Program Development

This section highlights the initial design of “Beef Without the Buzzwords: Making Informed Choices at the Store,” focusing on the transition from identified needs to program structure.

Program Planning and Evaluation

This section demonstrates the transition from concept to execution, organizing program goals into a clear plan with defined timelines, activities, and expected outcomes.

Reflection

While my discussions with my mentors were extremely influential in my progress this semester, I think that's the invisible labor. Both mentors provided different perspectives on the same issue because they had different specialties, experiences, and were from different regions of the US. Working with them was my favorite part of this course because I could come up with an idea and then get constructive feedback on how to improve it. I have not formally worked in Extension, so their feedback and advice were essential.

I am most confident in my program blueprint. I used results from my needs assessment to inform the program. When I first came up with the program idea, I didn’t have a clear way to reach an interested audience. I contemplated ideas like a staffed booth at the grocery store, but realized that people are not always interested in chatting while running errands. With the help of my mentors, I learned that extension programming does not have to be cookie-cutter. Using methods that work is more important than using the same methods we have always used. This was how the idea for “The Social Study” lecture came about.

Continued conversations also helped me identify specific sub-audiences interested in this topic. By identifying those audiences, I was able to better plan how to get the printed materials or social media posts to those individuals. Ideas came up like sharing materials on social media interest groups or sharing event information on these interest groups. We could also prepare the same material content-wise, but emphasize the importance in relation to the interests.

I still need to practice implementing a program. The courses I have taken have prepared me to create a program, but implementation is a different story. I plan to create the material I would use for the in-person lecture and test it with my mentors to get their feedback. This will help me take my program a step further and better understand how it might run in real life.

This course has helped me become better prepared for a career in extension. I now have many resources to turn to when it is time to plan a program. I also have connections I know I can reach out to for a unique, experienced perspective!