Taking the Leap: Exploring a Theory of Program Innovation

Innovation in Extension is often referred to as something tangible, such as a new resource or technique or new concepts. However, these things result from a program innovation process. In this article, we elaborate a grounded theory of how this process unfolds in the context of Extension. Through analysis of data from a national survey of practitioners from innovative programs, a panel presentation, and interviews with faculty at the University of Minnesota, we describe seven factors that influence what prompts innovation and how the process tends to unfold. We synthesize a capitals-based conceptual model and discuss implications for diagnosing and strengthening program innovation

A Call to Embrace Program Innovation

To remain vital, it is critical for Extension to embrace the innovation at the core of our birth and success. In this article, we define Extension program innovation as driven by the productive tensions among three core program planning practices: design, construction, and evaluation. Through daily, interactive tinkering in these three practices, staff strive toward stronger program impact and creatively respond to opportunities or challenges. We discuss how an innovation approach to program planning is well suited to address three contemporary Extension program development issues. We also discuss implications of innovation research to improve Extension program planning

Participant Comfort with and Application of Inquiry-Based Learning: Results from 4-H Volunteer Training

This article explores how a one-time training designed to support learning transfer affected 4-H volunteers\u27 comfort levels with the training content and how comfort levels, in turn, affected the volunteers\u27 application of tools and techniques learned during the training. Results of a follow-up survey suggest that the training participants experienced increases in comfort with guiding inquiry-based learning and achieved high levels of application of the tools and techniques presented during the training. The data indicate that providing participants with opportunities during training to experience tools and build skills by practicing techniques helps them more effectively guide learning in the future

Individual and Community Well-Being in Nonmetropolitan Nebraska: 2017 Nebraska Rural Poll Results

Conclusion By many different measures, rural Nebraskans are positive about their community. Many rural Nebraskans rate their community favorably on its social dimensions: as friendly, trusting and supportive. Most rural Nebraskans say it would be difficult to leave their community and have a positive attachment to their community. And, most rural Nebraskans disagree that their community is powerless to control its future. Across all years of this study, rural Nebraskans’ views about the change in their community have generally been positive. The proportion believing their community has changed for the better during the past year has usually been greater than the proportion believing it has changed for the worse, especially during the past six years when the gap between the two has widened. In addition, rural Nebraskans’ optimism about the expected change in their community ten years from now has increased during the past seven years. Some differences in residents’ evaluations of their community exist by community size. Residents of larger communities are more likely than residents of smaller communities to say their community has changed for the better during the past year and will be a better place to live ten years from now. However, residents of smaller communities are more likely than residents of larger communities to say it would be difficult to leave their community and to have positive attachment to their community. Except for some services that are largely unavailable in rural communities, rural Nebraskans are generally satisfied with basic community services and amenities. However, the proportion of rural Nebraskans satisfied with many social services and entertainment services has decreased across all 21 years of the study. Declines in satisfaction levels across all 21 years are seen with nursing home care, medical care services, senior centers, mental health services, entertainment, retail shopping and restaurants. Few rural Nebraskans believe they have been treated less acceptingly in their community because of their race/ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age or economic status. And, most rural Nebraskans view diversity positively. Most rural Nebraskans rate themselves as having conservative political views on both economic and social issues. They also rate their community’s political views on both economic and social views as conservative. In fact, they view their community’s political views on social issues as more conservative than their own. Rural Nebraskans’ perceptions of their current situation and their outlook on the future continues to be optimistic. In addition, most rural Nebraskans disagree that people are powerless to control their own lives. Certain groups are more likely to be optimistic about their current situation and expected future: younger persons, persons with higher household incomes and persons with higher education levels. Following trends in previous years, rural Nebraskans are most satisfied with their marriage, family, friends, the outdoors, their safety and their general quality of life. They continue to be less satisfied with job opportunities, current income level, their ability to build assets/wealth and financial security during retirement

Economic Development in Nonmetropolitan Nebraska: Internet Use, Nature-Based Tourism, Federal Tax Policy and Workforce Development: 2018 Nebraska Rural Poll Results

