technology to create new practices and knowledge, and engaging a broader and more diverse learning community across rural and urban settings.
Since July 2006, USDA-NIFA has invested NTAE funding in the Extension Foundation’s national infrastructure, first through the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, then through Michigan State University. OSU’s application for NTAE funding sought to augment the Extension Foundation’s efforts—both within the Cooperative Extension System (CES) and among strategic partners who are positioned to contribute expertise and connect with diverse audiences. Today, the Extension Foundation is a member-based nonprofit virtual network of approximately 35,000 Extension educators. The Extension Foundation is part of the national CES with a board of directors composed of elected CES directors and administrators from each of the six Extension regions, along with ex officio members from the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP) and NIFA. Review of Year 3 Objectives This report is a summary based on the two quarterly reports from Year 3. This report lists activities, outcomes, and outputs by area or project, which result in an integrated progress report rather than an objective-based report. This report will have primary project plans, activities and early outputs as the report are completed with only two quarters of work. Objectives of the NTAE grant are listed below: Objective 1. Foster opportunities for innovation by connecting CES personnel with new and innovative technologies that engage a wide array of learners. a. Enhance and upgrade existing functionalities b. Provide customer support, including help-desk staffing, web hosting, training, and software licenses. c. Provide infrastructure support for technical and architectural standards. Objective 2. Provide professional development opportunities that promote the use of open networked learning and other forms of online-based teaching resources. This work will be done through the mobilization of new talents and networks with projects aligned with the USDA Strategic Goals. a. Mobilizing Talent and Networks b. The Professional Development effort
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