Digital Commons Network^™

Transformative Learning In Practice: Examples From Extension Education, Michael R. Reichenbach, Allyson B. Muth, Sanford S. Smith

Journal of Extension

Transformative learning can lead to great awareness of one's own and others' personal perspectives and result in changes in how participants understand important social issues and how they choose to take action or not. Three examples of Extension teaching that embrace transformative learning are presented: a phenomenological approach to interaction with landowners; forest story cards; and scenario planning. These tools have been shown to be useful in forestry and may be useful in many Extension disciplines.

Beginning Farmers: Will They Face Up To Safety And Health Hazards?, Louise Byler, Nancy Ellen Kiernan, Sam Steel, Patricia Neiner, Dennis J. Murphy

Journal of Extension

The study reported here assessed the farm safety and health training needs of beginning farmers in Pennsylvania to help educators develop training workshops and materials to meet those needs. Results of the online survey indicate that participants highly value farm safety, consider themselves to have mostly minimal to moderate skills relative to the safe operation of farms, and are willing to attend safety training workshops. The results of the study provide direction to Extension educators in designing farm safety and health training for this growing constituent group.

African-American Land Loss And Sustainable Forestry In The Southeast: An Analysis Of The Issues, Opportunities, And Gaps, Colmore S. Christian, Rory Fraser, Amadou Diop

Journal of Extension

African-Americans' connection to the land is rapidly disappearing, and with it goes the cultural, political, and socio-economic capital that has helped this population, especially in southern states. There has been a severe decline in black landownership since 1910, resulting in rural counties with predominantly black populations becoming pockets of enduring poverty. Judicious investments in efforts to solve black land loss may lead to solutions to a larger problem: engagement of non-industrial private forestland owners in sustainable land management. Strengthening black forest-based communities as places to invest and live can build on this rich Southern heritage.

Building Supportive Networks Among Agricultural Innovators Through A Symposium On Dryland Organic Farming, Julia Piaskowski, Bertie Weddell, E Patrick Fuerst, Diana Roberts, Lynne Carpenter-Boggs

Journal of Extension

Extension can play a valuable role by bringing together those who are pioneering innovative practices. We planned, built, and evaluated an Extension symposium on dryland organic agriculture. Post-symposium evaluations indicated that this process disseminated regionally relevant information; fostered networks among producers, researchers, and the organic processing and feed industries; enhanced trust among stakeholders; and increased interest in expanding organic production. Ninety-five percent of respondents indicated that they established new business relationships within 6 months of the symposium. A unique aspect of our project was the enhancement of social capital between geographically separated rural localities.

Demographic Factors Affecting The Adoption Of Multiple Value-Added Practices By Oklahoma Cow-Calf Producers, Brian R. Williams, Kellie Curry Raper, Eric A. Devuyst, Derrell Peel, C. P. Murphy, Chris Richards, Damona Doye

Journal of Extension

Value-added programs are continually promoted by Extension personnel as avenues for improving cow-calf profitability, but producer adoption of value-added practices lags in spite of research that validates the value of these practices. Identifying producer characteristics that increase the likelihood of value-added practice adoption is critical to developing successful outreach efforts. Results from a survey of Oklahoma beef producers on value-added practice adoption indicate that multiple demographic variables influence a producer's likelihood of practice adoption. For Extension specialists, results can help in targeting likely adopters and developing methods to overcome barriers to adoption by producers less likely to adopt.

Celebrating Joe's First 50 Years: A Public Good, Joan S. Thomson

Journal of Extension

Understanding our history provides insight to shape our vision of JOE's future. As we implement Extension's mission, defining our own personal philosophy is often overlooked. Instead, the focus is on the institution's policies, procedures, and practices. Extension's public good is derived from its engagement with communities. Such engagement requires a commitment among Extension's educators; this commitment must be grounded in understanding engaged scholarship, an evolving process to which JOE must contribute.

Initiating And Sustaining Conversations Between Organic Farmers And Extension, Jason Parker, Patrick Lillard

Journal of Extension

The relationship between advocates of organic agriculture and land-grant university agents has evolved significantly over the past century, but land-grant research and Extension agents still confront many challenges to working with organic farmers. This article reviews the barriers to communication that have developed over the last century and initiates a discussion on how to facilitate successful collaborations among Extension agents, researchers, and organic farmers.

College Readiness For Rural Youth Initiative: Creating A Climate For Success, Jason Hedrick, Mark Light, Jeff Dick

Journal of Extension

College Readiness for Rural Youth is an innovative, postsecondary education bridge program that gives youth the opportunity to explore college attainability, admissions, financial aid, and application processes. The initiative aims to support academic success and transition to college for rural youth.

