the workshops.
The lab has enabled agents to contact a preciously under-served population
as 54% of the participants had not attended any Extension workshops in the
previous year.
- Homeowners and Their Choice of Information Sources About Gardening
- Varlamoff, Susan M.; Florkowski, Wojciech, J.; Latimer, Joyce G.; Braman, S. Kristine; Jordan, Jeffrey L.
- The Georgia Cooperative Extension Service increases its involvement
in educating homeowners in fertilizer and pesticide use to reduce nonpoint
source pollution from residential landscapes. A survey of homeowners revealed
their current and preferred sources of gardening information. By dividing
information sources according to the degree of their accessibility and cost,
we determined the differences in the use of various sources according to homeowner
gender, age, and education. Females, young homeowners, and those with a high
level of education used and preferred more information sources. The Georgia
Cooperative Extension Service will use a combination of sources to effectively
disseminate best management practices to homeowners.
Research in Brief [All
6/2002 Research in Brief articles]
- Leading Organizational Change: A Comparison of
County and Campus Views of Extension Engagement
- Franz, Nancy K.; Peterson, Randall S.; Dailey, Amber L.
- Feeling pressure from stakeholders, Cornell Cooperative
Extension has responded using the Kellogg Commission report on the Future
of State and Land-Grant Universities as a blueprint for organizational change.
Results of interviews revealed both similarities and differences in county
and state staff views of engagement. The most significant difference is that
county staff view their jobs as the critical link between community needs
and university resources, while campus staff view them as implementers of
programs. This finding suggests a need to engage all staff in a mutual dialogue
of roles and expectation if change based on Extension engagement is to be
successful.
- Bridging the Generation Gap Across the Digital
Divide: Teens Teaching Internet Skills to Senior Citizens
- Kolodinsky, Jane; Cranwell, Michele; Rowe, Ellen
- With the intent of closing the digital divide, the Teens Teaching
Internet Skills Pilot Project engaged youth from 4-H Technology Teams
in six states in training senior citizens to navigate and obtain information
from the Medicare Web site. The teens perceived an improvement in working
with seniors, project management, teaching, public speaking, and leadership.
The workshops had a positive effect on seniors' comfort and skill levels
towards technology. This intergenerational experience in leadership
and technology training provided learning and skill development for
both groups and led to positive changes in attitudes towards the other
generation.
- Preferences, Perceptions, and Risks Associated
with Animal Bedding Materials.
- Ward, Paula Marie L.; Wohlt, James E.
- Year 2001 shortages and price increase of wood animal bedding
have prompted research in alternative materials. A 1995 NJ survey assessed
the use of bedding materials, management practices, and paper as a bedding
choice. The survey evaluated bedding use, housing, labor, costs, risks, and
interest in and experience using paper. Of the 13% responding, 94% used bedding,
but of them 67% never used paper. Much of the concerns with paper were dust
related. The primary determinants of bedding material choice are absorbency
and the ability to keep animals clean and dry. Respondents indicated that
they consider paper bedding only if it is economical and available in a ready-to-use
form.
- Training Needs of Tourism-Based Businesses
- Ohnoutka, Leone; Hughes, David W.
- Tourism is a viable economic development strategy for many communities.
Wood County, West Virginia has an established industry with potential for
additional growth. Interaction with employees is key to the quality of the
tourism experience. A survey of local tourism businesses was used to determine
such needs. Worker training needs were strongest in customer service and local
tourism opportunities, followed by training needs in hospitality, public relations,
and first aid. On-site training modules, a First Impressions for Tourism Program,
and cooperation with local institutions of higher learning are ways that Extension
can help meet training needs.
- An Efficient Irrigation Technology for Alfalfa
Growers
- Alam, Mahbub; Trooien, Todd P.; Rogers, Danny H.; Dumler, Troy
J.
- A trial on the suitability of subsurface drip irrigation (SDI)
for alfalfa (Medicago sativa L) was
conducted on a producer's field. The soil is sandy loam. The treatments included
drip tape spacing of 60, 40, and 30 inches, placed at 18- and 12-inch depth.
A nearby center pivot sprinkler irrigated plot was seeded to alfalfa as a
control. Seedling emergence and yield was adversely affected at 60-inch spacing.
The depth of placement of drip tapes (18 and 12 inch) showed no effect. The
site served for Extension education and allowed comparison between SDI tape
spacing and center pivot system.
Ideas at Work [All
6/2002 Ideas at Work articles]
- Choice Dilemmas and Risk Management Education
- Patrick, George F.; Musser, Wesley N.
- Differences in attitudes toward risk may result in individuals
making different, yet correct, decisions. This article illustrates how choice
dilemmas, hypothetical life decision situations, can be used in Extension
workshops to help individuals identify their own willingness to assume risk
and demonstrate differences among individuals. The agriculturally adapted
choice dilemmas also illustrate fundamental risk-return trade-offs and the
diversity of risks faced by producers. The willingness to assume risk scale
is useful in assisting producers to understand their own risk attitudes and
provides a means of incorporating risk attitudes into risk management education
programs.
- Helping Families Transition from Welfare to Work
- Thayer, Carol E.; Fox, Marilyn; Koszewski, Wanda
- Families remaining on the welfare rolls often face multiple barriers
to move successfully into the work force. Cooperative Extension, in partnership
with the Nebraska Health and Human Services System, implemented an educational
developmental program, Building Nebraska Families. Building Nebraska Families
works one-on-one with Employment First families, Nebraska's welfare reform
program, teaching family management and life skills using an individualized,
flexible curriculum to help families more successfully transition from welfare
to work. The authors share a description of the program, its status, and the
strategies for evaluation.
