Clarifies the concept of free space--a setting in which people can meet for public talk and contribute to solving public problems--and the need to integrate it into extension leadership and public policy programs. Offers two case studies and insights about how lessons learned from them can be applied to extension education. (JOW)

In a study of performance appraisal, extension agents (n=588) perceived the process to have several limitations or deficiencies. They suggested the following: supervisors conducting evaluations should be trained and retrained; agents should be evaluated on the range of duties they perform; and the process should promote personal and professional…

A study was conducted in 1989 and 1990 to determine whether local officials would be an appropriate group to conduct surveys of community residents regarding their home sewage system and attitudes toward the public wastewater treatment. Responses from 578 people indicated that trained local officials can collect information effectively using…

The social ideology that gave rise to the Reading University Extension College in 1892 eroded as the college became more conventional and lost touch with the working class people it was designed to reach. (SK)

Participants in an international agriculture extension workshop rated the following as critical subjects to study regarding farmers' use of the Internet: technical problems, user benefits, drawbacks, and accessibility. Ways to improve effective use in agriculture were identified. (SK)

Describes Public Issues Education, a term used in the Cooperative Education Service for a range of multiparty approaches for addressing public issues, from formal conflict resolution procedures to coalition-building and collaborative problem solving. (JOW)

A study of group extension activities found differences in achievement of outcomes depending on group type. Interdependent, structured, and interpersonal interaction groups differed in terms of factors contributing to or hindering successful outcomes. (SK)

Analysis of 165 responses from extension faculty revealed that nontenure track faculty have significantly more intrinsic job satisfaction than tenure track faculty. Respondents aged 23-33 and 46-50 are more satisfied than those 34-45 and over 51. Those with 21 or more years at the institution are more satisfied than faculty with 1-5 and 6-9 years.…

Evaluation data about extension programs are subject to variation. Program improvement requires control of this variance. Statistical quality control charts provide a means of measuring variation, determining sources, and making modifications. (SK)

In 1995, Oregon State University defined scholarship as creative intellectual work that is validated by peers and communicated. Promotion and tenure guidelines were revised to reflect this broad view and to recognize scholarly achievements across all university missions including teaching and outreach. Tenure homes for all Extension faculty moved…

Oregon extension faced challenges in presenting programs in the wood products industry. Several traditional tactics, revised to suit a new audience, have proved successful: personal coaching, building partnerships, and providing a high level of service. Newer methods, such as database marketing and distance learning, are also proving to be…

A study to determine whether an Internet writing course would be useful for teaching as a distance learning option found that students who participated via the Internet submitted papers that were not as complete or as well organized as those participating in the classroom situation. (Author/JOW)

Outlines characteristics of transformational leadership: clear vision, strategic goals, decisiveness, willingness to listen, and commitment to change. Uses the Extension unit of the University of Alberta to illustrate a model of continuing studies and issues faced by deans. (Contains 14 references.) (SK)

Interviews with 120 rural Nigerian women found that 96% participate in self-help community development projects and 68% were engaged in farming. Constrains on participation included domestic responsibilities, lack of funding and resources, male domination, and politics. There was a significant relationship between their sociocultural beliefs and…

Edible Connections brings together the media, the public, and food system stakeholders to increase awareness and understanding of the local food system, strengthen connections among stakeholders, and address food system problems identified by a given community. Extension educators have successfully used it to educate about food access, hunger,…