Utilizing A State Level Volunteer Recognition Program At The County Level, Fran Korthaus Mccall, Ken Culp Iii

Journal of Extension

Volunteer recognition is an important component of Extension programs. Most land-grant universities have implemented a state volunteer recognition program. Extension professionals, however, are too overburdened with meetings, programs, and activities to effectively recognize volunteers locally. Utilizing a state model is an efficient means of recognizing volunteers. This article presents an idea that Extension professionals can utilize to implement a statewide volunteer recognition program on the county level. The first step is to appoint a volunteer recognition committee that will utilize the state recognition categories and identify and nominate worthy volunteers for their programmatic contributions at both the county and state …

Partnering With School Nutrition Professionals To Promote Fruit And Vegetable Intake Through Taste-Testing Activities, Sherri M. Cirignano, Luanne J. Hughes, Corey J. Wu-Jang, Kathleen Morgan, Alexandra Grenci, Leeanne Savoca

Journal of Extension

The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act (HHFKA) of 2010 sets new nutrition standards for schools, requiring them to serve a greater variety and quantity of fruits and vegetables. Extension educators in New Jersey partnered with school nutrition professionals to implement a school wellness initiative that included taste-testing activities to support schools in achieving the milestones established by the HHFKA. Results indicated that "previewing" foods may influence students' interest in, and acceptance of, new foods, opening up outreach and partnership opportunities for Extension educators to consider when working to promote school wellness.

Case Study Of Senior Cohousing Development In A Rural Community, Melinda Lyon, Mihyun Kang, Jessy Kramp

Journal of Extension

Senior cohousing, a type of cohousing that focuses on adults age 55 or older, is recent information to Extension educators. The study reported here examined the development of senior cohousing in a rural community. The programming stage of the development of a rural senior cohousing located in a town in the Midwest was observed for the study. The six components of senior cohousing: Participatory Process; Deliberate Neighborhood Design; Extensive Common Facilities; Complete Resident Management; Non-Hierarchal Structure; and Separate Income Sources (Durrett, 2009) were observed. Introducing senior cohousing to Extension educators may help them to present housing options for older adults.

Adoption Of Integrated Pest Management Practices Among Oklahoma Greenhouse Producers: A Case Study For Experiential Learning, Eric J. Rebek, Michael A. Schnelle, Kay D. Kelsey

Journal of Extension

An instruction- and experience-based workshop was conducted for Oklahoma greenhouse producers to teach principles of integrated pest management (IPM) for common arthropod pests of greenhouse crops. Workshop effectiveness was evaluated using a pre- and post-test instrument to measure changes in knowledge and attitudes about IPM and current use and intention to adopt IPM practices. Findings indicate the objectives were accomplished as participants reported significant increases in IPM knowledge, a marked acceptance of IPM practices, and a willingness to adopt IPM. Extension workshops that combine classroom instruction and hands-on demonstration can be used effectively to teach relevant concepts to stakeholders.

Perceptions Of Texas 4-H Livestock Ambassadors On Career Development, Higher Education, And Leadership Development, William F. Zanolini, John Rayfield, Jeff Ripley

Journal of Extension

Selected 4-H youth participated in the Texas 4-H Livestock Ambassador program. Forty-five youth participated in the 3-day program delivered by university professors and staff, Texas AgriLife Extension faculty and industry representatives. An instrument was developed and administered to the Texas 4-H Livestock Ambassadors at the end of their first year of service to evaluate their perceptions regarding the perceived impacts the program had on: 1) career goals, 2) higher education opportunities, and 3) leadership development. The students perceived the Texas 4-H Livestock Ambassador Program increased their understanding of career development, higher education, and leadership development.

Recommendations For Establishing Extension Programming For Organic Farmers, Patrick Lillard, Jason Parker, Alan Sundermeier

Journal of Extension

As organic agriculture continues to grow, Extension is frequently being called to expand its efforts with organic farmers. However, this non-traditional audience has not historically requested or readily accepted information from Extension and will require Extension to use outreach methods more adapted for this grassroots-based audience. We conducted an extensive literature review of Extension efforts with organic farmers in order to develop recommendations for future Extension programming. The primary strand connecting them is the importance of developing informed Extension efforts by participating in existing organic farmer networks.

Straw Bales As A Planting Medium, Darcy Tessman, Kimberly Gressley, Richard Gibson

Journal of Extension

The childhood obesity epidemic in America is a national health crisis (Let's Move, 2008). Areas across the nation exist with low access to healthy food by either being low income or more than a mile from a supermarket. Gardening has become a popular route to provide access to healthy foods. However, arid conditions and poor soils in the Southwest contribute to an on-going and challenging effort to grow fresh food supplies. To alleviate these problems, Extension agents teach that straw bale gardens offer an easy planting medium with multiple advantages.

