Success StoryRemote Training for Agents



Remote Training for Agents

Author: Blake Newton

Planning Unit: Entomology

Major Program: Agriculture and Extension Leadership Development

Outcome: Initial Outcome

During the last year I helped to create new remote training opportunities for Kentucky Extension staff. During the pandemic, face-to-face in-service training was limited. In 2020 I worked with Isaac Hilpp (Extension Specialist Senior) to create a hybrid in-service training system that combined 3 hours of asynchronous pre-recorded videos and activities (that were accessible to agents at anytime via the Auzmor training system) with live 2 hour Zoom sessions. In this way, agents were able to receive 5 hours of training without having to commit to 5 hours of synchronous sessions. Two topics (4-H insect collecting and 4-H insect photography) were delivered in this manner; a total of 22 Extension staff members have participated in the training. In addition, I worked with Dr. Eric Chapman (UK Entomology) to deliver a new graduate course: ENT 520, an asynchronous, fully online insect identification course. This course was designed with Extension Staff in mind, and gives them the tools to accomplish basic insect I.D. in the contexts of pest management and education. The course is also an approved elective for UK CAFE's STO (Science, Translations, and Outreach) program. In Summer 2020, 6 Extension staff members completed the course. In Summer 2021, 2 Extension staff members completed the formal course, and another completed the course in-formally: the Canvas system allows us to track and assess UK staff members who take the course, even if they are not formerly enrolled as UK students. We hope to us this approach to deliver this course and other multi-hour, in-depth entomology topics to Extension staff in the future.  






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