May 6, 2025
Programming with a Purpose -- It’s for Everyone
This past week, the program coordinator leader team hosted a training session titled, Programming with a Purpose, for new agents. The training is designed to prepare new agents to conduct quality programming in their communities.
The training also helps agents better understand the program development process, from needs assessment to evaluation. Agents learned to:
- Identify the intended audience and plan teaching strategies for reaching them.
- Identify state-level programming through Program Focus Team action plans and adapt them based on local issues.
- Gain an understanding of the importance of communicating program impact to stakeholders.
Agents were asked to create a presentation applying the logic model framework covering their situation statement, inputs, outputs and outcomes, including how they intended to measure programmatic outcomes. Feedback was provided on their logic model and presentations.
As I was listening to our new agents deliver their presentation, I was reminded that extension education from its inception has been about designing educational programs with clear, measurable goals and outcomes that address specific needs and challenges within a community. The program development process is an ever-evolving one with reassessing whether we are meeting our clientele’s needs and responding with appropriate educational programming that matches that need.
Whether you are a new agent or a seasoned extension professional, our goal should be to program with a purpose. This will ensure that our educational programming is designed with clear, measurable goals and outcomes that address specific needs and challenges for the families and communities we serve.
Congratulations to our new agents who completed the training!