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eXtension Foundation and National Pesticide Safety Education Center (NPSEC) Pesticide Safety Education Funds Management Program (PSEFMP) Funding Opportunity

The eXtension Foundation (EF) is pleased to announce a funding opportunity for Land Grant University Pesticide Safety Education Programs (PSEP) for 2019. This opportunity is made available through a cooperative agreement (#X8-83698001) with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish and administer a national sub-award program in support of pesticide applicator education, and training for certified applicators of restricted used pesticides. The National Pesticide Safety Education Center (NPSEC) will continue to collaborate with EF to lead the professional development part of the project and to assist PSEPs in enhancing some of the educational products they develop as part of the expectations attached to the funding.

Requirements of sub-awardees for this program to receive funding are as follows:

    • Agree to share one educational material or product for the purposes of enhancing PSEP programs both regionally and nationally.

    • Submit progress reports every six (6) months using a standard online template.

    • Attend a minimum of one of the following 1-hour training webinars as part of this program for reporting system training and professional development. Anticipated dates are: January 31, 2019 at 3 pm EST; May 6, 2019 at 1 pm EST; September 30, 2019 at 3 pm EST and December 2, 2019 at 3:00 pm EST.

Eligibility

In order to be eligible for this funding opportunity applicants must be affiliated with a U.S. Land Grant University. Only one application per state will be eligible for funding and preference will go to 1862 Land Grant Universities. Please contact psefmp-helpdesk@extension.org if you have any questions regarding eligibility.

Funding Period

The funding period for this subaward will be Jan. 1, 2019 – December 31, 2019.

Funding Available

Each PSEP will be eligible to apply for a base amount of $18,750.00 USD plus 5% of the funds divided proportionally based on the percentage of the number of certified applicators in each state or territory. The number of certified applicators in a state or territory will be based on the most recent figures of certified applicators as supplied by the EPA. Additional amounts available to the state or territory will be listed in the budget section. Payments to successful sub-awardees will be made January 3 – 15, 2019.

Key Dates

Application System Opens: Monday, October 1, 2018 at 8 am EST

First round of reviews: October 22, 2018

Second round of reviews: November 19, 2018

Application Deadline: Saturday, December 1, 2018 at 8 pm EST

Final round of reviews: December 10, 2018

Sub-award Notification Announcement: December 21, 2018

Funds distributed by: January 15, 2019

Application Review Process:

EF will use a multi-step approach in the receiving and review of applications for this program. Each application will be reviewed by EF and an advisory panel including representatives from NPSEC, APPCO, AAPSE, PERC and the PSEP community for eligibility, compliance, completeness and potential collaboration. Additionally, through this process, applicants will have the opportunity to be involved in a NPSEC subject group to create educational materials.

Application Submission

In an effort to make the application process as streamlined and user friendly as possible, applicants will be able to download, sign, scan, and upload the sub-award agreement from the application site. Applications that have not been signed will not be considered for funding. The average time for completion of an application is 56 minutes.

Applications for this funding opportunity can be accessed at the following link on October 1, 2018 at 8:00 am EST: https://applyextension.smapply.io (Note: Link will not be active until October 1, 2018 at 8:00 am EST).

Online Application System Training:

PSEPs will receive an invitation for optional training via Zoom for October 1, 2018 at 11 am EST for the online application system. During training, EF will provide a step by step walk through of the application site, application and submission. For those who are unable to attend the training, it will be recorded and sent via email to view at your convenience. Additional trainings will also be held the same week.

Applicants with any questions please send an email to psefmp-helpdesk@extension.org.

About eXtension Foundation

The United States Cooperative Extension System, with funding from Cooperative Extension directors and administrators, and USDA-NIFA, shares resources and tools through eXtension that enables the Extension workforce to scale up its local and national impact. eXtension is an integral part of the national Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP) and is organized as a 501(c)3 non-profit membership organization. Its Board of Directors represents the five regions of Cooperative Extension, ECOP, and USDA-NIFA.

About National Pesticide Safety Education Center

The NPSEC seeks to strengthen the national system of university extension Pesticide Safety Education Programs by improving the quality, consistency, and accessibility of educational offerings, promoting collaboration and leveraging of educational resources and learning assessment tools, and increasing revenue generation. The Center, originally incubated by eXtension Foundation received start-up funding from CropLife Foundation and crop protection companies BASF, Bayer, Dow AgroSciences, DuPont, and Syngenta. NPSEC does not receive any EPA funding under the EPA-eXtension Foundation cooperative agreement.