The Pkrc's Value As A Professional Development Model Validated, Dale Larson

Journal of Extension

After a brief review of the 4-H professional development standards, a new model for determining the value of continuing professional development is introduced and applied to the 4-H standards. The validity of the 4-H standards is affirmed. 4-H Extension professionals are encouraged to celebrate the strength of their standards and to engage the wider field of professional development in dialogue.

Generating Potential Solutions For Dealing With Problem Volunteers, Jayla Brook Fry, Gail Ann Langellotto

Journal of Extension

Extension agents are often required to work with challenging volunteers or to problem-solve difficult volunteer scenarios. However, many Extension agents receive little to no training in conflict management. At the 2013 Extension Master Gardener Coordinators' Conference, a breakout session was held to discuss the management of difficult volunteers and related issues. Master Gardener Coordinators were given several potential "problem volunteer" scenarios to discuss, so that potential solutions could be developed and shared. Although we were not able to measure the efficacy of the potential solutions, they represent the combined wisdom and experience of Master Gardener coordinators from across the country.

Meeting A Growing Demand: Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Service's Early Childhood Educator Online Training Program, Stephen Green

Journal of Extension

Demand for professional development training in the early childhood field has grown substantially in recent years. To meet the demand, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service's Family Development and Resource Management unit developed the Early Childhood Educator Online Training Program, a professional development system that currently offers nearly 100 courses (142 contact hours) to child care professionals in multiple languages. Since 2010, over 300,000 online courses have been completed by child care providers and directors. Outcomes from the program demonstrate how technology can be used to augment Extension educators' face-to-face training efforts by dramatically expanding outreach to this growing audience.

Visit Nj Farms: An Online Resource To Support Statewide Marketing Of Agritourism, Brian J. Schilling, Lucas J. Marxen

Journal of Extension

The popularity of agritourism is growing nationally. Central to the success of any agritourism operation is effective marketing. Visit NJ Farms is an interactive website designed as a centralized marketing platform for New Jersey agritourism operators. The website was developed to provide farmers with an easy-to-use tool to enter farm information, agritourism activities, and special events in a searchable database of statewide agritourism activities. Individuals interested in visiting a farm are able to search for specific agritourism activities or browse special on-farm events. Website visitors can select farms of interest to visit and develop customized travel itineraries with driving directions.

4-H Science Inquiry Video Series, Jeremy W. Green, Lynette Black, Patrick Willis

Journal of Extension

Studies support science inquiry as a positive method and approach for 4-H professionals and volunteers to use for teaching science-based practices to youth. The development of a science inquiry video series has yielded positive results as it relates to youth development education and science. The video series highlights how to conduct science-rich activities for classroom-based education and afterschool programs and through 4-H club settings. With access to the videos as a training tool to teach the science inquiry process, 4-H professionals and volunteers have greater potential to provide meaningful, intentional, and impactful learning opportunities in science for youth participants.

Community Involvement To Reduce Insect Threats To Urban Forests, Angela M. O’Callaghan, Joanne Skelly

Journal of Extension

While urban trees increase property values and improve human health, healthy urban trees also reduce potential infestation of nearby native forests. We developed a collaborative program to raise public consciousness of risks to trees from invasive insects before injury has occurred. The Nevada Department of Agriculture entomologist trained Extension Master Gardeners to recognize the threats, signs, and symptoms of alien arthropod species. They then taught classes in venues around the state, bringing awareness of potential problems. By 2013, over 700 professionals and local residents had attended a class, increasing the number of educated and concerned observers around Nevada.

Apakah Kreativitas Dan Sikap Terhadap Ilmu Ekonomi Meramalkan Partisipasi Politik Mahasiswa? Peran Mediasi Efikasi Politik Pada Mahasiswa Di Malang, Jawa Timur, Juneman Abraham, Diantini Ida Viatre

Makara Human Behavior Studies in Asia

This research aims to find the psychological mechanism of students’ political participation. The research was designed with predictive correlational design and the data analysis technique was path analysis. The dependent variable was political participation intention. The predictor variables were creativity and students’ attitude toward economics. The mediator variables were the necessary political experience and political efficacy. One hundred and four students of Department of Psychology, FPPsi, Malang State University, participated (Mage = 19.50 years old; SDage = 2.397 years). The research found that creativity and attitude toward economics are significant predictors for students’ political participation intention and this prediction is …

Bridging Patient Outcome Gap For Type 2 Diabetes : Can We Bridge Physician Practices To Produce Results Achieved In Evidence-Based Lifestyle Intervention Research?, Brenda Killen Johnson

