Using Technology to Enhance Extension Education and Outreach
MSU Affiliation
Extension Service (MSUES); Coastal Research and Extension Center
Creation Date
2026-06-30
Abstract
We held a technology session at the 2016 Annual Meeting of the American Society for Horticultural Science in Atlanta, GA, to provide guidance for technology choices in extension education and an opportunity to learn more about engaging new audiences, including the millennial generation (people born between 1982 and 2000). The use of technology is nowan integral part of extension-client interaction. Presenters in the session gave examples of when technologies such as blogs, social media accounts, or web conferencing tools allowed extension personnel to increase engagement with online consumers and ultimately help fulfill extension’s mission of extending knowledge and changing lives. Effective engagement requires both educators and learners to be satisfied with the exchange. It is critical to monitor the quality of these digitally facilitated exchanges as compared with traditional face-to-face interactions. Additionally, it is possible to quantify digital engagement with readily available metrics, such as "retweets" (a reposted or forwarded message) or "likes" (indication an item is appreciated). These allow innovative and substantive reporting to further justify continued use of digital technologies for enhancing client-extension relations.
Publication Date
4-1-2017
Publication Title
HortTechnology
Publisher
American Society for Horticultural Science
First Page
177
Last Page
186
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Barton, E. T., Barton, E. A., Barton, S., Boyer, C. R., Brosnan, J., Hill, P., Hoyle, J., Reid, J., Seger, J., & Stafne, E. (2017). Using Technology to Enhance Extension Education and Outreach. HortTechnology, 27(2), 177–186. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH03608-16