Conclusion The proportion of rural Nebraskans accessing the Internet using their cell phone has increased compared to two years ago. But, the proportion subscribing to high-speed Internet service at home remained stable during the past two years. Persons living in or near the smallest communities are less likely than persons living in or near larger communities to have high-speed Internet service at home. Not many rural Nebraskans report significant limitations from their home Internet service on their ability to do most tasks. At least one in ten report being limited significantly or not being able to play real time video games or stream online video content such as Netflix. However, persons living in or near smaller communities experience more limitations than do those living in or near larger communities. And, regional differences also occur, with the residents of both the Northeast and Southeast regions experiencing more limitations performing such tasks as streaming online video content, playing real time video games and videoconferencing. Most rural Nebraskans are using the Internet to save money by price matching, finding bargains online, etc. Many are also using it to generate income by occasionally buying, selling or trading items online. Seven percent of rural Nebraskans estimate the impact of saving money as $1,000 or more annually. For some items, the economic impact of the Internet is greater in smaller communities. Persons living in or near smaller communities are more likely than persons living in or near larger communities to have used the Internet to earn money by running and growing a home-based business and making the family farm more efficient and/or profitable. Persons with occupations in agriculture are also generating income by running and growing a home-based business, making the family farm more efficient and/or profitable, and regularly selling online. Most rural Nebraskans are aware of the following nature-based activities for tourists in or near their community: biking, hunting and fishing, hiking/walking trails and camping. Many are also aware of kayaking, canoeing or other river activities. Overall, many rural Nebraskans are unsure of the expected impacts of the federal tax bill. At least three in ten indicated they don’t know how the bill will impact all of the items listed. And, opinions are mixed on the expected impact of the federal tax bill on their household’s tax burden. At least three in ten rural Nebraskans think the services provided by government and upper income Americans’ tax burden will decrease as a result of the federal tax bill. Over one-third think the income gap between the upper and middle income groups and the federal deficit will increase as a result of the bill. Many rural Nebraskans have changed jobs and careers in the past ten years. Most rural Nebraskans expect to be in their same job ten years from now or until retirement. Few rural Nebraskans expect to switch careers in the next ten years. Most rural Nebraskans think individuals, colleges and universities, community colleges and primary (K–12) education have a lot of responsibility for job training or retraining

Media, Institutions and Voting: Perceptions of Nonmetropolitan Nebraskans: 2017 Nebraska Rural Poll Results

Conclusion Rural Nebraskans most trust information received from local news sources (TV and newspapers) and public sources (PBS and public radio). They least trust information from social networking sites and Internet blogs. Most rural Nebraskans are somewhat or very confident in their ability to recognize news that is made up. Most rural Nebraskans have confidence in their local institutions (public safety agencies in their community; public schools in their community; and voting and election systems in their county). On the other hand, over one-quarter of rural Nebraskans have very little confidence in the following national institutions: U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. Senate and the Presidency and executive branch of government. Most rural Nebraskans support early voting, requiring all voters to provide photo identification at their polling place in order to cast a ballot and automatic voter registration. Almost one-half support online voter registration. Most rural Nebraskans believe both votes being cast by people not eligible to vote and eligible voters not being allowed to cast a vote were either a minor or major problem in last year’s election. Over one-third of rural Nebraskans believe votes being cast by people not eligible to vote was a major problem. Over four in ten believe it was a minor problem. Fewer rural Nebraskans perceive eligible voters not being allowed to cast a vote as a problem. Two in ten believe this was a major problem and just under four in ten think it was a minor problem

Social Issues in Nonmetropolitan Nebraska: Perceptions of Social Stigma and Drug and Alcohol Abuse: 2018 Nebraska Rural Poll Results

