This document discusses the development of mobile applications to extend the reach of Extension programs. It provides examples of several apps created by Extension to address issues in agriculture, parenting, and education. The apps were designed to simplify data collection and resource access for users on mobile devices. By making Extension resources more accessible and usable on mobile platforms, these apps allow for more efficient resource delivery and optimized management practices.

1. Extension Through Applications, a
New Business Model
Brandon Schulte and Mark Hendricks

2. Innovate Like It’s 1999…..
Internet Revolution
 Information
 Data Storage
 Networking
 Digital
 Social
 Mobile

3. Mobile: Technology Meets Opportunity

4. I need to go mobile but
where do I start?

5. Our Plan
 R&D/Infrastructure
 Innovation Lab
 Flexibility
 Education/Marketing
 Standardization
 Collaboration
 Value

6. Balancing Act
Content
Video
Audio
Text
Database
Photos
Product
User Needs Directions
Platform
Connection Phone
Information Mobile Tablet
Communication Desktop
Learning Strategy Touchscreen
Entertainment User Interface
Shopping Goals
Revenue
Brand
Engagement
Efficiency

7. Strategic Vision
 Start at the End
 End User
 End Result
 End Location
 Do Less, But Better
 Above All Else: Enhance Your
Brand Strategy
“What we call the beginning is often the end.
And to make an end is to make a beginning.
The end is where we start from.” --T.S. Eliot

8. Keys to a Successful Strategy
 Mobile First Design
 Think Beyond the
“Cool Factor.”
 Match App Type
(Native, Hybrid and
Web) with Customer
Needs.
 Platform
Independence
Forrester Research

9. I have a mobile app idea,
how do I develop it?

10. What is a mobile app?
 Native vs. Hybrid vs. Web
 Small software
 What makes a good app?

11. Native vs. Hybrid vs. Web
 Native App
U
$  Hybrid App I
X
 Web App

12. “Small Software”
 Screen Size
 File Size
 Navigation and Content

13. What Makes a Good App?
 Better Mobile?
 Simplification
 Competing
Products?
 Stakeholder Buy-
in

14. What Makes a Good App?
 Concrete Idea
 Working Model or
Spreadsheet.
 Navigation First,
Content Second
 Test, Test, Test

15. Case Studies – Seven Mobile
Apps powered by Ed Media
<mhendricks1@unl.edu>

16. Why mobile?
 Goal – What problem(s) does the app solve?
 Model – Migrating content to the mobile platform. Is
there a model/workflow to build on?
 HUI (Interface design) – What decisions were made
and why?
 User needs and concerns– How does mobile
improve or optimize the process? How does it
change the process?
 Impacts?

17. Aphid Speed Scout
 Goal – decision tool to survey for aphid threshold
 Model – Spreadsheet developed by UNL Extension
 HUI – Designed to simplify for field data entry
 User needs and concerns – Solves problems
surrounding field data entry and visualization,
speeds up data entry/collection, sets calendar
reminders to re-test or recommend treatment
 Impacts – More efficient data collection -> optimized
use of pesticide

18. Aphid Speed
Scout Demo:

19. BCS Beef
 Goal – Use BCS scores standards, manage nutrition
for beef herds
 Model – Tool developed by UNL Extension
 HUI – Designed for field data entry
 User needs and concerns – Gives users examples of
scored beef cows, tutorial, YouTube and Twitter
feeds
 Impacts – Standardization of data collection ->
optimized management

20. BCS Beef Demo:

21. Backyard Farmer
 Goal – Collect all Backyard Farmer resources in one
app you can take to the garden
 Model – Website, TV program
 HUI – Field resource and data submission
 User needs and concerns – Provides TV program
archives, NebGuides, soil temp, publications,
calendars, weather and photo email to the Backyard
Farmer Panel of Experts – available on iOS and
Android.
 Impacts – Take Backyard Farmer to the backyard!

22. Backyard Farmer
Demo:

23. Parenting App
 Goal – to teach parents about milestones for
newborns to one-year olds and keep an electronic
journal
 Model – UNL Extension Resources
 HUI – solve user navigation issues
 User needs and concerns – aggregate information
about milestones and health records for parents of
newborns to one-year olds
 Impacts – Parenting resources that you take with
you!

24. Parenting App
Demo:

25. myUNLextension
 Goal – provide mobile access to UNL Extension
offices, calendars, programs and other resources
 Model – UNL Extension website
 HUI – simplify navigation and communication
 User needs and concerns – aggregate information
about UNL Extension programs, offices, events
 Impacts – Extension resources when you need them!

26. myUNLextension
Demo:

27. ExtensionTV
 Goal – aggregate UNL Extension video content from
multiple sources into a searchable interface
 Model – YouTube & other video distribution sites
 HUI – weighted grouping of content by spires of
excellence and popularity
 User needs and concerns – works on desktop and
on mobile, ability to cut & paste links
 Impacts – easily find the video you need from
trusted sources!

29. ExtensionTV prototype demo:
http://em-dev002.unl.edu/extensiontv/

30. Marketing in a New Era
 Goal – to teach current and potential ag producers
about marketing & management through simulation
 Model – multiplayer excel simulation and extension
publications and spreadsheets
 HUI – move from spreadsheet to web interface for
more graphic display of concepts
 User needs and concerns – learn about marketing
using multiplayer simulations. Design for classroom.
 Impacts – greater understanding and development of
skills using real world tools

31. Marketing in a New Era
Screenshots:

32. Marketing in a New Era
Screenshots:

33. Questions?
Brandon Schulte Mark Hendricks
Director, Ed Media IT Specialist, Ed Media
402-472-2990 402-472-4280
bschulte3@unl.edu mhendricks1@unl.edu
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln is an equal
opportunity educator and employer with a
comprehensive plan for diversity.