eXtension online Campus: Courses

Course goal: To provide an introduction to the essential components of OSU Extension curricula to OSU Extension Educators.

After completing the Curriculum Development Training for OSU Extension online course, participants will be able to:

• incorporate the OSU Extension essential curriculum components in their program development efforts
  
• develop powerful learning objectives for a curriculum topic of their choice
• access tools to support development of evaluation and marketing plans, including brand standards
• apply instructional design principles to their curriculum development
  

Contact Information: Donna Brown (brown.36@osu.edu) and Kirk Bloir (kbloir@ehe.osu.edu)

This course will acquaint you with the personal finance information and features of eXtension. It will help you maximize your use of eXtension to make your day-to-day work easier. Information relating to the new national initiative, Managing in Tough Times (MiTT), is included in the course, but the focus is on features in eXtension that can be used in programs on a wide variety of topics. For more information contact Nancy Porter, Colorado State University, at Nancy.Porter@colostate.edu .

This course describes intellectual property and explains the basics of the copyright and trademark laws, taking a practical approach that relates to situations faced by practicing Extension professionals.

For Questions or comments contact:
Tom Knecht, Ed.D., Mississippi State University
Ned Browning, Ph.D., Mississippi State University

Intended for general audiences, this basic course teaches security measures related to the use of computers. Students will learn how to protect their information and computers by choosing strong passwords, applying patches and updates, identifying and avoiding viruses and dangerous e-mail messages, as well as other means of protection. Contacts: Geneva Burton and Jonathan Davis.

A class designed to teach you how to create a website using Dreamweaver. Beginning with site definition and creating simple pages, it includes adding links, changing text traits, adding graphics, using style sheet rules, using tables, and using and creating a template. Videos and screen captures were done with Dreamweaver CS3 but would apply to Dreamweaver MX 2004 and Dreamweaver 8.

Learn about the seven keys of effective educational presentations and how to achieve them. This course addresses how to determine needs, design the presentation, use personal attributes to deliver the presentation with confidence, and evaluate the presentation.

This 1-1 1/2 hour course is appropriate for Extension personnel who deliver educational presentations to a variety of adult audiences. For more information, contact Rich Poling, University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, rpoling@uaex.edu.

This is a comprehensive orientation to the virtual world, Second Life, intended for eXtension educators. In 6 modules, it will cover:

• What is Second Life and how is it useful to me as an educator?
• How to register, navigate, communicate, customize an avatar
• Very basic building skills
• Effective use of Second Life for education
  

This course will begin when six participants are registered. The group will progress through the course together, meeting face-to-face in Second Life for in-world activities and practice. Register for the course by contacting LuAnn Phillips, eXtension Virtual Worlds Coordinator at luann.phillips@extension.org

Learn about the history of Extension in the South. Professor Randol Waters of the University of Tennessee is your host. This course has five modules, each featuring a narrated video, handouts, and questions to check your knowledge. A cumulative Course Exam is included.

Course Developer: Lisa Ferris, University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, lferris@uaex.edu, 501-671-2340.

Teaching Effectiveness Tools: PowerPoint is a self-paced course for Texas AgriLife Employees. Participants will gain knowledge and practice using Microsoft PowerPoint’s interactive features in order to create more engaging presentations. Presentation design and how to repurpose a PowerPoint presentation and also covered. Teacher/Contact name and institution: Michelle Payne/Texas AgriLife Organizational Development unit. mmpayne@tamu.edu