Attachments

2019 PSEFMP Application Instructions
2019 PSEFMP FAQs

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Information

What is Next for the Impact Collaborative and Designathon One?

The Impact Collaborative (IC) was created to foster innovative project ideas and accelerate their development toward implementation for local impact. One of the first IC activities was a series of Designathon One events. Now that the first wave of events is completed, what did we learn and what is next?

The IC Designathon One events were set up as regional workshops that lasted 2 ½ days. We received a lot of great feedback that indicated we were on the right path, and one theme was persistent in pre-workshop inquiries, in-workshop activities, and post-workshop evaluations. That was the need for additional local context and customized examples and activities suited for that context. As such, some of the original events were canceled in order to re-plan them around either state priorities or a focused regional initiative. The workshop was also redesigned to be a two-day event.

The IC process will continue with virtual professional development events and more Designathon workshops. The University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) will be the first to host a redesigned IC Designathon One event. A Design Team made up of Kentucky CES educators was established to work closely with the IC Team to design an experience to meet the needs and goals of Kentucky. Their priorities are in addressing next steps for their Innovation Working Group and key initiatives across the state. This event will take place in late April at the Kenton County Extension Office in Northern Kentucky.

Designathon Two, virtual events, and another 10-12 Designathon One events are being planned and will move forward after the team concludes the Kentucky event and processes feedback and recommendations. To find out more about planned events or make a suggestion for an event location, contact Ashley Griffin at agriffin@extension.org.

The Impact Collaborative and its associated Designathon One events are open to extension professionals and their community partners at eXtension member institutions. We are still accepting new members for 2018! All inquiries about membership should be directed to Beverly Coberly at beverlycoberly@extension.org.

How does this affect applications for the Impact Collaborative?

We encourage everyone to submit their applications as soon as possible. Even if there is not a Designathon One event in your location, there will be opportunities to attend a Designathon One track as part of other upcoming events. By applying soon, you get to be a part of a community of innovative extension professionals and work toward solutions with key informants and others. The Program Fellows are planning virtual office hours and professional development events. Learn more about applying to the Impact Collaborative…

 

 

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Information Newsroom

Communication & Engagement Manager – Request for Applications

We’re searching for a Communications Manager!
Join our virtual team from any location
March 1, 2018, first round of application reviews

Communications and Engagement Manager
eXtension and NPSEC Partnership

national pesticide safety education center logoCommunication and engagement with the Cooperative Extension Service and other eXtension partners across the nation is critical to eXtension viability and future.  It is imperative the eXtension stay in touch with the people eXtension serves. eXtension is known for cutting-edge technological leadership over the past several years and now for our Impact Collaborative that is supported by innovation, collaboration, and evaluation.  The Impact Collaborative is creating measurable and visible impact at the local level through various strategies, to include Designathons One and Two.

Strategic engagement efforts and marketing are critical to the continued success of eXtension for programming, messaging, marketing, development of appropriate products, as well as continuing to keep the website up to date with information on the opportunities within eXtension.  eXtension will work collaboratively with NPSEC (National Pesticide Safety Education Center) in the support and guidance of this position.  NPSEC has similar needs for efforts from this position in the areas of strategic messaging, targeted communications, including on social media, marketing, and website maintenance.

The Communications and Engagement Manager will lead in the following areas for both eXtension and NPSEC:

  • Strategic Messaging
  • Marketing for Program Sharing, Fundraising, and Revenue Generating
  • Social Media
  • Website Management
  • Engagement with the Impact Collaborative to develop and sustain a supportive of innovative, engaged extension professionals
  • Graphics and Communications
  • Effective Communication and Engagement Strategies

For NPSEC:

Pesticide Safety Education Programs, State Lead Agencies, Federal Government and others to be identified

For eXtension:

ECOP (Extension Committee on Policy); NEDA (National Extension Directors Association), USDA (United States Department of Agriculture), State Extension Directors, Regional Extension Directors, some funders, and others to be identified.

Qualifications

  • Bacherlor’s degree in journalism or communications.  Master’s preferred.
  • Demonstrated knowledge of communications strategies, marketing packages and reach and ability to write with clarity in a fast-changing environment.
  • Knowledge of or experience in the Cooperative Extension, the audiences they serve and how this higher educational process works.
  • Knowledge of communication systems, including experience with graphics, social media, written media, fliers, brochures and ability to create communication pieces that convey the messages with clarity.
  • Knowledge and experience with managing networks and engaging them in co-creative efforts.
  • Personal computer skills required.
  • Experience in effectively working with and managing several projects at once and working with a virtual team across the country.