Conclusion Many rural Nebraskans think it brings shame upon a person to do the following: file personal bankruptcy, apply for food stamps and apply for income assistance. Most rural Nebraskans disagree that the following items bring shame to a person: go to Alcoholics Anonymous or other alcohol treatment, seek mental health care, and go to drug treatment. In general, rural Nebraskans say that residents of their community are more likely than they personally are to think doing the items brings shame upon a person. At least one-third of rural Nebraskans think the following are a very serious problem or a crisis in their community: abuse of alcohol, use of methamphetamines, and use of marijuana. Persons living in or near larger communities are more likely than persons living in or near smaller communities to say each of the items listed are a very serious problem or crisis in their community. In addition, Panhandle residents are more likely than residents of other regions of the state to say the following are a very serious problem or crisis in their community: abuse of strong prescription painkillers, use of heroin and other opioids, use of methamphetamines, use of marijuana, and lack of immunizations for children. Opinions are mixed on the change in prescription painkiller abuse in their community compared to five years ago. Just over one-third don’t know how the abuse of prescription painkillers has changed and just under one-third said it is about the same. Just over three in ten believe the problem is worse than it was five years ago. Persons living in or near the largest communities are more likely than persons living in or near smaller communities to say the problem of prescription painkiller abuse in their community is worse than it was five years ago. And, residents of both the Panhandle and North Central regions are more likely than residents of other regions of the state to believe the problem of prescription painkiller abuse in their community is worse than it was five years ago. Just over one-quarter of rural Nebraskans say they or someone they know has been personally impacted by the abuse of prescription painkillers

Perceptions of Immigration Among Nonmetropolitan Nebraskans: Nebraska Rural Poll Research Report 19-2

The percent of Nebraska’s population that is foreign born has steadily increased during the past decade. In fact, its growth in foreign born population since 2010 ranks in the top 10 among all states. Given these changes, are rural Nebraskans aware of recent immigrants in their community? How do they perceive immigrants and their impacts on rural Nebraska? How do they view various immigration policies? This paper provides a detailed analysis of these questions. This report details 1,776 responses to the 2019 Nebraska Rural Poll, the 24th annual effort to understand rural Nebraskans’ perceptions. Respondents were asked a series of questions about immigration. Trends for some of the questions are examined by comparing data from the 2006 Rural Poll. In addition, comparisons are made among different respondent subgroups, that is, comparisons by age, occupation, region, etc. Based on these analyses, some key findings emerged

Community Involvement and Leadership in Nonmetropolitan Nebraska: Rural Poll Research Report 19-1

Community leadership and involvement are important parts of community development. Rural communities rely on volunteers for many community development activities as well as local leadership positions. In smaller communities in particular, community members often take on multiple roles. Given these challenges, how involved are rural Nebraskans in community and political activities? How do they feel about the leadership in their community? How often do they have social interactions with others during a typical month? This paper provides a detailed analysis of these questions. This report details 1,776 responses to the 2019 Nebraska Rural Poll, the 24th annual effort to understand rural Nebraskans’ perceptions. Respondents were asked a series of questions about their community involvement and community leadership. Trends for some of the questions are examined by comparing data from the 2015 Rural Poll. In addition, comparisons are made among different respondent subgroups, that is, comparisons by age, occupation, region, etc. Based on these analyses, some key findings emerged

Perceptions of Agriculture and the Economy in Nonmetropolitan Nebraska: 2017 Nebraska Rural Poll Results

Conclusion Most rural Nebraskans view their economic well-being as being dependent on agriculture. Over three-fourths feel their economic well-being is at least somewhat tied to agriculture. Economic dependence on agriculture has changed very little over the past seven years. The proportions reported in 2017 are almost identical to those from 2010. Similarly, most rural Nebraskans believe the economic well-being of their community is very much dependent on agriculture. Overall, over nine in ten rural Nebraskans feel their community’s economic well-being is at least somewhat tied to agriculture. Most rural Nebraskans say their job/income security is about the same as it was a year ago. The concern about job/income security was greater during the 2009 national economic recession compared to this downturn in the agricultural economy. However, most rural Nebraskans are uncertain they would find the kind of job they are looking for in their community. The level of uncertainty of finding the kind of job they would be looking for in their community was higher in 2009 than this year. This uncertainty was higher for persons living in or near smaller communities compared to those living in or near larger communities. Finally, many rural Nebraskans believe the current downturn in agriculture is about the same as other agriculture downturns of the past. Residents of the Panhandle are more likely than residents of other regions of the state to say the current downturn in agriculture is worse or much worse than previous downturns