The Tuesday Letter
Agricultural Experiment Station & Cooperative Extension Service
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
(Vol. 19 No. 14)
IN THIS ISSUE...
WORD FROM THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR - EXTENSION AND APPLIED RESEARCH
In the Tuesday Letter from January 29, I talked about the outcomes that board members and district directors identified as a result of being organized as multi-county Extension districts. In that description I used the word "experiments" to describe the overall district operations. That may have been a poor word selection, as I've gotten feedback that some felt offended to be put into an experiment. In hindsight I may have wanted to use the word "demonstrations." Considering the outcomes that have been experienced within Extension districts, I'd concur with the definition of "demonstration", 1) a showing of the merits of a product or service to a prospective consumer, 2) the act or circumstance of proving or being proved conclusively, as by reasoning or a show of evidence, or 3) something serving as proof or supporting evidence. An experiment leaves too much to question as shown in the definition: 1) a test, trial, or tentative procedure; an act or operation for the purpose of discovering something unknown or of testing a principle, supposition, etc. I don't believe Extension districts to be experiments, and clearly with the outcomes that have been demonstrated, Extension districts are demonstrations of success.
I firmly believe for K-State Research and Extension to be at the top of its game, it needs to be a relevant and sought out source of knowledge, understanding, options, facilitation, and leader in creating change for the positive outcomes in Kansas. That includes all parts of our system being accountable and engaged. Teamwork is and will be absolutely necessary if we are to effectively pursue these goals. Per local feedback, Extension districts are creating new and improved opportunities to respond to these challenges.
Here is one video that outlines advantages in programming within a district team structure.
There are more examples of videos and fact sheets that you can find through this link --Daryl Buchholz dbuchhol@ksu.edu
DIVERSITY PROGRAMS OFFICE UPDATE
You are cordially invited to attend the 2013 Wallace Kidd Memorial Diversity Award on Wednesday, February 13, 2013 at 5:30 p.m. in the K-State Student Union, Little Theatre. This biennial award is presented to a K-State faculty/staff for their support of diversity and students, specifically in the College of Agriculture. The individual is nominated by students in the K-State Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS) chapter.
Mr. Larry Meoder, Assistant Vice President to Student Life, Student Financial Assistance and Director of Admissions is this year's recipient. We are honoring him for his dedication and support of all students, and investment in students' success. Mr. Moeder has always been very supportive of the COA students, which was a primary factor in his being chosen as the 2013 award recipient. The COA Diversity Programs Office and MANRRS chapter would appreciate your attendance as we recognize and celebrate Mr. Meoder.
The award and reception are sponsored by the College of Agriculture and John Deere Company. We have the honor of having Mr. Troy Farley, Manager of HR compliance and EEO in Global Diversity for the John Deere World Headquarters to bring us closing remarks at our program. It is an exceptional honor to have past recipients at the our program as well. These include: Dr. Miles McKee, Mr. Steve Levine, Dr. Juanita McGowan (Dr. Reggie McGowan) and Mr. Steven Graham. This promises to be a wonderful evening that you will not want to miss.
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact Dr. Zelia Wiley at zwiley@ksu.edu or any DPO staff member at 785-532-5793.
Have a great week!! --Zelia Wiley zwiley@ksu.edu
“PUT SOME SPIN IN YOUR 4-H PROGRAM,” FEBRUARY 19, 1:30 P.M.
WHAT: SPIN Clubs
Informational Webinar
WHEN: Tuesday,
February 19, 1:30 p.m.
WHO: Extension staff interested in learning more about SPIN
club concept
WHERE: Conference
call and webinar
Call in information: 1-866-620-7326
Conference Code: 479-963-8009
Web Connect information: http://connect.ksre.ksu.edu/ks4h/
(At URL you will find a login page. "Enter as a
Guest" with your name and county/district, then click "Enter
Room.")
DESCRIPTION: Put some
SPIN in your 4-H Program!
You may have heard about the SPIN club concept. Take
advantage of this opportunity to learn more about Special Interest Groups. Madonna Weese, Extension Specialist 4-H Youth
Development, University of Illinois Extension, will lead the session. Allow one hour for her presentation and additional time for questions.
No preregistration required, click on the above Web Connect
URL, at the login page. "Enter as a Guest" with your name and
county/district, then click "Enter Room.")
