Abstract
Faculty at a Land Grant university provided communication technology training to Cooperative Extension Service personnel in a face-to-face, five-day workshop covering seven lessons focused on communication technology (Social Media, Video Media, Photography Media, Professional Networking Media, Collection Media, Publishing Media and File Sharing Media). This training was provided to select Extension personnel identified as early adopters in an effort to increase communication-based technology understanding, knowledge and use in the state. Upon completion of each lesson, Extension personnel (N = 23) participated in hands-on learning exercises to contribute to their understanding of concepts and the development of digital media products that would enhance participants’ program areas. Participants felt the technology “they actually use,” had the “greatest ability to use,” and “expected to use most in the future” was the Internet. When asked to self-rate their technology literacy, 70% of participants rated themselves as “intermediate.” Participants gained the greatest enjoyment from the Photography Media lesson in the workshop and the least enjoyment from the Professional Networking Media lesson. Only 17% of participants reported high interest in teaching technology to their clients. When asked the likelihood of using communications technology as part of a digital media integration plan, participants rated all but one (Professional Networking Media) of the seven media covered as “very likely” to use. This research showed the value of using university faculty to provide professional development and technical expertise training to Cooperative Extension Service personnel.
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