Specific Tasks and Responsibilities

  • Develop communications and marketing strategy and tactics with leadership team
  • Implement the communication and marketing strategy, tactics, objectives and plans.
  • Develop graphics and communications pieces to highlight the Impact Collaborative and eXtension
  • Work  with all facets of eXtension and NPSEC to develop marketing pieces and develop strategies for social media
  • Provide proactive communications and recommendations to solve communication needs as they arise
  • Write and produce documents for the eXtension membership campaign, eXtension Board, and NPSEC
  • Review, strategize and implement a social media plan for increased communications and marketing for both eXtension and NPSEC
  • Keep an updated database of new Extension Directors/Administrators for eXtension and state/territory/tribal Pesticide Safety Education extension staff for NPSEC
  • Keeps subscriber lists up to date
  • Writes posts/emails, a monthly “round-up” about the highlights of activities connected with eXtension and weekly ECOP Monday Minute items to distribute to the ECOP Executive Director.
  • Ensures that posts about upcoming events (webinars, online courses, etc.) and professional development hosted by eXtension.  Will require writing.
  • Update the content on the eXtension and NPSEC websites, including authoring new content, and creating new navigation as needed for both eXtension and NPSEC.
  • Review google analytics and take steps to optimize the user experience.
  • Work with the evaluation team to identify key data and successes for sharing on the website, written communications, and slide decks.
  • When practical, travel to eXtension and NPSEC face to face events and obtain photos, video, interviews, and other material needed to support communication and impact reporting and make sure others are capturing appropriate content as needed.
  • Provide leadership for developing a shared message and voice among eXtension staff and leadership team relative to programs, processes, and initiatives of the foundation
  • Author messaging for member institutions and keep them informed of the accomplishments of their faculty/staff relative to eXtension programs.

This is a 1.0 FTE  contracted position or University buy-out with .7 funded by eXtension and .3 funded by NPSEC. This position will be for one year, with a possible renewal for an additional year with satisfactory work and appropriate funding. This is not an employee position. The position reports to the eXtension Chief Operating Officer and National Pesticide Safety Education Center Executive Director.

First round application review will be March 1, 2018.  The position will be advertised until the position is filled.

How to Apply

Please send your letter of interest and your resume to ceoassistant@extension.org by March 1 for first round reviews.  For more information on the position contact:

Dr. Beverly Coberly
Chief Operation Officer
eXtension Foundation
beverlycoberly@extension.org
573-239-9409

Or

Tom Smith
Executive Director
National Pesticide Safety Education Center (NPSEC)
smitht48@msu.edu
517-202-3019

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Information Newsroom

News Roundup – January

Impact CollaborativeRequest for Applications. The Food Systems Impact Collaborative is now accepting applications! Please share this opportunity with other Extension faculty and staff interested in Food Systems in your networks. The IC is designed to catalyze next-level Extension programs and professionals. The experience includes Designathon events, networking, professional development, access to key informants, and much more! Anyone at an eXtension member institution is eligible to apply.

  • Food Systems – Request for Applications | Start your application
  • Diversity & Inclusion (See below for the announcement on the Program Fellow)
  • Behavioral Health (Coming Soon!)
  • New! There will also be an “open” topic option for those that do not fit any of the above

The process for all four will kickoff in January 2018 with Designathon One, and continue with Designathon Two events in April/May 2018. The process will also include tailored professional development events (online), and access to key informants.

Designathon One. Registration is open for most of the Designathon One events! NOTE: Those planning to attend the North Carolina event at the end of January should be aware that the hotel room block cutoff is January 12.

Luster, Shatomi, Jackson, Family Finacial Education SpecialistProgram Fellow. We are pleased to announce the Program Fellow for the Diversity & Inclusion Impact Collaborative. Dr. Shatomi Luster, University of Missouri, will devote the majority of her time in 2018 to the Impact Collaborative. She will be responsible for organizing the support network, recruiting teams to be part of the IC, and supporting their efforts to ensure a successful experience. More about Shatomi and her professional background and interests will be coming soon!

Success Stories. Two recently published success stories highlight how Extension professionals found new tools and approaches that increase their ability to impact their target audiences.

