Where is
eXtension?
Rangelands Community of Practice Meeting
March 17, 2009
Boise, Idaho

Agenda
eXtension Structure
Engaged community
Social aspects of a community

eXtension
is a collaboratively built Internet-
based learning environment
delivering sound, science-based
information on a 24/7/365 basis.

Annual Funding
(estimate)6060
Institutional New Technologies
Assessments for Ag Extension
(USDA)
Private Funding

eXtension Staff
Director – NE
Associate Directors – KY, NC
Communication/Marketing Leader – CA
Evaluation/Assessment Leader – VA
Corporate Development – IN
Content Staff – KY
IT Staff - NC

Community of Practice
• Virtual network
• Multi-institutional
• Multi-disciplinary
• Open (new members)
• Fluid and flexible
• Evolve over time
• Responsive to Communities of Interest

How it works…
P
Basic Information
r
Ask the Experts
FAQs
o Discussion & Web Chats
d Decision Tools
?

 u
Webinars
c
Streaming Videos
t
Individual Learning Modules
Questions, Multiple Learning Modules
s
Issues, or
Certificate/Credit Courses
Life Events
Communities Distance Diagnostics
of Interest

about.extension.org

Applications
• About blog (about.extension.org/)
• People(people.extension.org)
• CoP Wiki (cop.extension.org)
• FAQ/AaE(faq.extension.org)
• Events(calendar.extension.org)

Applications
• About Wiki (about.extension.org/wiki)
• Collaborate(collaborate.extension.org)
• Moodle
– campus.extension.org
– pdc.extension.org

What you get as a CoP
• Two hours of web conferencing/month
• Access to an audio conference bridge
• Technical infrastructure for development and
business functions
• Content development support
• Instructional design support

What you get as a CoP
• eXtension applications support
• eXtension applications training
• Communications and marketing support
• Evaluation and assessment support
• Development and sustainability support
• Professional development opportunities

What’s in it for you?
• Wider range of experts
• Different points of view
• Better access to research
• Exposure to cutting edge technology
• Efficiencies of time
• Increased quality of materials
• Increased audience reach & impact
• Evaluation and reporting 4 P&T
• Increased competitiveness for grants
Faculty

What’s in it for you?
•Single access point to CE & brand Identity
• Expanded customer service
• Direct link to local county office
• Connection with new audiences
• Enhanced marketing potential
•Wider range of experts
• Different points of view
• Better access to research
• Exposure to cutting edge technology
County Staff

Social Media
IS AN UMBRELLA TERM THAT
DEFINES THE VARIOUS ACTIVITIES
THAT INTEGRATE TECHNOLOGY,
SOCIAL INTERACTION, AND THE
CONSTRUCTIONOF WORDS,
PICTURES, VIDEOS AND AUDIO.
http://www.wikipedia.org

“Social media is
people having
conversations online.”

How many of you
participate in social
networks?

• Blogs • Social Bookmarks
• Micro Blogs • Message Boards
• Online Chat • Podcasts
• RSS • Video Sharing
• Widgets • Photo Sharing
• Social Networks • Virtual Worlds
• Wikis

SOCIAL-NETWORKING SITES ARE
OFFICIALLY MORE POPULAR
THAN MOST SITES.
TIME, OCTOBER 13, 2007

Over
4,000,000
articles

>100,000,000
videos
(65,000 new videos/day)

200,000,000
blogs

1.5 million
residents

73%
of active online users have read a blog
Source: Universal McCann Comparative Study on Social Media Trends April 2008

5% have started their own blog

39%
subscribe to an RSS
feed

57%
Have
joined a
Social
network

55%
have uploaded photos

83% have watched video clips

Web 2.0
IT’S A FUNDAMENTAL SHIFT IN THE
WAY WE COMMUNICATE
is not a fad

Second Life

Discussion