ExtensionTV: Answers for a Mobile Cleintele

Lisa Jasa, EdMedia

Seeing equals learning for many of us. That’s why the newly enhanced UNL ExtensionTV.unl.edu has so much to offer our clients — visual information that’s short, focused, mobile friendly, easily accessible 24/7, and branded for UNL Extension. 

How does it work? ExtensionTV scans existing video sources such as YouTube, Vimeo and iTunes for UNL Extension videos and adds them to its display.  Currently 37 UNL video accounts “feed” Extension TV, which has more than 2,400 videos.

Today YouTube reaches more US adults ages 18-34 than any cable network.  Videos now featured on UNL ExtensionTV have been viewed more than 8 million times, 25% of which were in the last 10 months.

We’re inviting you to re-explore the many features of this site during its Grand Re-Opening this month. It’s sporting a new look and offering more videos than ever, all organized among Extension’s six spire categories.

Features

1. Search, browse, or choose the “New” button to see what’s been posted most recently or the “Popular” button to see what’s “hot.” 
2. Getting  a lot of calls on a particular topic, for example, bed bugs? Search for bed bug videos and use the Quick Share option to share a link via Facebook, Twitter, or email.
3.  ExtensionTV also displays related videos, but only from its library, which allows for cross-pollination without the worry of unwanted videos popping up.   

Be a Part of ExtensionTV

To continue building traffic to this site, we need your help to regularly contribute and recommend videos here. 

If you’re developing videos for hosting on YouTube or Vimeo, sharing them with ExtensionTV is easy. Email NicColgrove, EdMEdia Software Development Specialist, the URL of your host site (for example, http://www.youtube.com/user/marketjournal) and he’ll add it to those being scanned. When you post a new extension video, ExtensionTV will link to it automatically within 24 hours. It’s that easy to draw even more viewers to your educational videos.

In upcoming issues of Keeping Up we’ll look at how to embed ExtensionTV videos on your web page and how to tag your videos to improve cross promotion.

For more information, contact Nic Colgrove in EdMedia at 402-472-6672 or nic.colgrove@unl.edu.

Decision Support Tools for Nutrient and Sediment Management

Rick Koelsch, UNL Extension, 5/8/14

The North Central Region Water Network is sponsoring its second “Current Webinar” addressing Decision Support Tools for Nutrient and Sediment Management.  The Network’s primary purpose is to improve connections among Extension Professionals engaged in water issues in the North Central states and is sponsored by the region’s Extension Deans and Directors.  You can build your connection to this network by:

• Subscribing to the email list for the Network by sending a blank e-mail to: join-ncrwater@lists.wisc.edu,

• Visiting the Network’s Website

•  Learning more about the May 27Current Webinar

  

                Decision Support Tools for Nutrient and Sediment Management

                                    May 27 at 1pm central, 2pm eastern time

The second webinar in The Current speed networking series will provide information on decision support tools related to nutrient and sediment management that land-grant universities in the North Central Region have helped develop or are using in Extension programming.  

Presentations will be in 10-minute segments, with 20 minutes for Q&A and networking. The webinar is free of charge and open to Extension professionals across the region. Presenters and topics include:

• Rick Cruse (Iowa State University) - Iowa’s Daily Erosion Project

• Laura Ward Good (University of Wisconsin) and Richard Holupka (UW-Extension Clark County) - Wisconsin's Runoff Advisory System: Reducing the Risks in Manure Management

• Chad Hart (Iowa State University) - U2U: Considering Climate Data in Agricultural Decisions 

• Jessica D’Ambrosio (The Ohio State University) – Enhanced Ditch Design Spreadsheet: Design and Decision Support Tool for Alternative Agricultural Drainage Ditch Designs

For more information, please visit the North Central Region Water Network website.

Call for Proposals - Extension Response to Disasters

Rick Koelsch, UNL Extension, May 8 2014

USDA NIFA has released a call for proposals targeting Extension planning for and response to weather and disaster related events through a Smith-Lever Special Needs Program. Projects can range from $30,000 to $120,000.  Fifty-seven percent of 2013 applications were funded (an unusually HIGH success rate).

Once a disaster has occurred, the local extension outreach includes: 1) Communicating practical science-based risk information, 2) Developing relevant educational experiences and programs, 3) Working with individuals and communities to open new communication channels, and 4) Mitigating losses and facilitating recovery. NIFA will fund Special Needs projects to implement applied scientific programs that serve public needs in preparation for, during and after local or regional emergency situations. Fundable projects should support extension activities through at least one (1) of the following strategies:

1.      Enhance regional/national networks that add value to official information by delivering it:

• In an audience and situation appropriate format
• In a timely fashion and
• Coupled with appropriate and existing research based information.

2.      Provide regional/national education and communications leadership to develop or add value to current educational materials regarding disaster issues, utilizing the proper distribution mix of the EDEN website, eXtension, related social media, and/or other outlets.  This strategy could include materials targeted to underserved or non-traditional audiences (such as people who speak English as a second language, low literacy individuals, and/or international opportunities).  Any international aspects of the proposal must support EDEN or domestic work. 

3.      Improve regional/national stakeholder partnerships (which might include the public, governments at all levels, non-profit and/or volunteer organizations, academia, and/or industry) across traditional boundaries to decrease the impact of disasters through extension education.

4.      Deliver extension education to affected citizens and communities, in one or more states, to decrease the impact of a major declared disaster that occurred no more than 12 months prior to the application due date of this RFA.

Request for Application (RFA) | Apply: Electronic | Abstracts of Funded Projects

Solicitation Date (Opening) May 2, 2014 Letter of Intent Due Date None Due Date (Closing) June 2, 2014 Estimated Total Program Funding $462,000.00 Range of Awards $30,000.00 to $120,000.00 Percent of Applications Funded Last Fiscal Year 57% Cost Sharing Requirements Dollar for dollar match required. See RFA for details. For More Information Contact Beverly Samuel Funding Opportunity Number USDA-NIFA-SLBCD-004528 CFDA Number 10.500 Contact for Electronic Access Problems webcomments@nifa.usda.gov

Reference:  USDA NIFA web page, http://www.nifa.usda.gov/fo/smithleverspecialneeds.cfm