Extension FoundationRecently, I was asked about the 2006 eXtension milestones and when key milestones would be met. I shared with the person they should expect to see the launch of the FAQ / Ask an Expert system, the launch of the first group of public Community of Practice (CoP) Web sites, another group of Communities of Practice named, and much more. If you are one of those interested in knowing more about what to expect this year, please see:
eXtension would like to receive applications from land-grant universities interested in developing and supporting a national eXtension Web Conferencing Center. The center will be expected to support a variety of organizational and educational activities associated with the work of:
* Pioneering Communities of Practice
* iTeams (institutional teams)
* Training and Development Programs
* Advisory Team Meetings
* Clientele education
* Organization and management functions
* Special needs as defined
An institution or group of institutions working together may submit a proposal.
In calendar year 2006, eXtension will guarantee 125,000 user minutes. The period of coverage will be through Dec. 31, 2006.
Applications are due March 15, 2006 and should be e-mailed to Dan Cotton, Director eXtension Initiative at dan.cotton@eXtension.org. If you have questions, please send them to Dan or Kevin Gamble at kevin.gamble@eXtension.org.
For complete information per this request for applications, please visit:
https://www.extension.org/wiki/eXtension_Web_Conferencing_Center
The National Extension Directors and Administrators (NED/A) meeting was held in Albuquerque, New Mexico last week. On Wednesday, February 15, I participated in an eXtension presentation, which went very well.
Elbert Dickey, Director of Cooperative Extension in Nebraska and Chair of the eXtension Governing Committee, shared the eXtension 2005 Report on Investment Annual Report with the group. The report describes key accomplishments ranging from hiring a leadership team, development of the prototype, the 2005 – 2007 eXtension Implementation Plan, naming the Pioneering Communities of Practice, starting a national FAQ system, establishing business and technical infrastructure, and engaging the system.
Karyn Malinowski, Director of Cooperative Extension at Rutgers University and chair of the eXtension Progress Review Panel, shared the panel’s two-page “2005 eXtension Progress Report – Executive Summary.” The report concluded that year-one milestones were basically met and that significant “behind the curtain” work to move the initiative forward had been accomplished. Panel recommendations included moving forward quickly with development of “in front of the curtain” services. Other panel members included Jim Christenson, University of Arizona; Frank Boteler, CSREES; Margaret Hale, Texas A&M University; Duane Hauck, North Dakota State University; and Noland Williams, Kentucky State University.
Next, I presented an overview of what to expect in 2006 by reviewing the “2006 eXtension game board” and “2006 Key Milestones: Building and Ramping-Up eXtension.” The handouts were very useful in describing how eXtension should develop over the coming year.
Larry Turner, Director of the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service at the University of Kentucky and co-chair of the eXtension Finance Taskforce, gave an eXtension financial update. He reported on the payment of institutional assessments, the success of establishing the FY06 line item “New Technologies for Agricultural Extension” budgeted at $1.485M, and the President’s FY07 budget that includes a $2.97M line for eXtension (double the FY06 line).
Afterwards, directors and administrators asked questions related to the management of intellectual property and copyright, FY07 budget strategies, engaging the system, milestones, and more. Conversation was quite positive and as excitement mounts for seeing eXtension “in front of the curtain.”
Craig Wood and I recently visited with the Association of Extension Administrators (AEA) at their winter meeting in Houston, TX. Lorenza Lyons, Executive Administrator of AEA, invited us to give an eXtension update and to discuss how their community can better engage in eXtension. The presentation focused on eXtension mission, vision, values and guiding principles, and how Pioneering Communities of Practice (CoPs) are developing content using the eXtension collaborative workspace at http://CoP.extension.org.
Following the presentation, we discussed how they encourage their faculty to join CoPs, collaborate with other institutions to form new and important CoPs, and to name an iTeam (institutional team). In the evening, I attended their reception and enjoyed some terrific barbeque, “Texas-style”. The hospitality was great, the conversation constructive and we look forward to their engagement in eXtension.