Matching Patterns or Changing Patterns?
Seth Godin writes that it is easier to sell your product (our programs) if you match the pattern of your audience rather than try to get them to adopt new patterns. In Extension, we are often focused on impact based on behavior change, so that can be disheartening to hear. All is not lost. If you read below, you will notice that the Maker Movement is an area where Extension has an opportunity to align with a compatible effort and still lead to changing behaviors.
What are your thoughts on the challenge of matching patterns versus changing patterns in our Extension work? Are there other examples like the Maker Movement? Share your comments by tweeting @eXtension4u and using the #coopext hashtag.
News Roundup
Impact Collaborative Job Postings. eXtension is hiring two full-time people to serve the eXtension Foundation Impact Collaborative. One position is the Program Manager, who is responsible for the formation and success of the Collaborative. The other position is an Instructional Technologist, who will be responsible for all aspects of professional development for the Collaborative. Applications are due July 10, 2017. View the job descriptions: Program Manager | Instructional Technologist
Impact Collaborative Program Fellows. Do you have expertise in Behavioral Health or Diversity & Inclusion? If so, you should check out these opportunities to lead a major national program in each of these areas. Each fellowship is expected to be a one-year commitment of around .5-.7 FTE and will work as part of a team to ensure the success of each Collaborative cohort. Applications are due July 21, 2017. View the job descriptions: Behavioral Health | Diversity & Inclusion
Communications Specialist. eXtension Foundation is getting ready to launch the Impact Collaborative and is seeking an individual or team to lead the communications rollout. This is expected to be a five-month contract, preferably with a current land grant university professional. View the job description…
Data Visualization. It is not enough to have data when telling the story of Extension impacts. It needs to be presented in a way that grabs attention and quickly communicates the important points. Laura Thompson, University of Nebraska and eXtension fellow sifted through tools and techniques and provides a professional development blueprint for Extension professionals on data visualization. Visit Laura’s fellowship page for blog posts, a webinar, and her final report.
Maker Movement. A Journal of Extension article highlights Makerspaces. In an increasingly digital world, these offer a venue for authentic engagement between Extension and the community. Through involvement in the maker movement, Extension has an opportunity to remain relevant in the 21st century. Authors of the article include several Utah State University Extension professionals including current eXtension Fellow, Dave Francis and past Fellow, Paul Hill. Read the article…
Beat the Heat. The National Ag Safety Database has curated a collection of resources on heat illness in the agricultural workplace. Resources are available in a variety of media and some in different languages. View the resources… | Suggest resources for the database…
eXtension Blog. If you are not following the eXtension blog, you are missing out on innovation, inspiration, and impact. The topics of some recent additions to the blog include:
AFRI Support Letters. If you are submitting a proposal to an AFRI program this summer and wish to include the use of eXtension tools and services, you can download the appropriate letter for your submission by visiting this web page. [Proposal Support Requests]
Civil Dialogue Recording. Engaging community members to help address important issues is both rewarding and impactful. But doing this well takes considerable time investments and skill development. Is the investment worth the return? What are the potential risks to engaging and also to not engaging? This webinar explored these questions as well as showcase recent investments in civil dialogue by the first ECOP Rapid Response Team. Visit the toolbox | Webinar recording
Upcoming Webinars
- So Many Apps – So Little Time. July 10, 2017, at 11 am EDT. Learn more…
- Behavioral Ethics & Personal Finance: Morality, Bias, and Framing. July 11, 2017, at 11 am EDT. Learn more…
- Organic Seed Production: Diseases and Pests. July 18, 2017, at 2 pm EDT. Learn more…
- Composting Feedstocks and Recipe Development. July 21, 2017, at 2 pm EDT. Learn more…
- Hiring Farm Employees: Process & Recommendations. July 26, 2017, at noon EDT. Learn more…
- Gut-Microbiota-Brain Axis. July 28, 2017, at 11 am EDT. Learn more…
Don’t Miss These Recordings
Writing About Research: Think Clarity! The key to communication is clarity. Yet many authors struggle with clearly conveying methodologies, findings, and relevant implications when crafting research briefs or other types of scholarly manuscripts. This webinar focused on strategies for avoiding common clarity-related issues in scholarly writing—from obvious problems such as inadequate organization to more subtle errors such as imprecise language and omitted punctuation. View the recording…
Webinar recordings and related resources are posted on the link for that webinar in Learn, often within 24 hours after the webinar ends.