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

The United States is abounding in the prevalence and incidence of avoidable chronic diseases, and high among these diseases is type 2 diabetes. Further, according to the National Institute of Health (NIH) Common Fund, 40% of harmful health behaviors is what contributes to chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes. NIH noted there are few personalized, effective ways to inspire people to change their behaviors in the shortterm, but if done, this behavior is not sustained long-term (The NIH Common Fund, 2011). Yet, this research discovered a Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) is one of these few personalized, effective interventions that …

A Study Of Energy Transfer Of Wind And Ocean Waves, Shahrdad Sajjadi, Mason Bray

Publications

To develop a better understanding of energy transfer between wind and different types of waves a model was created to determine growth factors and energy transfers on breaking waves and the resulting velocity vectors. This model was used to build on the research of Sajjadi et al (1996) on the growth of waves by sheared flow and takes models of wave velocities developed by Weber and Melsom (1993) and end energy transfer by Sajjadi, Hunt and Drullion (2012).

The Role Of Heparin In Acidic Fibroblast Growth Factor Signaling, Rebecca Kerr

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) are a superfamily of 23 heparin-binding proteins. Acidic fibroblast growth factor (FGF1) is a 16 kDa protein that is involved in many important biological processes such as cell differentiation, angiogenesis, and wound healing. FGF1 exhibits its activity by binding to cell-surface tyrosine kinase receptors (FGFRs). In addition to binding to FGFRs, FGF1 binds to heparin/HLGAGs. Heparin is proposed to have two functions: it protects FGFs from degradation by proteases and from thermal denaturation; and upon binding it induces FGF1 oligomerization, which is mandatory for binding to FGFR. However, it remains controversial whether or not heparin is …

A Comparison Of Perceptions And Implementation Of Shared Governance Between American And Chinese Higher-Education Institutions, Dianyu Zhang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this quantitative study was to assess the status of institutional stakeholders’ perceptions and application of shared governance on an American higher education campus and a counterpart in China and determine if there were differences among the groups of stakeholders both within and between the institutions. A 2-inventory researcher-developed survey of shared governance was used to measure each factor.

The data analysis found significant differences among the 4 categories of participants at the Chinese institution. For the General Acceptance dimension of the Perceptions of Shared Governance Inventory (PSGI) the Chinese staff members reported significantly higher scores than all …

Broadband Access For Students At East Tennessee State University, Thomas Scott Sawyer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the availability of Internet access for students attending East Tennessee State University during the fall semester 2013. It has been unknown to what degree broadband access is available in the East Tennessee State University service area that includes counties in East Tennessee, Southwest Virginia, and Western North Carolina.

The research was conducted during the fall semester 2013 including the months of August, September, and October of 2011. Data were gathered by surveying currently enrolled students of the university. Seven hundred eighty-four students responded to the survey. The survey instrument covered areas of …

Synthesis And Characterization Of A New Cyano-Substituted Tris(Pyrazolyl)Borate And Its Thallium(I) Complex, Bozumeh Som

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A new cyanoscorpionate - tris(4-cyano-3,5-diphenylpyrazolyl)borate (Tp^Ph2,4CN) has been synthesized and characterized. The thallium complex of this ligand TlTp^Ph2,4CN has also been prepared and characterized by FT-IR, ¹H NMR, and single-crystal X-ray-diffraction. The complex TlTp^Ph2,4CN crystalized in the monoclinic space group C2/c with unit cell a = 14.6697(10) Å, b = 13.9493(10) Å, c = 19.3347(12) Å, and b= 91.761(2)°. Structural comparison of TlTp^Ph2,4CN with analogous complexes demonstrated the effects of both steric and electron-withdrawing substituents on coordination geometry and the electronic properties of the metal ion. There were short contacts between the cyano groups …

Framing Of Business In China: East Vs. West, Xueyi Li

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

China is one of the largest and most promising markets for new global business ventures. This exploratory research investigates the current news-related themes regarding business in China by comparing news originating from eastern countries to western countries. This study applied agenda-setting and framing theoretical frameworks. A mixed-method approach of both qualitative and quantitative content analyses was used to generate key themes and their related concepts. The results indicate some thematic similarities as well as differences in agenda and news framing between eastern and western news samples. This exploratory study contributes to agenda-setting and framing literature as well as by creating …

The Effects Of Family Structure On Juvenile Delinquency, Alisha B. Parks

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Studies show that family structure is an important factor in explaining delinquency among adolescents (Price & Kunz, 2003). There is a lack of research, however, pertaining to cohabitation. The main goals of this study are to determine if there are variations in delinquency between cohabitating and other family types, and to examine the extent to which parental social control measures account for the variation in delinquency by family structure. Data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) are used for the purposes of this study (n = 4,389). While there are no significant differences in violent delinquency …