I. Key Trends Accelerating Technology Adoption in Cooperative Extension Programs
Long-Term Trends: Driving technology adoption in cooperative extension programs for five or more years
• Advancing Cultures of Change and Innovation
• Emergence of New Audiences
• Shift from Learners as Consumers to Learners as Creators
Mid-Term Trends: Driving technology adoption in cooperative extension programs over the next three to five years
• Growing Focus on Measuring Learning
• Increasing Focus on Participatory Experiences
• Proliferation of Open Educational Resources
Short-Term Trends: Driving technology adoption in cooperative extension programs over the next one to two years
• Communities of Learning
• Increasing Cross-Institution Collaboration
• Increasing Value of the User Experience
II. Significant Challenges Impeding Technology Adoption in Cooperative Extension Programs
Solvable Challenges: Those which we both understand and know how to solve
• Blending Formal and Informal Learning
• Embracing Change as a Constant
• Promoting Extension Programs
Difficult Challenges: Those we understand but for which solutions are elusive
• Measuring the Impact of New Technologies
• Staff Turnover and Training
• Under-resourced Organizational Infrastructure
Wicked Challenges: Those that are complex to even define, much less address
• Managing Knowledge Obsolescence
• Scaling Innovations
• Teaching Complex Thinking
III. Important Developments in Educational Technology for Cooperative Extension
Time-to-Adoption Horizon: One Year or Less
• Makerspaces
• Mobile Learning
• Online Learning
• Social Networks
Time-to-Adoption Horizon: Two to Three Years
• 3D Printing
• Big Data
• Drones
• GIS/Location Intelligence
Time-to-Adoption Horizon: Four to Five Years
• Networked Objects
• Robotics
• Telepresence
• Wearable Technology