EdTech Learning Network. The latest TweetUp focused on “SnapChat storytelling”. Check out the Tweetcap… (you don’t need to be on Twitter to read it).

From the eXtension Blog

eXtension LearnUpcoming Webinars

Check out these (among many more) upcoming professional development events listed on learn.extension.org

  • Engage with the Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) on Wednesday, January 10, 2018, starting at 2:00 pm EST for a webinar on the Communicating About Risks – It’s More than Just Information. Learn more or register for the webinar…
  • Join Gary Felton associate Professor, Department of Environmental Science & Technology at the University of Maryland for a webinar on Compost Health and Safety on Friday, January 19 at 2:00 pm EST. Find out more at Learn more or register… This webinar is number eight in a series of 12. Find out more about the entire series HERE.
  • Learn more about Organic Tomato Seed Production on January 30, 2018, at 2 pm EST with the eOrganic team. Learn more or register…

Search Recordings on Learn

Visit learn.extension.org anytime and search for topics in your area of expertise or in areas in which you need to get started. Want to know about bugs, financial management, food safety, or military children? There are dozens of recordings being added every month to this valuable resource. Visit learn.extension.org…

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Diversity & Inclusion Information

Perseverance and Patience Can Lead to Positive Partnerships

Youth enrolled in LEEP summer programming participate in 4-H conference judging of their group project with an Extension Educator.

As an Extension Educator with the University of Minnesota, I had the opportunity to experience the eXtension Diversity & Inclusion Issue Corp Designathon in February 2017.  My team’s project, Reaching culturally diverse volunteers to grow the 4-H youth development program in Southern MN, was an idea influenced by 4-H Youth Development staff across Southern Minnesota.

For me, one of the most interesting aspects of the Designathon was the systems thinking instruction where we were reminded to break our project into smaller pieces to see how it all fits together.  Since the Designathon I’ve been reminded of the importance of breaking goals into smaller pieces as I’ve worked to develop a partnership with a local organization to start a site-based 4-H club.  My perseverance and patience eventually led to a very positive partnership.

My journey in developing a local 4-H club to reach youth with special needs began back in February 2016 when I met two staff members from LEEP (Leisure Education for Exceptional People) at a University of Minnesota Extension sponsored event (Southeast MN Youth Development Regional Forum).  During a brief conversation between sessions, I saw the potential for a partnership with LEEP and within a week of the conference sent a follow-up e-mail to the program manager I had met.

The need to persevere in developing partnerships became apparent when I didn’t receive a response to my e-mail and made a phone call to the LEEP office where I learned the person I had met weeks earlier had left the organization.  After giving LEEP enough time to hire a new program manager I contacted them again in June 2016 and introduced myself to the new hire.  Recognizing that it takes time to settle into and learn a new job, I waited until December to set up a face-to-face meeting.  That first meeting led to additional planning meetings every 4-6 weeks from January through June 2017 when we piloted the LEEP 4-H Club during LEEP’s summer program for youth ages 10-21.

The journey from February 2016 to June 2017 – from when the idea for the partnership first occurred to me until the 4-H club actually launched – required me to persevere and be patient.  It’s a testimony to the idea that developing partnerships takes time.  However, the investment of that time led to a very positive partnership which allowed youth not previously enrolled in 4-H the opportunity for a 4-H club experience.

You can contact Tammy at lorch003@umn.edu

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Information

Developmental Disabilities: An “Untapped” Audience”

Jeannette Rea Keywood at NAE4-HA Conference, Indianapolis, IN, November 14, 2017
Jeannette Rea Keywood at NAE4-HA Conference, Indianapolis, IN, November 14, 2017

Providing opportunities for educators to learn how to effectively engage individuals with developmental disabilities in their programming is essential to Extension’s diversity and inclusion mandate. Such training will help break down barriers and perceived differences, reduce apprehension, and build confidence for educators and volunteers working with this clientele.

The Rutgers Cooperative Extension Diversity & Inclusion Issue Corps participants are proud to highlight some accomplishments of the Programming for Clientele with Developmental Disabilities Professional Development Series.

  • Presented at the National Epsilon Sigma Phi conference in October 2016.
  • Received the state and regional Mary W. Wells Memorial Diversity Award from the National Extension Association for Family & Consumer Sciences in October 2017.
  • Presented at the National Association of Extension 4-H Agents annual conference in Indianapolis in November 2017.
  • Has been selected as an oral session at the 2018 JCEP conference in Orlando.
  • Was invited by eXtension’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Community of Practice to be presented as a webinar on March 8, 2018.

