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Using Digital Technology in Extension Education

This publication originally appeared as a website. The emergence of COVID-19 has required Cooperative Extension professionals to respond quickly to quickly changing needs. Many of us are working out of our homes and working hard to find ways to use technology to serve our communities. We are facing unprecedented challenges and we are learning. This publication provides timely content about digital technologies that we hope will help Cooperative Extension professionals consider the role of digital communications in our work, and perhaps increase our adoption of technology. The information in the publication provides both food for thought and practical information about specific social media platforms, SEO, web accessibility, and content strategy. We hope that it will enable you to apply what you’ve learned and to take action.

Attribution		2
Table of Contents		3
Meet The Authors		5
Rose Hayden-Smith, MA Ed, MA, PhD		5
Greg Aronoff		5
John Buzzard		6
David J. Krause		6
Mark Lubell, PhD		6
Lindsey Shirley, PhD		7
Dan Macon, MA		7
Aaron Weibe, MA		7
ChaNae Bradley, MPA		8
Cynthia Kintigh		8
Liz Sizensky		8
Victor Villegas		9
Acknowledgments		10
Executive Summary		10
TECHNOLOGY FUTURING WORK AND RATIONALE		11
Publication Overview		12
What’s Here		12
How to Use Connect Extension		13
Part One: Perspectives		14
Introduction		14
Reflection Questions:		15
References:		15
Linking Communication and Information Technology to Agricultural Knowledge Networks		16
Introduction		16
Background		16
The Future of ICT and Agriculture Networks		17
Reflection Question:		18
Footnotes:		18
References:		18
Transforming Cooperative Extension’s Digital Ecosystem		19
What’s Different		20
Things to Consider		20
When Circumstances Call for Innovation, the Status Quo May be the Biggest Risk		20
Reflection Questions:		22
Extension as a Service (EaaS)		23
Introduction		23
What Innovation is Not		23
Are We Asking the Right Questions? Setting the Right Goals?		23
How Do We Proceed with Transformation?		24
Examples of Note		25
Part Two: Featured Technologies		26
Introduction		26
Social Media		26
COVID-19 Affirms Our Choice		27
Sources:		27
Building a Peer-to-Peer National Network: Connect Extension		28
Introduction		28
Learning from Success and Failure		28
The Technology		29
Enlisting Individuals Willing to Make It Successful		30
Video Resources:		30
Reflection Questions:		31
Instagram: Platform Basics, Case Studies and Resources		32
Platform Overview		32
Quick Notes About the Platform		32
Source:		32
Technical Features		32
Photo and Video Features		33
Text Features (Captioning and Posts)		33
Related Reading and Research:		33
Video Resources:		34
Case Study: A Photo is Worth a Thousand Words: Using Instagram for Extension Education		35
Introduction		35
Instagram Basics		35
How I Used the Platform		36
Expanding Your Audience		36
Using Instagram as a Science Communication Tool		36
IGTV – A New Tool for Longer Format Videos		37
Measuring Impact		37
Conclusion		38
The Benefits of Building Virtual Community		38
Q&A: Using Instagram Stories for Science Communication		39
Resources for Staying Current In Social Media		42
Research and Bibliography		43
Books		43
Articles		43
Websites		44
Reflection:		44
Part Three: Content Strategy		45
Elevate Your Program With A Content Strategy		46
What is “content”? What is “content strategy”?		46
Where to share content		46
Why Do I Need a Content Strategy or Communications Plan for My Work?		47
Want to create a content strategy or communications plan? Here’s a template.		47
Words that Matter		49
Introduction		49
What is “alt text”?		49
Social Media		50
Taking a Deeper Dive into Search Engine optimization		51
What is search engine optimization (SEO)?		51
Want to dive deeper into search engine optimization? Here are some good resources.		51
Reflection:		52
Other Resources – SEO, Google Search, and Content		53
The Joy of Search		53
Google Skillshop and Online Academies		53
Web Accessibility Resources		53
Bibliography and Research		54
Maximize the Value of What You Create: How to Use Your Blog Post Effectively Across Social Platforms		56
Part Four: Reports		57
Part Five: News and Updates		59
Managing Multiple Instagram Accounts; Blogging & Writing Tips		59
Managing Multiple Instagram Accounts		59
Blogging		59
Essential Writing Tips		59
Resources for Free Stock Photos, Plus: Wonderful Tutorials on Multimedia Production		60
Livestreaming Resources		60
Zoom Resources: Security Info & Livestream Tips		61
Resources for Video Editing: Using Your Laptop, iPhone, or iPad		61
YouTube Hacks and Instagram Stories Tutorial		61
Part Six: Resources		62
Accessible U: University of Minnesota		62
Basic Checklist for Online Content Accessibility: Michigan State University		62
Digital Accessibility: Cornell Cooperative Extension		62
Social Media Accessibility: Utah State University		62
Social Media Accessibility Guidelines: Princeton University		62
Explore Access: Accessible Online Learning Toolkit – University of Arkansas		62
Explore Access: Creating Accessible Documents Toolkit: University of Arkansas		63
Media Accessibility Online Course: Clemson University		63
Federal Social Media Accessibility Toolkit		63
How to Find and Use Media Assets (Legally): UC Berkeley		63
Social Media Guidelines and Resources: University of California ANR		63
Social Media Training: University of California ANR		63
Social Media Tutorials: UC Berkeley		63
Social Media Guidelines: Delaware State University Cooperative Extension		64
Social Media Guidelines: Texas A&M Cooperative Extension		64
Quick Guide to Social Media Channels: University of Minnesota		64
Social Media Strategy: Penn State Cooperative Extension		64
Social Media Audit Checklist: Utah State University		64
Engaging Your Social Media Audience: Mississippi State Cooperative Extension		64
The Difference Between Emergency Remote Teaching and Online Learning		64
Data and Policy: Responding to Human Service Needs		64

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