Futuring: The Implementation of Anticipatory Excellence

In the 21st century, futuring, the use of techniques to anticipate potential public issues, will give Extension the time needed to address emerging real-world issues before crises occur. Where do our current efforts fall short? We excel in planning, yet futuring can provide us options for change using anticipatory techniques to inform continual improvement. Futuring, timely and proactive planning tied to meaningful engagement with the people in each state, will result in Extension becoming the catalyst for connecting people to the wealth of relevant knowledge and research residing within various colleges and disciplines of the university

Essential Components for Successful Virtual Learning Communities

Cooperative Extension and engaged universities can build on use of social learning through implementation of virtual communities of practice. This article identifies essential components of online communities of practice and the critical building blocks needed for social learning to develop. The article is part two of a three-part series on virtual communities of practice

The Steps for Futuring

Futuring has the potential of providing Extension with options for viable change using the anticipatory techniques of: 1) scanning and monitoring the environment; 2) analyzing internal and external assumptions; 3) creating multiple scenarios around emerging issue areas; 4) developing forecasts; 5) writing issue briefs; 6) assuring program champions, faculty and staff are ready to address predicted changes; and, 7) using the results of futuring to inform continual improvement. Let\u27s have the courage and ambition to change yesterday\u27s logic and take a look at the steps needed to adopt anticipatory techniques for Extension

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Virtual Communities of Practice: A 21st Century Method for Learning, Programming, and Developing Professionally

Cooperative Extension can build on use of virtual Communities of Practice (CoP) to enhance educational programs and professional development. This article examines the way virtual CoPs can support the Extension mission and build on our heritage of integrity and innovation. Literature about virtual CoPs reports on successful implementation of these communities by the volunteer sector, eXtension, and by formal education to support professional development and content and program development. Cooperative Extension may benefit from the study of virtual communities of practice and their applications across the national system

Comparative response of Lemnaceae clones to copper(II), chromium(VI), and cadmium(II) toxicity

Vascular plants such as aquatic macrophytes have been used as reference organisms in ecotoxicological assessments of environmental toxicants in aquatic systems for more than two decades (Lewis 1995; Wang and Freemark 1995; Lytle and Lytle 2001). Lemnaceae are the most extensively studied family (Wang 1990; Wang 1992; Mohan and Hosetti 1999) and were incorporated to standardized protocols by environmental protection agencies or organizations (USEPA 1996; Environment Canada 1999; OECD 2000). Lemna gibba and Lemna minor were the selected species among the Lemnaceae family for most of the standarized protocols. A limitation in the selection of these reference species is distribution; L. gibba is widely distributed in South America while L. minor is not found in the Neotropical region (Landolt 1986; Landolt 1996). The search for reference organisms to be used in ecotoxicological testing with bioassays in the Pampean Region of Buenos Aires Province (Argentina) comprises the use of fish, amphibians, crustaceans and algae from surface water bodies (Ronco et al. 2000a). Previous local reports using vascular plants aimed at assessing toxicity with seeds (Sobrero et al. 1996; Ronco et al. 2000b). The present study reports data on the comparative response of a local clone of L. gibba with two collection clones of L. gibba and L. minor to three environmentally relevant toxic metals using laboratory toxicity tests.Instituto de Fisiología Vegeta