This webinar will be recorded and the link will be shared if
anyone is interested in listening at a
later date. --Diane Mack dmack@ksu.edu
4-H NATIONAL SCIENCE E-ACADEMY - FEBRUARY 26-MARCH 14
Please join us to participate in an interactive, online training
opportunity to learn how to train volunteers and community partners in
4-H Science programs. 4-H National Science e-Academy Educational Highlights include:
* Participants will come away with the knowledge they need to train volunteers and community partners in 4-H Science programs.
* Subject matter experts, from across the country, will lead you through more than 22 hours of interactive learning sessions.
*
Educators from within 4-H Science will make themselves available to
answer questions and share their valuable experience and expertise.
We
can promise that this virtual learning conference is unlike any other
online learning opportunity that you have participated in previously.
Please watch a short video Orientation of the E-Academy to learn more about this professional development opportunity.
Visit the E-Academy web page on 4-H.org for more information and to register for this training!
Once
you register, be on the lookout for weekly emails leading up to the
conference announcing the 4-H Science Multi-Media Challenge, the
opportunity to share your best practices and programs in a Virtual
Poster Session, and an opportunity to win prizes!
Dates of the 2013 e-Academy (6 half days):
February 26, 28
March 5, 7, 12, 14
Daily Schedule (All times Central):
11:00-11:45 a.m. Plenary Speaker
Noon-1:30 p.m. Session One
2:00-3:30 p.m. Session Two
3:15-4:15 p.m. Coffee House –Drop in for Questions and Answers
Content:
*Foundations of 4-H Science and Resources
*4-H Science 101-Science Self-Assessment and Competencies focusing on the Essential Elements of Positive Youth Development
*Volunteer
Management: Science Rich Volunteers, targeting and recruiting
volunteers for science, engaging new and supporting new and existing
volunteers
*4-H Science Skills and Abilities
*Incorporating experiential and inquiry-based learning into programming
*Evaluation and Best Practices
*Fund Development
For general questions regarding participation please contact Gary Gerhard ggerhard@ksu.edu.
For questions regarding technology, content, and presenters please contact Ed Bender at ebender@fourhcouncil.edu. -- Gary Gerhard ggerhard@ksu.edu
FOODS JUDGES TRAININGS
Are you interested in helping educate 4-H youth through judging foods and/or food preservation at the fair? This training is for you! Whether you are new or a returning judge, come learn about judging a variety of foods entered by talented 4-Hers.
2013 Training dates, locations and contacts for more details are:
Great Bend, March 12, Donna Krug, dkrug@ksu.edu, 620-793-1910
Dodge City, March 13, Christine McPheter, cmcphete@ksu.edu, 620-873-8790
Yates Center, March 16, Barbara Stockebrand, bstockeb@ksu.edu, 620-625-8620
Manhattan, April 17, Ginny Barnard, ginnyb@ksu.edu, 785-537-6350
Lyons, May 9, Lori Shoemaker, lshoemak@ksu.edu, 620-257-5131
Hutchinson, June 3, Jennifer Schroeder, jenj@ksu.edu, 620-662-2371
If you are interested in hosting a Foods judging class, please let me know at kblakesl@ksu.edu or 785-532-1673. --Karen Blakeslee kblakesl@ksu.edu
K-STATE LEADERSHIP SEMINAR
You are invited to participate in the 17th annual K-State Leadership Seminar to be held on Wednesday, March 27, from 8:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the K-State Alumni Center in Manhattan. The theme of the seminar is “Working Together to Create High Performing Teams.” The keynote speaker is Tom Champoux, founder and principal of the Effectiveness Institute in Bellevue, Washington. Champoux is a nationally recognized and dynamic speaker, energizing trainer and effective coach who dramatically demonstrates the need for organizations to shift focus away from power and toward collaborative responsibility. The heart of his work lies in creating an organizational culture built around empowerment and the exchange of trust, respect and dignity. He will present material that reflects his belief that every leader, manager and individual has the potential to create a positive impact on team and organizational performance.
Breakout sessions will include information on teamwork in universities, non-profit organizations, the military, and communities. The seminar is intended to give participants practical, hands-on information and tools; best practices for effective leadership; inspiration to exercise leadership when it really counts; an idea of where to go for additional leadership resources; and a connection to others who are working to grow their leadership skills.
