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Full-Text Articles in Education

Determining The Health Literacy Skills Of Extension Audiences In Maryland, Beverly Jackey, Heejung Song, Lisa Mccoy, Virginia Brown Dec 2023

Determining The Health Literacy Skills Of Extension Audiences In Maryland, Beverly Jackey, Heejung Song, Lisa Mccoy, Virginia Brown

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Strong health literacy skills empower people to make informed health decisions, especially those with chronic health conditions striving for positive health outcomes. Half of all people living in Maryland report having at least one chronic disease. Research examining the health literacy of Marylanders is limited. This paper reports how establishing a baseline for health literacy levels of Marylanders can identify major factors affecting the health literacy skills of Extension audiences and lays the important groundwork to develop Extension programs and explore the best delivery methods tailored to the needs of subpopulations. Using the Newest Vital Sign, a …


Educational Interests And Information-Seeking Behaviors Of Utah Residents, Amanda D. Ali, Lendel K. Narine Dec 2023

Educational Interests And Information-Seeking Behaviors Of Utah Residents, Amanda D. Ali, Lendel K. Narine

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

With a limited body of literature examining residents’ preferences for Extension topic areas, this brief report examined the educational interests of Utah residents. It explores opportunities for future programming based on residents’ preferences for topic areas and their information-seeking behaviors. Data were gathered from Utah residents in May 2021 via an online Qualtrics survey (n = 668). Results showed the topics of highest interest to Utah residents were strengthening family relationships, emergency preparedness, mental health, food storage, and healthy couples’ relationships. Residents’ information-seeking behaviors were somewhat consistent with their interests; residents searched most frequently for information on mental health, strengthening …


Examining College Students’ Attitudes Toward Poverty During The Adult Role Of The Community Action Poverty Simulation, Jessica M. Parks, Portia Johnson, Diann C. Moorman Dr., Sheri Worthy, Leigh Anne Aaron Dec 2023

Examining College Students’ Attitudes Toward Poverty During The Adult Role Of The Community Action Poverty Simulation, Jessica M. Parks, Portia Johnson, Diann C. Moorman Dr., Sheri Worthy, Leigh Anne Aaron

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) and Extension professionals need to understand the lived experience of poverty because it affects every aspect of an individual’s life. Poverty is related to inadequate nutrition and food insecurity, lack of access to health care, insufficient child care, unsafe neighborhoods, lack of affordable housing, under-resourced schools, and a lower quality of life. Attitudes toward poverty vary widely among Americans and can be categorized as either internal/individual attributions (e.g., laziness, welfare dependency, etc.) or systemic/structural attributions (e.g., unemployment, inflation, etc.). Individuals holding internal attributions toward poverty are more likely to have negative feelings toward impoverished individuals. …


A Case Study On The Transfer Of Training As Influenced By Perceptions Of Self-Leadership By Extension Professionals, Lisa Kaslon, Nathan W. Conner, Gina Matkin, Mark Balschweid, Chuck Hibberd Dec 2023

A Case Study On The Transfer Of Training As Influenced By Perceptions Of Self-Leadership By Extension Professionals, Lisa Kaslon, Nathan W. Conner, Gina Matkin, Mark Balschweid, Chuck Hibberd

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Employee potential and development are critical, and training has been identified as a way to create high-performing work cultures and high-potential employees. The purpose of this study was to understand how Extension employees perceive their self-leadership as impacting their transfer of training after they participate in professional development. The study aims to answer the following research question, “How do Extension professionals describe their experiences of transfer of training as influenced by their perceptions of their self-leadership? The methodological approach used for this research was the case study. Data collection methods included a questionnaire, interviews, and document review. A semi-structured interview …


Time Allocation Changes For Family Life Extension Educators: The Impact Of Covid-19, Brian J. Higginbotham, Joshua J. Turner, Stephen Duncan, David G. Schramm Dec 2023

Time Allocation Changes For Family Life Extension Educators: The Impact Of Covid-19, Brian J. Higginbotham, Joshua J. Turner, Stephen Duncan, David G. Schramm