This recognition points to the growing awareness among Extension professionals that there is a large, untapped audience of youth and adults with developmental disabilities that would benefit from Extension programming if educators and volunteers felt knowledgeable and secure enough to meet any special needs. We applaud our colleagues for their interest in learning the necessary competencies to serve this underserved population.

Please contact Michelle Brill at brill@njaes.rutgers.edu or 609-989-6831 or Jeannette Rea Keywood at reakeywood@njaes.rutgers.edu or 609-827-0199 if you would like to host this professional development series at your institution or in your community.

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Information Newsroom

Pesticide Safety Education Grant Application System Launched

national pesticide safety education center logoThe eXtension Foundation is pleased to announce a funding opportunity for Land Grant University Pesticide Safety Education Programs (PSEP) for the fiscal year 2018. In September 2017, eXtension received a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish and administer a national sub-award program in support of pesticide applicator education, and training for certified applicators of restricted used pesticides.

The National Pesticide Safety Education Center (NPSEC) has been invited to collaborate with eXtension to lead the professional development part of the grant and to assist PSEPs in enhancing some of the educational products they develop as part of the expectations attached to the funding. Together, eXtension and NPSEC are working to create a user-friendly and seamless transition to the new process. eXtension has implemented a new online application process, administration of sub-awards, compliance of subrecipients and reporting. Based on program changes, here’s what is new:

  • Subrecipients are required to:
    • agree to share one educational material or product in coordination with NPSEC for the purposes of enhancing PSEP programs both regionally and nationally.
    • agree to participate in the national network of educators through NPSEC to increase resource sharing. Participation can include but is not limited to, engaging in online workshops or training, attending onsite meetings and sharing materials developed with other PSEPs both regionally and nationally.
    • submit progress reports every six (6) months using a standard online template.

Eligibility

In order to be eligible for this funding opportunity, applicants must be affiliated with a U.S. Land Grant University. Only one application per state will be eligible for funding and preference will go to 1862 Land Grant Universities. Please contact your state’s pesticide safety education coordinator if you have any questions about participation by your institution.

Funding Period

The funding period for this sub-award will be Jan. 1, 2018 – December 31, 2018.

Funding Available

Each PSEP will be eligible to apply for a base amount of $22,500.00 USD plus 5% of the funds after they have been divided proportionately based on the percentage of the number of certified applicators in each state or territory. The number of certified applicators in a state or territory will be based on the most recent figures of certified applicators as supplied by the EPA. The additional amount available to the state or territory will be listed in the budget section. Paments to successful sub-awardees will be made January 15 – 25, 2018.

Key Dates

Application System Opens: December 6, 2017, at 8 am EST
First round of reviews: December 16, 2017
Second round of reviews: December 23, 2017
Remaining Applications Due: January 9, 2018, at 8 pm EST
Final round of reviews: January 10, 2018
Sub-Award Notification Announcement: January 11, 2018
Funds distributed by January 25, 2018

Application Review Process

eXtension is using a multi-step approach in the receiving and review of applications for this program. Each application will be reviewed by eXtension and an advisory panel including representatives from NPSEC for eligibility, compliance, completeness and the potential for enhancing educational materials or products to be shared through NPSEC. Additionally, through this new process, applicants will have the unique opportunity to engage with NPSEC and serve as a participant in an NPSEC subject group and be involved in creating educational materials if they wish to do so.

Application Submission

In an effort to make the application process as streamlined and user-friendly as possible, applicants will be able to download the sub-award agreement from the application site allowing for the opportunity to provide these documents signed, with the submitted application. Before an application can be submitted there must be a signed sub-award agreement uploaded. An application CAN NOT be submitted without this signed document and therefore will not be considered for funding.

Those interested in participating in this opportunity should contact your state’s pesticide safety education coordinator. The deadline for applications is January 9, 2018, at 8 pm EST.

About eXtension Foundation

The United States Cooperative Extension System, with funding from Cooperative Extension
directors and administrators, and USDA-NIFA, shares resources and tools through eXtension
that enables the Extension workforce to scale up its local and national impact. eXtension is an
integral part of the national Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP) and is
organized as a 501(c)3 non-profit membership organization. Its Board of Directors represents
the five regions of Cooperative Extension, ECOP, and USDA-NIFA.