- Impacts of a Court Mandatory Parenting Program
- Chen, Nina
- University of Missouri Outreach and Extension offered a court
mandatory parenting program, Focus on Kids, in cooperation with two judicial
circuits. The program reached 1,500 divorcing parents in two judicial circuits
in 28 months. Overwhelmed parents felt that the program helped them be aware
of their children's reactions to divorce and feelings, stress reduction, and
time-sharing. Ninety-three percent of the participants felt the program was
worthwhile. Suggestions on how Extension can implement a similar program and
work with the court system are discussed.
- Youth and Adults Learning Together: Setting Up for Success
- Murdock, Shelley; Paterson, Carole
- Young people and adults learning together as peers is not common,
despite research indicating that mutual learning would benefit both groups.
A seemingly easy remedy would be to invite both groups to participate in professional
conferences as equals. However, a case study using qualitative methods showed
that there were differences between the two groups of learners that needed
to be addressed. This article describes some of those differences and steps
that were taken that made the next conference more beneficial for both groups.
- 4-H BEST: A New Professional Development Program for 4-H County Extension Agents
- Boleman, Chris T.; James, Dan L.; Couch, Martha E.
- 4-H BEST(Building Essential Skills and Training) is an educational
activity for 4-H professionals. The objectives are to enhance management skills
in: program and volunteer development, involving and identifying new audiences,
identifying and working with decision makers, resource development, and program
evaluation. The uniqueness of this program is the inclusion of out-of-state
professional mentors who guide the participants in this self-directed program
and share ideas on innovative programming and management concepts that have
made the mentors successful in their own programs.
- Forages for Horses Workshop Meets the Needs of a Growing Clientele
- Zoller, Christopher T.; Cooper, Troy; Wilson, Gary
- A growing number of people are purchasing horses for pleasure
riding but have very limited knowledge about basic forage production practices.
The Ohio State University Extension Forages for Horses workshop was developed by agents and specialists to
teach horse owners and stable managers basic forage management concepts. Topics
taught in this 2-evening workshop included: anatomy and physiology; plant
growth; soil fertility; species selection; pasture renovation; hay storage;
and poisonous plant identification. Evaluation of the program was positive,
and participants indicated they gained new knowledge as evidenced by pre and
post-test scores.
Tools of the Trade [All 6/2002 Tools of the Trade articles]
- Building Inclusive Communities Through Intercultural Communication: A User-Friendly Handbook for Those Who Care About Self and Others
- Morris, Pamala V.
- The article reviews Ann C. Schauber's, Working with Differences
in Communities: A handbook for those who care about creating inclusive communities.
The user-friendly book is designed so that anyone can open it to any section
and learn. Schauber's book will instruct and move readers interested in creating
inclusive communities through effective intercultural communication. The focus
is on what the individual can do to make communities more inclusive, rather
than on what others need to do. The book is perfect for people who care--or
have been forced to understand--our multicultural society.
- Use of Instructional Rubrics in Cooperative Extension Programming
- Maxa, Ed; Schwab, Carol; Yoder, Mike
- This article looks at the concept of the instructional
rubric as a nonformal evaluation tool. The premise is that educators
can obtain evaluation information on short-term programs where formal evaluation
design is not desired. Examples of instructional rubrics are given for 4-H,
agriculture, and family and consumer science. In addition to the rubric itself,
there are implications for educator intervention and retooling the experience.
- Brown Bag Lunch Programs: Another Avenue to Access?
- Johnson, Michael
- Finding ways to "get the word out" is always a challenge
for Extension. Developing brown bag lunch programs is a way to reach a new
Extension audience. Determining how best to do this in each community can
give the Extension educator an opportunity to provide another resource and
more opportunities for programming, teaching, and educating. Brown bag lunch
programs have been a success for our office in that we have had an audience
for all the sessions, and, most important, we have seen new faces, people
new to Extension who are becoming more involved with us and our programs.
- Pyramid Pizzazz: An Educational Tool for Tracking Food Intake
- Merkowitz, Rose Fisher; Longo, Mary F.; Flynn, Elizabeth; Gattshall, Sharon
- Do your nutrition class participants need to pizzazz up their lives? If so,
we have the teaching tool for you--Pyramid Pizzazz. Pyramid Pizzazz is a teaching
tool designed to assist in tracking the daily intake of food. The teaching packet
includes a lesson plan, food guide fact sheets, an erasable magnetic board,
and a notepad to track daily food consumption. Pyramid Pizzazz helps clients
take steps to a healthy way of eating.
- The North Carolina Dairy Youth Foundation: A Model for Developing External Funding for Youth Programs
- Hopkins, Brinton A.
- The North Carolina Dairy Youth Foundation is a remarkable success
story that can serve as a model for other states to use to develop external
funding for youth programs. This foundation has been described as the greatest
thing to happen to the dairy youth program in North Carolina. It continues
to grow and ensures that funding will be available for the dairy youth program
in the future. The article describes how this foundation was formed and how
it operates to provide significant funding support for the dairy youth program
in North Carolina.
Questions & Answers for Authors
- Q&A for Authors
Submission Instructions
- Instructions for Submitting Articles
Review and Evaluation Process
- Review and Evaluation Process
Editorial Committees and Board
- Board
- Manuscript Review Committee
Entire Issue
- June 2002
- Contains the entire June 2002 issue in one page. Choose this
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Copyright © by Extension
Journal, Inc. ISSN 1077-5315.
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