Month: March 2015

Updated Social Media Guidelines Now Available

Best practices on how to use social media as a CFAES employee do exist - and they've been updated for you.

Best practices on how to use social media as a CFAES employee do exist – and they’ve been updated for you.

In February, CommTech updated the CFAES Social Media Guidelines. The Ed Techs recommend that any Extension employee who is currently using, or planning to use, social media professionally read through the guidelines. They not only document the correct way to use social media as a professional of the college, but also offer best practices and other related information.

Click here to view the CFAES Social Media Guidelines. 

 

Other CommTech Social Media Resources:

Tips for Getting Started

Writing for Social Media

 

You May Also Be Interested In:

Ed Tech Blog Social Media Posts

 

Ohio State Mobile Video Hands-On Training

Have an iPad or iPhone and want to learn how to quickly capture and edit video on the go? Ohio State’s Office of Distance Education and e-Learning (ODEE) is offering a brief hands-on workshop April 10th at 9:00am in Stillman Hall. The workshop will focus on using the iMovie app for Apple devices.

Click here for more information.

 

If you are interested in one of the day-long video creation workshops the Ed Techs offered last year, you’re in luck! We’re currently in the process of scheduling three more workshops around the state in 2015 that will feature two software tools: one for Windows and one for iOS. We’ll announce the workshop dates sometime in April – stay tuned to the blog!

“Internet of Things” Webinar Announcement


During the Tech Talk Annual Conference in December, we discussed how Ohio would look very, very different in 2035. One of the disrupting technologies that is already here is the “Internet of Things”, or “IoT”. Jerry Thomas and I mentioned the IoT briefly during our talk, but for those who are interested in finding out which IoT devices already exist, which devices are right around the corner, and how they will change our tech landscape, eXtension is hosting an upcoming Webinar that will cover these very things on March 23rd at 1:30pmEST.

Click here to view Webinar information.

 

More information about the Internet of Things

 

Other eXtension Webinars of interest:

Which Social Media Platform is Right for You?

Twitter for Newbies

Twitter – Tier Two

Complete list of upcoming webinars.

 

 

 

 

2015 OSU Extension Ed Tech Update & Survey Link

A group of OSUE folks trying out Google Glass. Director Keith Smith, Ken Martin, Jerry Thomas, and Jamie Seger.

A group of OSUE folks trying out Google Glass. Director Keith Smith, Ken Martin, Jerry Thomas, and Jamie Seger.

Wow, we’ve come a long way. Nearly two years ago, OSU Extension administration approved an Educational Technology pilot project and gave four of us the opportunity to do what few in Extension get to do… try something bold, innovative, and untested. Since then we set out to fill the gap that existed between program staff and technology. We’ve had great success with project collaborations, coaching, training, and mentoring our colleagues and I want to thank each and every one of you for believing in the importance of the Ed Tech pilot. Not everything we’ve tried has worked, and that’s okay. And we may not be moving as quickly forward in regard to technology integration as we would like to be, but we are moving forward and that’s what matters!

To my new colleagues who just joined OSU Extension sometime during the past year, let me provide a brief description of the Ed Techs’ role in the organization: we’re here to inform, to coach, to train, to collaborate, and to mentor. We strive to be the missing link between technology and the people who use it in their work.

This week, I began my new position as Program Director for OSU Extension Educational Technology. To

Ed Tech Kim Roush helps a participant during the video creation workshop in Belle Valley.

Ed Tech Kim Roush helps a participant during the video creation workshop in Belle Valley.

say that I’m excited to be able to devote time and effort to items that I couldn’t address in previous years is a gross understatement! This year, I’ll be working hard alongside our other Ed Tech(s) and the Ed Tech Transition Team construct an Ed Tech strategic plan that includes items such as appropriate reporting and evaluation of technology use (also for P&T purposes) as well as appropriate onboarding of new employees with regard to technology.

What are the other next steps?

It’s been two years since the last organization-wide technology survey was sent out. That particular survey mostly gauged social media use and knowledge. Now, we’re surveying everyone to get a pulse on general technology knowledge and skills (informal and formal learning, tools, social media, apps, etc). We’ve had many new employees join the organization since 2012. This survey will assist myself and other Ed Techs in prioritizing needs over the next year or so. Please take a few minutes of your time to complete the survey.

I am working with an Ed Tech transition team (Jerry Thomas, Ryan Schmiesing, Carmen Irving, Vickie Snyder, Brian Raison, Stephen Heppe, Mitch Moser, and Ken Martin) moving forward over the next year or two.

Who do I contact with technology-related questions?

Heather Gottke and myself are currently the sole Ed Techs until we fill the new permanent positions (which will hopefully be completed sometime this Spring). You may contact either one of us with questions. If we can’t help you, we have the connections to get you in touch with the right person.

If you are interested in collaborating, sharing, and/or learning from Extension colleagues nationwide, I am giving co-leadership to the newly formed eXtension Educational Technology Learning Network.  This Learning Network was created as a direct result of the innovative Ed Tech efforts we’ve been working toward here in Ohio. The “EdTechLN” hosts popular TweetUps on various tech-related topics on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of each month at 2:00pmEST. You can follow the #EdTechLN hashtag or Twubs.com/edtechln feed to view and participate in the discussion.

If you have any comments, feedback, suggestions, ideas, etc. as we move ahead with our educational technology efforts, please let me know in the comments below or send me an email.

 

~Jamie