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

COVID-19 has caused a shift in Extension educators’ daily routines and a transition to virtual programming. This case study analyzed time logs and interview data of Extension educators hired by Utah State University to facilitate fatherhood education programming. Comparison data indicate less time was spent teaching and traveling while more time was spent managing technology and marketing, following restrictions imposed by COVID-19. Educators recommended that aspiring educators should be made aware of expectations for virtual teaching. They also stressed that supervisors should look for these skills and technological competence in future hiring. Implications for best practices for future programming are …


Lessons Learned Adapting And Implementing Another Organization’S Program To Promote Healthy Aging, Erin Jewell, Theresa Serio, Karen Basinger, Jennifer Dixon Cravens, Lisa Mccoy, Mona Habibi, Shauna C. Henley Aug 2023

Lessons Learned Adapting And Implementing Another Organization’S Program To Promote Healthy Aging, Erin Jewell, Theresa Serio, Karen Basinger, Jennifer Dixon Cravens, Lisa Mccoy, Mona Habibi, Shauna C. Henley

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Programming which promotes healthy aging may be lacking in states where nutrition and health interventions are directed earlier in life. Due to Maryland’s increasing aging population, a team of 10 University of Maryland Extension Family and Consumer Sciences educators received permission to adapt and implement the Iowa Department of Public Health’s, in partnership with the Iowa Department of Human Services and Department on Aging, Fresh Conversations program to fit the needs of Maryland’s older adults. The purpose of this manuscript is not to discuss research findings but rather to share our challenges, successes, and recommendations for adapting and implementing another …


Enhancing Production Efficiency And Farm Profitability Through Innovative Extension Programming, Nathan W. Conner, Matt Stockton, Daran Rudnick, Charles Burr, Tessa Burford Aug 2023

Enhancing Production Efficiency And Farm Profitability Through Innovative Extension Programming, Nathan W. Conner, Matt Stockton, Daran Rudnick, Charles Burr, Tessa Burford

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Cooperative Extension strives to provide agricultural producers with non-formal educational opportunities designed to positively impact agriculture (NIFA, 2021). Therefore, a team of Extension professionals at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln developed and facilitate an ongoing professional development program designed to enhance the engagement of agricultural producers in farm management, especially in the areas of input use efficiency and profitability. Andragogy was used as the framework to help ensure the Testing Agricultural Performance Solutions (TAPS) program provided agricultural producers with non-formal education that aligned with andragogical principles. Knowles (1980) refers to andragogy as the “art and science of helping adults …


Increasing Collaboration Between Extension And University Faculty: The Value Of A Dedicated Faculty Liaison, Heidi L. Radunovich, Nick T. Place Mar 2023

Increasing Collaboration Between Extension And University Faculty: The Value Of A Dedicated Faculty Liaison, Heidi L. Radunovich, Nick T. Place

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

This paper describes the development of a faculty liaison position created to increase collaboration between Extension and other university units and provides original research assessing the programmatic outcome. An assessment of initial collaborations was done, and a survey was given to university faculty to assess their impressions of Extension at the start of the position and after four years. The position provided a significant increase in collaborative projects and reported collaboration, and reported perceptions of Extension improved, while the ability to define the terms Extension and land-grant did not change. Suggestions for improving upon such a position are made.


Rewarding Relationships: A Quasi-Experimental Design Evaluating The Impact Of An Extension Public Relations Seminar, Ashley Mcleod-Morin, Lauri M. Baker, Cheryl Boyer, Anissa M. Zagonel, Angela B. Lindsey Mar 2023

Rewarding Relationships: A Quasi-Experimental Design Evaluating The Impact Of An Extension Public Relations Seminar, Ashley Mcleod-Morin, Lauri M. Baker, Cheryl Boyer, Anissa M. Zagonel, Angela B. Lindsey

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

While Extension communication units have seen success in implementing brand strategies to raise awareness of Extension, the public value and need for Extension programming continue to be misunderstood. College students have the potential to ensure the future of Extension is viable. To expose undergraduate students to the brand and value of Extension, a public relations seminar was developed and delivered by a state Extension specialist to 95 students enrolled in an agricultural technical writing course at a land-grant university. The seminar served as a treatment in the quasi-experimental design, which included information about the land-grant mission, Extension resources, and potential …