The volunteer peer educator role in a community Cardiovascular Health Awareness Program
Extension Forestry in the US: Master volunteer and other peer learning programs
description
Transcript of Extension Forestry in the US: Master volunteer and other peer learning programs
1
© 2013 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.
11
Extension Forestry in the United States: MASTER VOLUNTEER AND OTHER PEER LEARNING PROGRAMS
Eli Sagor, Amanda Kueper, Charles Blinn, and Dennis Becker
2
© 2013 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.
Citations
3
© 2013 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.
Landowner education
4
© 2013 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.
“the exchange of ideas and information among landowners and family, friends, neighbors, and other landowners”
Kueper et al. 2013
Peer-to-peer learning: Spreads information through formal or informal social networks; Involves two-way (or more) communication; Recognizes that every participant can be a teacher and a learner; Is community- and participant-driven; and Can occur through either an ongoing forum or one-time exchange.
Catanzaro 2008
Peer learning
5
© 2013 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.
Master Volunteer (MV) and other peer learning (OPL) programs
Workshop image
7
© 2013 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.
Two-step flow model
Source: Watts & Dodds 2007, J. Consumer Research
8
© 2013 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.
Study objectives
Identify Extension Forestry MV and OPL programs nationwide that target family forest owners;
Characterize these programs in terms of delivery method, curriculum, audience, partnerships, budgets , and evaluation metrics; and
Describe trends in these programs by identifying recent and expected changes to program implementation.
9
© 2013 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.
Online survey of state Extension Forestry program leaders
Three data collection phases
Online survey of MV and OPL program managers
Focus group discussions with selected program managers
10
© 2013 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.
Programs
Map: MV & OPL programs
Map source: www.infoplease.com
Master VolunteerOther peer learning
22 Master Volunteer programs
17 Other Peer Learning programs
14
© 2013 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.
Partnerships39 programs, 186 contributing organizations:
52 University partners42 State Agencies27 Landowner associations20 Federal agencies16 Trade or industry groups15 Conservation or environmental groups8 Conservation districts6 Other
15
© 2013 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.
Operating budgets: MV programsRange: $0 - $55,000
Average $12,875 (median $10,000)
10% of Extension forestry capacity in states that have MV or OPL programs (0.5 – 0.75 FTE)
Almost entirely grant funded
16
© 2013 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.
Audiences specifically targeted
17
© 2013 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.
Outputs
Most programs train <30 volunteers / year
13 programs have 100+ active volunteers, including 6 with 200+, 2 with 400+
Content: State-level and MV Topics
Right side: % states teaching topic MORE now than 5 years ago
Left side: % states teaching topic LESS now than 5 years ago
19
© 2013 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.
Formats: State-level and MV
20
© 2013 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.
Trends in 39 MV and OPL programs over prior 5 years
21
© 2013 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.
Focus group results
22
© 2013 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.
Why peer learning models?
“I would say over half of the evaluations… will have… comments… about the value of learning from other landowners, that they learned just kind of what works what doesn’t work from just talking during the down time or the… evening sessions. So, that’s… why we’re doing the format we are.”
23
© 2013 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.
Program changes planned during the next five years
Better communications“We constantly strive to be in closer contact with our network”
Revenue
Volunteer management efficiencyIssue focus
24
© 2013 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.
Communications
“the group of volunteers gets bigger each year but staff time remains the same.”
25
© 2013 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.
Discussion
26
© 2013 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.
Role of peer learning in toolkitPeer learning is a common Extension forestry strategy
Volunteer capacity built through peer learning programs lasts a long time
Nimble program model?
27
© 2013 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.
Efficiency
Potential to improve efficiency of professional forester time:
NY Master Forest Owner example
But: Requires investment of coordinator, volunteer manager time
28
© 2013 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.
Capacity
Potential to improve efficiency of professional forester time:
NY Master Forest Owner example
But: Requires investment of coordinator, volunteer manager time
29
© 2013 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.
Evaluation
Increased demands to account for outcomes, impacts
30
© 2013 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.
ConclusionsCommon Extension Forestry program model
Grounded in local personal networks
Reduced budgets, increasing demands
31
© 2013 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, this PowerPoint is available in alternative formats upon request. Direct requests to the Extension Store at 800-876-8636.
Eli [email protected](612) 624-6948
Amanda KueperCharlie BlinnDennis Becker