The seminar is listed on the KSRE professional development catalog. Many thanks to Dean Floros and others for donating funds to support the seminar. In keeping with the theme of teamwork, special reduced rates are available for teams who attend as a group. For more information or to register, go to http://www.k-state.edu/leadershipseminar/ -- Ron Wilson rwilson@ksu.edu
2013 GROW 4-H GRANTS
Once
again through the generosity of the Kansas 4-H Foundation, $10,000 is
being made available to help you initiate those innovative ideas and
projects you’ve dreamed of doing to help grow 4-H participation in your
Extension Units. A hard copy of the Request for Proposals is being sent
to each local Extension Office.
Two types of grants are available:
1)
The Single Extension Unit or “Mini” Proposal requesting up to $500 with
a two dollar award for each one dollar requested match required. [In
other words, if you request the maximum amount, you must identify $250
in new match funds to add to the $500 for a total of $750 to work with!]
THIS IS A ONE PAGE APPLICATION!
2) The Multi-Extension Unit
Proposal requesting up to $3,000 with a one dollar award for each one
dollar requested match required. [In other words, if you request the
maximum amount, you must identify $3,000 in new match funds to add to
the $3,000 for a total of $6,000 to work with!] THIS IS A MULTI-PAGE
APPLICATION!
It is preferred that matching funds be committed by
new funding partners from within the project impact area. Final
proposals are due by close of business (5:00 p.m. CST) on Monday, March
4. Grantees will be announced approximately May 1, 2013.
To
assist you in your proposal preparation, Rhonda Atkinson and I will host
conference calls on Tuesday, February 12, 10:00 a.m. (CST) or 1:00
p.m. (CST).
Dial-in number: 1-866-620-7326
Conference Code: 3159476378
These
grants provide an excellent source of dollars to expand your
programming in the 4-H Mission Areas of Science, Healthy Living, and
Citizenship/Leadership. --Gary W. Gerhard ggerhard@ksu.edu
ASK THE OEIE EVALUATOR: USING MICROSOFT EXCEL FOR DATA MANAGEMENT AND ANALYSIS
As Extension professionals collect program evaluation data, they may have questions related to data management and analysis. Many software packages exist to assist with data management and analysis, but Microsoft Excel may be one of the most widely available packages in university and Extension locations, and this software is appropriate for Extension professionals’ analytic needs. This installment discusses use of Microsoft Excel for data management and analysis.
Q: How do I use Excel to manage and analyze evaluation data?
You frequently collect data through surveys. These surveys may contain both quantitative (i.e., data in numbers or that can be coded into numbers, like “yes” = 1 and “no” = 0) and qualitative data (i.e., open text responses). Here are tips for entering data into Microsoft Excel and some direction on basic analysis for each type of data.
To prepare for data entry, the Excel sheet must be formatted to accommodate the data. First, type each survey question across the top of the sheet (i.e., in row 1) in its own column. Most survey questions require only one column, but if you have multiple choice questions that allow respondents to select more than one option (i.e., select all that apply), these questions require a separate column for each response option.
After setting up the sheet, you can start data entry. Enter each participant’s responses as a separate row in the sheet. So, if 30 participants returned a survey, the sheet will contain 30 rows of data. Qualitative data from open-ended questions should be entered verbatim, whereas quantitative data from multiple choice and scale items should be entered as numerical codes. These codes will represent the response option and allow for the calculation of statistics (e.g., frequencies, means).Numerical codes can be assigned in a variety of ways, but the following guidelines may help:
- For multiple choice items where only one response can be selected, assign the first option a code of “1”, the second option a “2”, and so on.
- For multiple choice items that allow the selection of more than one option, a “1” should be entered if that option is selected. If the option is not selected, enter a “0” or leave that cell blank.
- When assigning codes to scale items, it helps in the interpretation of means, or averages, to assign codes so that a higher number represents the more positive end of the continuum (for example, 1 = Disagree, 2 = Neither Disagree nor Agree, 3 = Agree).
[An example of entered data in an Excel sheet can be seen on the Extension Evaluation Resources website.]
