Extension
It Starts With Us
2021 21st century Life skills/developing human capital
2021 Economic and Workplace Development
Denise Donahue, Kathy Byrnes, Dan Allen, Diane Kelley, Mary Averbeck, Joan Bowling, Linda Brown-Price
21st Century Skills (Career & Workplace Development)
Positive Employability
Economic Development
The Kentucky Extension Community Assessment Statewide Report 2019 indicates that money management for families and youth and employee “soft/essential skills” training continue to be important issues statewide. Research conducted by Harvard University, the Carnegie Foundation, and Stanford Research Center indicates 85% of job success comes from having well developed soft and people skills, and only 15% of job success comes from technical skills and knowledge (hard skills). Studies show in the United States, only 1/3 of high school seniors are college ready. Only 1/3 of high school graduates are work-ready.
Employers are often prepared to teach technical job skills; however, the intangible skills of being a team player, time management, and positive attitude are difficult to teach on-sight but critical to success.
- More effective employees and community leaders.
- Improved financial capability for Kentuckians, results in better quality of life and stronger families.
- Gainful employment in rewarding careers
- Lower unemployment rates
- Full participation in local and state community
- Practice better employee “soft/essential skills” such as communication, networking, teamwork, time management, problem-solving, etc.
- Improve employability through practical living skills and continued education practices.
- Successful completion of post-secondary programs
- Entry into careers of choice
- Lower amounts of student loan debts
- Change knowledge, opinions, skills, and aspirations, to improve employability through work and practical living skills and continuing education practices.
- Better alignment with expectations with Schools, Postsecondary Institutions, and Businesses
- Increased funding and resources to 4-H Programs
- Increased participation in local and state 4-H Programs
- Sustained, higher-quality 4-H programs
- Higher graduation rates
- Increased entry into post-secondary programs
- Increased access to financial aid
Outcome: Improved workforce communication
Indicator: Number of individuals who reported the intent to utilize etiquette practices to improve verbal, written, and electronic communication practices (Communicating Effectively)
Indicator: Number of individuals reporting increased levels of understanding in the area: demonstrate strong verbal and nonverbal communications (Conveying Your Message)
Method: Pre/Post Evaluation
Timeline: Following Positive Employability
Outcome: Improved workplace listening skills
Indicator: Number of individuals reporting increased levels of understanding in the area: how to utilize listening cues (nonverbal, quaisverbal, and verbal) in conversation (Listening and Inquiry)
Method: Pre/Post Evaluation
Timeline: Following Positive Employability
Outcome: Networking Skills
Indicator: Number of individuals reporting increased levels of confidence in the area: participate in a productive business conversation (Networking for Success)
Method: Pre/Post Evaluation
Timeline: Following Positive Employability
Audience: 4-H Members (ages 9-18) ,4-H Members’ Families
Project: Leverage partnerships to enhance existing initiatives around college & career readiness
Content: KY 4-H Agent-written Workforce Preparation curriculum pieces are currently on the 4-H Agent Resource Guide: Resource Guide > Family & Consumer Science > Workforce Preparation; National 4-H Career Readiness Framework; Kentucky Career Clusters (there are actually 16, not 14!) https://education.ky.gov/CTE/kytech/Documents/Career%20Clusters%20Update.pdf
Input: 4-H Agent, curriculum publications and resources, local employers and community leaders
Date: 8/2020 to 5/2021
Project: Expand exploration, development, and practical application of academic learning and 21st Century Skills for Success
Content: KY 4-H Agent-written Workforce Preparation curriculum pieces are currently on the 4-H Agent Resource Guide: Resource Guide > Family & Consumer Science > Workforce Preparation; National 4-H Career Readiness Framework; Kentucky Career Clusters (there are actually 16, not 14!) https://education.ky.gov/CTE/kytech/Documents/Career%20Clusters%20Update.pdf
Input: 4-H Agent, curriculum publications and resources, local employers and community leaders
Date: 8/2020 to 5/2021
Audience: Adults, teens unemployed individuals, limited-Resource individuals, parolees
Project or Activity: Forming a Job Club
Content or Curriculum: KY CES Resources
Input: FCS Agents, Community Partners (Unemployment Office)
Date: September 17, 2020
Audience: Young Adults, Job Seekers
Project or Activity: Resume and Interview Skills Classes
Content or Curriculum: KY CES Resources
Inputs: KY CES State Specialists, Program Assistants, FCS Agents, Community Partners
Date: September-October 2020 - March-April 2021
Audience: 4-H Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Record Books
Content or Curriculum: Corresponding 4-H Record Books
Inputs: Agents
Date: June, July 2021
Audience: Homeowners
Activity: Ins and Outs of Downsizing your Home
Content or Curriculum: UK publications
Inputs: FCS agent
Date March 2021
Audience: General public
Activity: Savvy Sellers and Bargain Hunters
Content: UK curriculum
Inputs: FCS agent, thrift store personnel, antique professional
Date: April 2021
Audience: Youth Middle and High School Activity: 4-H “It’s Your Reality”
Content or Curriculum: UK Copyrighted Inputs
Inputs: Agents and County Middle and High Schools
Date: School Year – 2020 – 2021
Audience: Youth Grade School Activity: “Dollars & Sense”
Content or Curriculum: UK Copyrighted
Inputs: Agents and County wide Grade Schools
Date: School Year – 2020—2021
Activity: 4-H School Clubs, Communication Events
Content or Curriculum: Speech and Demo lesson is part of every curriculum
Inputs: Agent, Volunteers, Schools, Assistants
Date: September 2020 – July 2021
Activity: 4-H Achievement
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Leadership Achievement Curriculum
Inputs: Agents & Assistants
Date: September 2020– April 2021
Audience: 4-H Youth
Project or Activity: Expressive Art
Content or Curriculum: National 4-H Art Curriculum
Inputs: Agents & assistants
Date: July 2020-June 2021
Author: Diane Kelley
Major Program: 21st Century Skills (Career & Workplace Development)
Kenton County Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth Development Agent – Kelley; interviewed current and recently graduated 4-H members from 3 Kenton County school districts, and home-schooled youth during the 2020 – 2021 program year. Youth and young adults represented participants from 2008 until 2021. Interviewed participants represented youth who solely participated in project group experiences, as well as youth who participated in community clubs, and 4-H activities such a
Author: Diane Kelley
Major Program: Agriculture
“…the research on cognitive processing supports the importance of a teacher initiating activities that require students to process and apply new information” Rosenshine, Barak (ASU).The Kenton County Cooperative Extension Service 4-H agent with agriculture responsibilities presented two teacher orientation programs for educators hosting egg incubators in local classrooms. 6 teachers participated, representing 3 school districts. Due to the current covid protocol and pote
