Zoom Around the World: Using Videoconferencing Technology for International Trainings

This article describes an innovative model of educational programming used by our team of U.S. Extension educators for an international development project in Burundi, Africa. Our team designed a model to provide ongoing professional development trainings at a distance using Zoom, a videoconferencing platform. Over a 2-year period, we conducted 18 Zoom trainings with Burundian educators. On the basis of participant evaluation data and the literature, we present key principles for using distance technology in international development projects. Given the current economy and budget cuts in Extension, videoconferencing provides an opportunity for Extension to remain engaged internationally

Empowering youth and communities through 4-H School Gardening Programs: Results of focus groups in Burundi, Africa

The quality of education and training children receive today will significantly impact their development into adulthood and their impact on society (Kibwiki & Semana, 2001). Burundi, Africa is the second poorest country in the world and has a turbulent history laced with economic, political, and cultural challenges (Headrick, 2016). With more than half the population under the age of 18, educating the youth of Burundi is paramount to bringing about change in the country. The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand the needs of primary school teachers, administrators, afterschool program educators and their students; and to determine if a 4-H Youth Development school gardening program was a viable methodology to meet their needs. The desire of local partners to empower Burundian youth and the fact that empowerment is a fundamental principle of the 4-H methodology led to the selection of Empowerment Theory as the conceptual framework for this study. A needs assessment using focus groups was conducted with 34 primary school teachers, administrators, and afterschool staff in two rural communities in Burundi. Findings indicated that poverty and hunger were the primary barriers to quality education and climbing out of poverty. School educators also reported a need for professional development to better provide quality education for youth. Based on the outcomes of the focus groups, the researchers recommend that the 4-H Youth Development school gardening program is implemented in rural Burundi using Empowerment Theory as a framework to address the needs of educators and youth

Journal matrix : a tool for extension scholarship

Throughout their careers, faculty make multiple decisions about which journal to submit their manuscripts to. More often than not, the journal review process can take several months to over a year. In a 2015 survey of Washington State University Extension faculty affiliated with the Youth and Family program unit, 60% of respondents reported that on average it has taken 12 or more months from the time an article is submitted until the time it is published. Considering the length of time and effort it takes to publish a manuscript, it is crucial for authors to select the appropriate journal. At minimum, writers should pick a target journal before they begin writing. Choosing a journal before you begin writing allows you to better understand your audience and tailor writing to that group. Researchers recommend using a systematic process to evaluate potential journals by using a standard set of questions to help guide the analysis of prospective journals

Youth and family scholarship : a collection of journal matrices

Extension faculty publish for a wide variety of audiences including practitioners, researchers, educators, counselors, and community stakeholders. Identifying the appropriate journal to publish a body of work can be a daunting task, given the diverse number of audiences and publishing outlets. The following collection of resources is intended to support Extension faculty working with youth and families who are looking to publish in an interdisciplinary field. An appendix of completed journal matrices is included to aid faculty in identifying the most appropriate journal outlet for their work. The journal matrices provide pertinent information about each respective journal and how to submit a manuscript to that journal. This collection of journal matrices is a helpful tool for Extension faculty who focus on one or more of the following areas: youth development, family studies, parenting, health and wellness, nutrition, prevention science, obesity prevention, leadership development, volunteer management, financial education, literacy, cultural adaptations, financial literacy, community development, advocacy, and early learning