www.eXtension.orgwww.eXtension.org

Community of Practice for Community of Practice for CooperativesCooperatives

Madeline Schultz

Association of Cooperative Educators Institute

Minneapolis, MN

July 31, 2009

eXtensioneXtension, 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.

History of eXtensionHistory of eXtension

• July 1, 2004o Directors & Administrators establish eXtension

$2.2M - annually• FY 2006

o New Technologies for Ag Extension $1.485M

• First Community of Practice Launcho September 2006

• National Launcho February 2008

System Wide InvolvementSystem 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

Why eXtension?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

““Social media is people Social media is people having conversations having conversations

online.”online.”

How many of you

participate in social

networks?

How many of you

participate in social

networks?

(…just to name a few)

200,000,000 blogs

>100,000,000 videos

(65,000 new videos/day)

Over 4,000,000

articles

Source: Universal McCann Comparative Study on Social Media Trends April 2008

73% of active online users have read a blog

83% have watched video clips

55% have uploaded photos

39% subscribe to an RSS

feed

57% Have

joined a

Social

network

IT’S A FUNDAMENTAL SHIFT IN IT’S A FUNDAMENTAL SHIFT IN THE WAY WE COMMUNICATE AND THE WAY WE COMMUNICATE AND

OBTAIN INFORMATIONOBTAIN INFORMATION

IT’S A FUNDAMENTAL SHIFT IN IT’S A FUNDAMENTAL SHIFT IN THE WAY WE COMMUNICATE AND THE WAY WE COMMUNICATE AND

OBTAIN INFORMATIONOBTAIN INFORMATION

is not a fadis not a fad

Web 2.0 Web 2.0

eXtension StaffeXtension Staff

Director – NEAssociate Directors – KY, NCCommunication/Marketing Leader – CAEvaluation/Assessment Leader – VACorporate Development – INContent Staff – KYIT Staff - NC

Annual FundingAnnual Funding (estimate)6060(estimate)6060

Institutional Assessments

New Technologies for Ag Extension

(USDA)

Private Funding

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

Community of PracticeCommunity of Practice

about.extension.org

Questions,

Issues, or

Life Events

Communities

of Interest

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

PPrroodduuccttss

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How it works…How it works…

Support for CoPsSupport for CoPs

• eXtension applications

• eXtension applications training

• Communications and marketing

• Evaluation and assessment

• Development and sustainability

• Professional development opportunities

The CoP can Help Everyone in The CoP can Help Everyone in Cooperative Education 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

FacultyFaculty

Brian HenehanProgram Leader and Sr. Extension Associate, Cornell University

Philip KenkelEndowed Chair, Bill Fitzwater Cooperative Center, OK State University

Greg McKeeDirector of Quentin Burdick Center for Cooperatives at ND State University

John ParksDir. of the Texas Center for Cooperative Development at Texas A&M

Chris PetersonHomer Nowlin Chair of Consumer Responsive Agriculture, Michigan State University

Madeline Schultz

Iowa State University Extension Value Added Ag Program

Dixie Watts ReavesProfessor of Agribusiness, Virginia Tech

LeadershipLeadership Team Team

SupportersSupporters

eXtension InitiativeBetty Johnson

Development Officer, eXtension Initiative, Indiana

Craig WoodAssociate Director, eXtension Initiative, University of Kentucky

CHS FoundationWilliam Nelson

CHSF President, Minnesota

USDA Rural DevelopmentJohn Wells

Director of Cooperative Development, W. DC

Scholarship 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

CollaborationCollaboration

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

CoP Initial GoalsCoP 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

Community of InterestCommunity 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

Initial Scope of ContentInitial 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

Thanks for your Interest in the Thanks for your Interest in the Community of Practice for Community of Practice for

CooperativesCooperatives

Madeline Schultz

1111 NSRIC

Ames, IA 50011-3310

515-294-0588

schultz@iastate.edu