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Contact Information

Craig Wood, Ph.D
Acting Associate Dean & Director
UK Cooperative Extension Service

S-107 Ag. Science Center North Lexington, KY 40546-0091

+1 (859) 257-4302

craig.wood@uky.edu

Impacts

Contact Information

Craig Wood, Ph.D
Acting Associate Dean & Director
UK Cooperative Extension Service

S-107 Ag. Science Center North Lexington, KY 40546-0091

+1 (859) 257-4302

craig.wood@uky.edu




Fiscal Year:
Jul 1, 2024 - Jun 30, 2025


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.  






Stories by Blake Newton


KY Keepers: 2024-25 Update

about 10 days ago by Blake Newton

In 2022, I worked with Dr. Larson (UK Entomology Professor) and Carl Harper (UK Entomology staff, Of... Read More


4-H Camp Training

about 10 days ago by Blake Newton

In Fall 2024, I trained three new staff educators at the North Central 4-H Camp on the subject of en... Read More


Stories by Entomology


2024-2025 Kentucky Keepers Invasive Species Monitoring with Citizen Science

about 4 days ago by Jonathan Larson

In partnership with the Kentucky Office of the State Entomologist, a citizen science effort focused ... Read More


Crop Pest Management Webinars Series by UK-REC Specilaists Gain Loyal Audience

about 7 days ago by Raul Villanueva

This webinar series focuses on the management of insects, diseases, and weeds in field crops. Extens... Read More