Lessons Learned from the North Central Region
Volunteer e-Forum
Presenters
Steve
McKinley,
Purdue
University
Molly Frendo,
University of
Minnesota
Kandi O’Neil,
University of
Wisconsin
Pat
McGlaughlin,
University of
Illinois
Cathy
Johnston,
University of
Nebraska
549
521
509
454
465
370
402
400
298
00
01
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
260
09
300
245
10
12
Previously Attended
North Central Region Forums
Why consider an e-Forum?
Reach more
volunteers
Changing
volunteer
demographics
Connect
volunteers
throughout the
region
Connect
volunteers with
new & emerging
curriculum
2011 Pilot e-Forum Data
Three Sessions
Numbers
Demographics
•Positive Youth Development - The Teen Brain, Quality
Matters
•4-H Program Management – Keeping Your Cool, Reducing
Risks
•New & Emerging Curriculum
•624 duplicated participants in all three sessions
•127 different sites
•Percentage of participants who were 4-H Volunteers: 79%
•Percentage of participants with 10 years or less as a 4-H
Volunteer: 57%
•Percentage who previously didn’t attend North Central
Forums: 68%
2013 e-Forum
You’ve Got
4-H
Parents –
Now
What?!
Using
Engaging
Exploring
Technology
Teens and
the Science
to Enhance
Older
of
your
Youth in
4-H
4-H
Projects
4-H
Experience
You’ve Got
4-H Parents –
Now What?!
• 1,452
volunteers
Engaging
Teens and
Older Youth
in 4-H:
• 603 volunteers
• 177 staff
• 96 staff
• 97 group sites
• 74 group sites
• 28 individual
sites
• 36 individual
sites
Using
Technology
to Enhance
your 4-H
Experience
• 226 volunteers
• 45 staff
• 33 group sites
• 21 individual
sites
Exploring
the Science
of 4-H
Projects:
Totals:
• 67 volunteers
• 327 staff
• 9 staff
• 213 group sites
• 9 group sites
• 86 individual
sites
• 1 individual site
• 2,675
duplicated
participants
“This was very
informative and
offered lots of
inspiration and
support for new
and old leaders.”
“”Webinars are
better than
nothing but
mixed state
groups are more
educational and
new ideas can be
shared.”
“It may take
time for us to
catch on, so be
patient.”
“Still
miss the
face to
face :-( …”
“The format was
ineffective, very scattered
and difficult to participate
in discussion because of
continual interruptions. No
one can actually read/keep
up with chat box
conversations & it's
distracting.”
“We are doing a
very good job, but
we do have room
for improvement.
These e-forums are
great!!!!”
e-Forum Feedback
Models of Online Training
Synchronous
Asynchronous
Synchromodal
• Example: Webinar
• Low-cost, no travel,
offers some
interaction
• Not all volunteers
have access to
technology, low
“touch”
• Example: Online
module
• Any time, any place
• Offers no (or
limited) interactivity
• Example:
e-Forum
• Offers volunteers an
opportunity to build
connection locally
as well as across
distance with others
• Can be challenging
to schedule because
it requires
synchronicity
Site 1
Site 2
Site 3
Site 4
Adobe
Connect
Site 5
Site 6
Site 7
Site 8
2013-14 Wisconsin
e-Forum Participants
300
250
200
150
Adult
Youth
258
100
50
0
135
116
13
80
6
11/18 Forum 12/3 Forum
2
1/14 Forum
2
2/3 Forum
Have you previously attended the face-to-face
North Central Regional Volunteer Forum?
81
Yes
No
535
Have you previously attended a North
Central Regional Volunteer e-Forum?
81
Yes
No
540
Have you previously participated in distance
education programs like online education,
professional or personal development webinars?
Yes
322
310
No
How long have you been
a 4-H Volunteer?
200
Less than 1
year
1-5 Years
180
172
160
140
6-10 Years
142
120
11-15 Years
100
16-20 Years
80
84
60
57
40
20
0
76
27
21-25 Years
26+ Years
24
With what generation
do you identify?
350
300
303
250
Builder/Silent
(born before
1940)
229
200
Boomer (born
1940-1964)
150
100
83
50
0
11
9
Top 10 Lessons Learned
North Central Region
4-H Volunteer e-Forum
Lesson One: Regional Shared Leadership
CoCoordinators
Content
Teams
Evaluation
Marketing
Technology
• Keep group on track
• Manage timeline
• Develop & deliver presentations
• Include specialists and field staff
• Effectiveness of e-Forum
• Sharing the message
• Managing educational platform
Lesson Two: Timeline
Time of year
Day of week
Lesson
Three:
Scheduling
Time zones
Face-to-face
(individual/group)
vs. recording
Lesson Four: Marketing
Build
excitement
Share
logistics
Encourage
participation
Save the
Date
postcard
Editable flyer
Video
Links to program
Lesson
Five:
Site
PreRegistration
Enables effective
communication
with sites
Supplies needed
Recommended,
not required
Host information
Market
program
Conduct
facilitator
orientation
Compile
evaluations
Communicate
with host
sites
Record and
report
attendance
Lesson Six: State Logistics Team
Lesson Seven:
Content Developer Training
Facilitation
skills
Opportunity
for local
instruction
Content do’s
and don’ts
Opportunity
for
interaction
Lesson Eight:
Host Site
Facilitator
Orientation
Hosting
responsibilities
Testing
technology
Supplies
needed
Scheduling
facilities
Lesson Nine:
Evaluate and Celebrate
Review
strengths and
weaknesses
•Content/ delivery
•Technology
•Marketing
•Include in
planning for next
e-Forum
Congratulate
each other on
a job well
done!!
•Regionally
•Locally
Implementing the North Central Region
4-H e-Forum
Planning
Teamwork
Implementation
Volunteer Skill
Development
Long-term Timeline to Guide
Planning
Dedication
Detailed
Development
Funding
Considerations
Technology
Marketing
Local
Implementation
Engaging a Large
Audience…Online
On-site Gathering
Activities
Interactive
Plan Strategic Learning
Chunks
Resources
Facilitator
Guide
Session
Materials
Evaluations
Marketing
Materials
•Introduction to E-Forum
•Resource links
•Session descriptions
•Supply lists
•Step-by-Step directions
•PowerPoint scripts
Marketing
Promotional video
Bookmarks
Flyers
Newsletter articles
Thank you!
This presentation was published by the University of Minnesota Extension, Center for Youth Development.
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