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

Ed Tech in Action: Apply NOW to Test Google Glass!

Infographic from TechNorms.com

Infographic from TechNorms.com

Are you interested in testing out Google Glass as a programming tool? The Ed Techs are now recruiting interested individuals to participate in a Google Glass pilot project. Those who are selected will be able to “check out” a pair of Glass from one of the Ed Techs and use them over a 3-4 week period. When you pick up your Glass, an Ed Tech will walk you through set up and what their capabilities are for every day use. You will also receive a handy tip sheet to use as a reference guide. You then have the loaner period to test out Glass for yourself, see what the possibilities could be for their use in Extension programming, and even utilize them in your own programming and educational methods.

We (the Ed Techs) have tested out Glass ourselves for several weeks and see the following potential uses for them in Extension:

  • Point-of-View (POV) out in the field, during demonstrations, etc.
  • Hands-Free navigation of social media, Google Hangouts, and other online programming tools
  • The increasing takeover of wearable devices over mobile devices (think iWatch becoming more popular than iPhone… because it will eventually happen).

Ready to test Glass out for yourself?

Click here to submit your request and information!

Want more info? Watch this video demonstrating how Google Glass is being used as an educational tool.

National eXtension Conference Recap: Ed Tech Everywhere!

NeXC theme

A few members of our Ed Tech group (Kim Roush, Jerry Thomas, and myself) attended the National eXtension Conference last week in Sacramento. Ever since attending and presenting at NeXC in Oklahoma City two years ago I’ve been touting the event as the closest thing to an Extension Ed Tech conference that we have, and this year didn’t disappoint! Here are some highlights:

Expert panel session at NeXC. Harold Jarche, Dave Gray, Jane Hart, and Beth Kanter.

Expert panel session at NeXC. Harold Jarche, Dave Gray, Jane Hart, and Beth Kanter.

Favorite Quotes (all by keynote speaker Dave Gray):

– “There’s already something that is serving the purpose of sharing information online. It’s called Google. What’s YOUR purpose?”

– “If you’re not making it up as you go along, you’re completely out of touch with reality.”

– “People don’t learn by spending time planning and predicting. They learn by making things.”

– “A lot of experimentation is skill-building.”

– “Cooperation is the future. And it’s not the same thing as collaboration.”

Most talked about takeaways to apply now:

– Instagram is the next social media platform those of us in Extension should be experimenting with.

– We should spend more time explaining how people should utilize Twitter as a tool to build their personal learning network. (I’m itching to write up a separate blog post on this topic – so look for that soon.)

– Extension professionals should be encouraged to take more time out of their day/week to experiment – to learn and try new things.

– We are stronger together than we are apart. If there is one thing eXtension has taught me, it’s that we can create amazing things when we collaborate (and cooperate) with one another. Even across state lines.

While at NeXC, we presented a session about our Ed Tech pilot project here in Ohio. Kim, Jerry, and I presented in person and Heather and Teresa joined via Google Hangout. A few of our colleagues were nice enough to help us out by submitting video testimonials describing what an “Ed Tech has done for them”. Here’s the finished video by 4-H Ed Tech Heather Gottke:

One final thought: NeXC isn’t a conference for those serving in leadership positions for eXtension. It truly is an Ed Tech conference without calling itself an Ed Tech conference. I would encourage anyone interested in tech, national collaboration, and simply doing things differently to attend NeXC in the future. Being a mom of two, I try keep my travel to a minimum each year… and this is a conference I always have on my calendar.

Director Keith Smith trying out the newly acquired OculusRift virtual reality technology.

Director Keith Smith trying out the newly acquired OculusRift virtual reality technology.

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.

Meeting with Stan Skrabut of Wyoming to talk webinars as teaching tools! Our fellow Ed Techs joined via Google Hangout.

Meeting with Stan Skrabut of Wyoming to talk webinars as teaching tools! Our fellow Ed Techs joined via Google Hangout.

Questions about NeXC and what we learned? Leave a comment!

~Jamie

Welcome to the EdgeU Tech blog!

Four OSU Extension program professionals began .5 FTE (50%) appointments as Educational Technology Specialists this past July. Over the course of the next year, TeresaHeatherJamie, and Kimberly will be serving as Ed Tech mentors, coaches, and resource persons (among other things). They’ll be utilizing this blog space as an online “warehouse” to park FAQs, helpful information, tech resources, and general thoughts on technology use in Extension. If you haven’t already done so, take a look at the Ed Tech intro video for an idea of why these positions were created and what topics each Ed Tech will be specializing in over the next few months. Leave a comment with a tech question or issue and the Ed Techs will answer it in an upcoming blog post!