About National Pesticide Safety Education Center

The NPSEC seeks to strengthen the national system of university extension Pesticide Safety Education Programs by improving the quality, consistency, and accessibility of educational offerings, promoting collaboration and leveraging of educational resources and learning assessment tools, and increasing revenue generation. The Center has received start-up funding from CropLife Foundation and crop protection companies BASF, Bayer, Dow AgroSciences, DuPont, and Syngenta.

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Diversity & Inclusion Fellowships Information NAEPSDP

Are you evaluating your program? Ask the stakeholders!

Julie Huetteman, Ph.D., is the Strategic Initiatives Coordinator at Purdue Extension. She is serving as the National Association of Extension Program and Staff Development Professionals (NAEPSDP) eXtension Fellow for 2017.

My role as 2017 eXtension NAEPSDP Fellow for Program Evaluation was launched with the Diversity and Inclusion Issue Corps (now called the Impact Collaborative) in Cincinnati. Since then, I have attended online sessions for those projects to share progress, challenges, and accomplishments. In addition, I have been included on the Corps evaluation team to learn of feedback from project teams.

A theme in this feedback was “stakeholder” involvement expressed as 1) key to their program goals; 2) instrumental to providing external input, perspective and support for their program; and 3) important in their next steps to move forward in their program planning, implementation and evaluation efforts.

In my online interactions with project teams, I found myself repeating, “Have you asked them?” I reminded many to “keep asking questions” of their stakeholders, audience, participants, and attendees to connect to those perspectives, interests, and insights.

We don’t have to have all the answers. Instead, consider asking questions of stakeholders to get those answers.

In education, the “expert” typically shares information or content. But do we know what is of interest to attendees? Do stakeholders understand what is being shared? Is the program of value to participants? How did the audience benefit from taking part in activities? Here is the break: We don’t have to have all the answers. Instead, consider asking questions of stakeholders to get those answers.

A lot is involved in planning, implementing, evaluating and reporting Extension programs, and we want to do the best we can. So, consider asking questions throughout and use feedback to inform your decisions.

  • Are you planning activities that encourage attendees to be active, involved and engaged? Check on current research for best practices, then ask the intended audience: “What activities would you find interesting to do?”
  • When deciding which topics are most important, check the literature, then ask a couple representatives of your future audience: “What topics are important to you?”
  • While planning the evaluation, check on practice guidelines, then ask stakeholders: “What questions might be asked to find out the value of this program?” Alternately, give them draft questions and ask: “Which ones work well to capture the value of the program for you?” followed by “How might you state a question to ask about its benefit to participants?”
  • In your outline or curriculum, schedule specific activities to involve and engage participants like asking verbal questions, posting polls, sharing questions on a slide, and so on. Some examples: “Is there anything that you need to be clarified?” “Was this activity helpful?” “What was most valuable to you?” Also: Keep questions going throughout; don’t wait until the end of the program to ask.

Avoid packing your program with so much content that you forget about — or don’t leave time or space for — getting to know the audience.

Ask your audience to 1) help clarify your planning efforts, 2) give feedback during your implementation, and 3) craft questions for debriefing, or 4) review and express the evaluation results. Avoid packing your program with so much content that you forget about — or don’t leave time or space for — getting to know the audience. Include questions to get their ideas on, the perceived value from, and experience of the program. Key questions to get started might be: “Has the program met your needs?” “Is this activity/program of value to you?” “Is this of interest to you?” “What is important to you?” “How have you benefited from this presentation/program?”

Ask questions, then listen. Audience responses and feedback can guide your next steps for planning and evaluation. Make time to get to know, and connect with, the audience by asking about their thoughts or perceptions. Ask your audience – before, during and after your program – so that their perspective is the focus of your planning, activities, and evaluation.

Julie can be contacted at jhuettem@purdue.edu

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Fellowships Information

Perspectives: Avoiding Stereotypes in Program Evaluation

Julie Huetteman, Ph.D., is the Strategic Initiatives Coordinator at Purdue Extension. She is serving as the National Association of Extension Program and Staff Development Professionals (NAEPSDP) eXtension Fellow for 2017.

As the 2017 eXtension NAEPSDP Fellow for Program Evaluation, I have been on a journey to expand my awareness and understanding relating to inclusion, and to look at evaluation from this perspective, since participating in the Diversity and Inclusion Corps in Cincinnati.