Quantitative data can be analyzed by calculating frequencies, percentages, and simple descriptive statistics, such as means and standard deviations. For multiple choice items, you can calculate frequencies and percentages. (For multiple choice items that allow only one response, you must use the COUNTIF function to sort through the responses because the column will contain multiple numerical codes.) You may also want to calculate measures of central tendency (AVERAGE and MEDIAN functions) and standard deviations (STDEV function). Additional statistical functions and tutorials can be found through the Excel Help feature.
Qualitative data can be analyzed by the identification of themes. First, copy and paste the column of responses for that item into a new sheet of the Excel file. Next, scan through the responses and note some themes (or patterns) you see across multiple responses. Put a label for each theme in its own column across the top of the spreadsheet. Now, read through each response again, and enter a “1” in that row under the theme(s) to which it applies. As you go through the process, you may need to add new themes or modify existing. By adding the number of “1”s in each column using the SUM function, you can get a sense of which themes were most common.
Questions about evaluation? Visit the Extension Evaluation Resources website or contact Amy Hilgendorf, aehilgen@k-state.edu; or Mandi Peters, mpeters8@ksu.edu, 785-532-0648; at OEIE. --Amy Hilgendorf
KANSAS 4-H ROBOTECH CAMP - MARCH 18-23 - ROCK SPRINGS 4-H CENTER
Kansas 4-H RoboTech - Camp - March 18-23, 2013 - Rock Springs 4-H Center
Sponsored by: Kansas State University Research & Extension, the Kansas
4-H Foundation, and GEAR-Tech-21 [a National Science Foundation (NSF) funded
project of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln]
Contacts: Gary W. Gerhard, Ph.D.,
Professor and Specialist, ggerhard@ksu.edu; and Josh Wilson, Environmental Education Specialist,
jwilson@rocksprings.net.
This
Spring Break Camp promotes 21st Century careers in
Science, Engineering and Technology through GPS, GIS and robotics. The
program includes GEAR-Tech-21 robotics, GPS (global positioning
systems), and GIS (geographic information systems) technologies through
building and programming a robot, navigation, and mapmaking activities.
Camp participants will have experiential and empowering learning
adventures programming robots to complete challenge courses, learning
how to operate GPS units to find hidden waypoints, recording data in GPS
units and importing it into GIS to create custom and functional
satellite maps, and so much more! The evenings will be filled with
friends and fun camp activities such as a low ropes teambuilding and
leadership adventure course, cabin crew
cook-offs, campfires, and more!
The registration fee is $250/
camper. The registration fee will cover all meals, snacks, lodging, and
activities, and campers will be led by cabin crew counselors/adult
supervisors and taught by curriculum certified instructors. Registration
closes March 1. There are a limited number of spaces and registrations
will be accepted on a first come first served basis. The camp is open
to youth ages 10-14.
By the end of the intensive camp,
participants will have a much greater understanding of geospatial and
robotics technologies, potential careers, ways to stay involved in these
projects, and come away with new friends and excitement! For more
information and registration please go to http://www.kansas4h.org/p.aspx?tabid=317. Please click the tab for "RobotTech Camp" and a detailed tentative agenda on the CVent Page. --Gary Gerhard ggerhard@ksu.edu
KSU YOUTH HORSE JUDGING CAMPS
KSU Youth Horse Judging Camp Beginners Section (June 17, 2013)-
This camp is designed for youth that have had very little experience judging horses and would like to learn more about note-taking and oral reasons. Emphasis will be placed on the placings of classes commonly seen in Kansas judging contests. Participants will receive a camp souvenir, Horse Judging Manual, and a pizza party.
KSU Youth Horse Judging Camp Advanced Section (June 13-14, 2013)-
This camp is designed for youth that have had some experience judging horses and would like to learn more about note taking and oral reasons. Emphasis will be placed on the placings and reasons classes commonly seen in Kansas judging contests. Participants will receive a camp souvenir, Horse Judging Manual, pizza party, and an evening group activity.
Both camps will be held at Kansas State University's Weber Arena in Manhattan. Registration for both camps is due May 1, 2013, with no late entries accepted. Camps will be limited to the first 30 participants for each. For more information and registration, visit the website, www.YouthLivestock.KSU.edu or http://www.asi.ksu.edu/p.aspx?tabid=1141. You can also contact Teresa Douthit, 785-532-1268, douthit@ksu.edu. --Kristine Clowers clowers@ksu.edu
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