eXtension

1. www.eXtension.org Community of Practice for Cooperatives Madeline Schultz Association of Cooperative Educators Institute Minneapolis, MN July 31, 2009

2. eXtension, is a collaboratively built Internet-based learning environment delivering sound, science-based information on a 24/7/365 basis. It is a vital part of Cooperative Extension today.

3. History of eXtension • July 1, 2004 • Directors & Administrators establish eXtension • $2.2M - annually • FY 2006 • New Technologies for Ag Extension • $1.485M • First Community of Practice Launch • September 2006 • National Launch • February 2008

4. System Wide Involvement • 10,200 faculty, staff, administrators hold eXtension IDs • 2034 involved in Communities of Practice • 40,586 Frequently Asked Questions • 1566 Ask an Expert Questions Monthly • 77 Institutions represented

5. Why eXtension? • Cooperative Extension at its best… meeting the needs of people in ways and in formats of their choosing • People engaging with Cooperative Extension any time, any place, any where • Scaling to serve many more people than previously possible

10. “Social media is people having conversations online.”

11. How many of you participate in social networks?

12. The conversations are powered by… • Blogs • Micro Blogs • Online Chat • RSS • Widgets • Social Networks • Social Bookmarks • Message Boards • Podcasts • Video Sharing • Photo Sharing • Virtual Worlds • Wikis (…just to name a few)

13. 200,000,000 blogs

14. >100,000,000 videos (65,000 new videos/day)

15. Over 4,000,000articles

16. 73% of active online users have read a blog Source: Universal McCann Comparative Study on Social Media Trends April 2008

17. have watched video clips 83%

18. 55% have uploaded photos

19. 39% subscribe to an RSS feed

20. 57% Have joined a Social network

21. Web 2.0 IT’S A FUNDAMENTAL SHIFT IN THE WAY WE COMMUNICATE AND OBTAIN INFORMATION is not a fad

22. eXtension Staff Director – NE Associate Directors – KY, NC Communication/Marketing Leader – CA Evaluation/Assessment Leader – VA Corporate Development – IN Content Staff – KY IT Staff - NC

23. Annual Funding(estimate)6060 Institutional Assessments New Technologies for Ag Extension (USDA) Private Funding

24. Community of Practice • Virtual network • Multi-institutional • Multi-disciplinary • Open (new members) • Fluid and flexible • Evolve over time • Responsive to Communities of Interest

25. about.extension.org

26. How it works… Basic Information Ask the Experts FAQs Discussion & Web Chats Decision Tools Webinars Streaming Videos Individual Learning Modules Multiple Learning Modules Certificate/Credit Courses Distance Diagnostics Products ?   Questions, Issues, or Life Events Communities of Interest

27. Support for CoPs • eXtension applications • eXtension applications training • Communications and marketing • Evaluation and assessment • Development and sustainability • Professional development opportunities

28. The CoP can Help Everyone in Cooperative Education • Wider range of experts • Different points of view • Better access to research • Exposure to cutting edge technology • Increased quality of materials • Increased audience reach & impact • Increased competitiveness for grants • Connection with new audiences • Enhanced marketing potential Faculty

29. Brian Henehan Program Leader and Sr. Extension Associate, Cornell University Philip Kenkel Endowed Chair, Bill Fitzwater Cooperative Center, OK State University Greg McKee Director of Quentin Burdick Center for Cooperatives at ND State University John Parks Dir. of the Texas Center for Cooperative Development at Texas A&M Chris Peterson Homer Nowlin Chair of Consumer Responsive Agriculture, Michigan State University Madeline Schultz Iowa State University Extension Value Added Ag Program Dixie Watts Reaves Professor of Agribusiness, Virginia Tech Leadership Team

30. Supporters eXtension Initiative Betty Johnson Development Officer, eXtension Initiative, Indiana Craig Wood Associate Director, eXtension Initiative, University of Kentucky CHS Foundation William Nelson CHSF President, Minnesota USDA Rural Development John Wells Director of Cooperative Development, W. DC

31. Scholarship • The best of the best • Enriches networks • Encourages shared experiences and learning • Brings new resources to our states • Raises the bar for everyone • Helps create new knowledge

32. Collaboration • Brings academia, industry professionals, organizations together • NCERA 210 • Association of Cooperative Educators • Cooperation Works! • National Cooperative Business Association

33. CoP Initial Goals • Met in June, 2009 to chart a course of action and prepare an application • Next meeting in is October 2009 – we should be an official CoP by then • Need to raise an additional $25,000 in funding from private partners to support development • Much of the on-going work will be virtual • Launch the web site with 250 pages in November 2010

34. Community of Interest • Citizens with an interest in cooperatives • Youth • Extension Educators • Cooperative • Members • Boards of Directors • Managers • Starting with a focus on Agriculture • Will grow into other sectors

35. Initial Scope of Content • Co-ops 101 – Greg McKee • Cooperative development – Brian Henehan • Youth and Cooperatives – Dixie Reeves • Management and Marketing – John Parks • Cooperative Finance – Chris Peterson • Board of Director Strategy – Phil Kenkel

36. Thanks for your Interest in the Community of Practice for Cooperatives Madeline Schultz 1111 NSRIC Ames, IA 50011-3310 515-294-0588 schultz@iastate.edu