Quality versus Quantity

I often ponder the busy-ness of those working in Extension. We wear a lot of hats and have many roles, but in providing education to our county or state residents, we want to be sure we are doing the best we can. To help us think about the quality of programming, not just the quantity, I share these thoughts that put stakeholders first.

Another thoughtful and thought-provoking reading recommendation from my colleague, Dr. Pamala Morris, Assistant Dean/Director of Multicultural Programs at the College of Agriculture at Purdue University, led me to Whistling Vivaldi by Claude M. Steele.

This book on “how stereotypes affect us and what we can do” is based on our human perception of identity. It shares the ways in which stereotyping defines groups and characteristics, how pervasive it is, and how it can influence performance. When individuals experience identity threat from associated restrictive characteristics, their performance is negatively affected. Stereotype threats occur from many perspectives and affect how people perform in education settings, as well as personal and professional situations.

What can we do?

In an education setting, researchers share a two-part explanation:

  • Self-affirmation or sense of competence and worth.
  • Accomplished challenges may create a mindset to interrupt negative restrictions of stereotypes.

For example, think of the message that women are not as good as men in math or science, and the resulting performance by women in STEM. Programming that affirms abilities in science — in combination with instruction and challenging STEM opportunities for accomplishment — can help in addressing the gap in performance associated with the stereotype.

Applying these concepts to our Extension setting, we can be deliberate in efforts to maintain keener awareness of our communities, to explore how we might affirm our stakeholders’ senses of self, and provide quality instruction and challenges to encourage achievement in learning.

This awareness can help direct our program evaluation activities to address the participants’ experience and perspective, not our own as program deliverers. Consider asking stakeholders about their experiences, comforts, barriers, challenges, benefits, values, and accomplishments from participating in programs. Here is where we find the quality in our work!

Thanks again to Pamala Morris for sharing and recommending this book on the human situation we live and face every day.

For More Information

You can contact Julie at jhuettem@purdue.edu

Steele, C.M. (2010). Whistling Vivaldi. New York, NY: W.W. Norton. http://books.wwnorton.com/books/Whistling-Vivaldi/

 

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Diversity & Inclusion Fellowships Information

Perspectives: Overcoming Bias in Program Evaluation

Julie Huetteman, Ph.D., is the Strategic Initiatives Coordinator at Purdue Extension. She is serving as the National Association of Extension Program and Staff Development Professionals (NAEPSDP) eXtension Fellow for 2017.

My eXtension NAEPSDP Fellowship for Program Evaluation 2017 started with the Diversity and Inclusion Corps in Cincinnati. I have been exploring related resources, opportunities, and associations ever since. Here I share thoughts and reflections more so than a set of instructions. We need space and time to ponder our human experience and learn about other perspectives to incorporate those thoughts as we plan, develop, deliver and report on our Extension work.

Blindspot: Hidden Biases of Good People by Mahzarin R. Banaji and Anthony G. Greenwald is one book recommended to me by Dr. Pamala Morris, Assistant Dean/Director of the Office of Multicultural Programs in the College of Agriculture at Purdue University. The book is about research on our human minds that looks at how our biases develop toward race, ethnicity, gender, age, religion and so on. The researchers share their Implicit Association Test (IAT), which measures how the brain associates people and groups with traits and values. This automatic preference that develops pervades even when egalitarian beliefs are expressed.

A lot of self-reflection about perceptions and openness to others resulted for me. Completing sample tests and activities had me assessing my views, thoughts, and actions about and toward others. This created time and space to think and reflect on our society and our human relations across the personal and professional, local and regional, and global.

We can apply these reflections to program evaluation efforts.

  1. Make sure we make time to reflect on our own hidden biases.
  2. Make opportunities to include our clients/participants in our activities. Invite the perceptions, thoughts, and direction of our stakeholders from the beginning, and throughout, as we work to plan, develop, deliver, and report program activities and evaluation approaches.

The ultimate result is that the opportunities made available are of value and benefit to stakeholders. Given the busy-ness of our jobs, these steps can be easy to overlook, but they are incredibly worthwhile.

I would like to send a special thank you to Pam, for sharing this resource with me at this moment in our society and for a time of reflection on our human interactions.

Julie Huetteman, Ph.D., Coordinator, Extension Strategic Initiatives, Purdue Extension

Banaji, M.R. & Greenwald, A.G. (2016). Blindspot: Hidden Biases of Good People. New York, NY: Bantam Books.