IMPACT WITHOUT THE AGENT: TOOLS TO DETERMINE ENGAGEMENT FROM NONTRADITIONAL EDUCATION
Teaching & Educational Technologies
Steven Yergeau
Environmental and Resource Management Agent
Rutgers University Cooperative Extension
Toms River
Abstract
At the heart of Extension programming is the delivery of educational programs and resources to our clientele. The conventional model of education is a subject expert standing in front of a group of people in a classroom setting and explaining their topic and answering questions. To determine the effectiveness of these educational efforts, evaluations are presented to the audience with feedback received through written or verbal responses. There are a variety of support systems available to effectively evaluate the level of engagement and impact of these types of educational experiences. Disruptions like the COVID-19 pandemic and advances in technology have altered this model and allow for innovative ways of remote teaching that do not involve an instructor in the room. Some of these ways include webinars, asynchronous videos, instructional displays, and educational publications. Extension professionals need to adapt their programs and how they determine programmatic impact to match the new media used for program delivery. Social media platforms, smart phones, and other technologies are part of our everyday life and have become essential tools to reach our audiences. With these new teaching tools come novel ways to evaluate our educational impacts. A variety of examples of remote or asynchronous teaching methods will be discussed along with the tools used to assess their impact for Extension reporting. From the built-in functionality of URL shorteners, QR codes, and online quizzes and gradebooks, this talk will cover tools to help you evaluate the engagement and impact of your remote programs.
Authors: Steven Yergeau
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Steven Yergeau Environmental and Resource Management Agent, Rutgers University, New Jersey, 08755-1199