scholarly journals What Does it Take to Lead Extension Master Gardener Volunteers?

2021 ◽  
Vol 59 (Summer 2021) ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlotte Glen ◽  
K.S.U. Jayaratne ◽  
Gary Moore ◽  
Lucy Bradley ◽  
Harriett Edwards

We investigated the importance of volunteer engagement competencies to successful master gardener volunteer administration. We used a web-based survey to collect data from a census of North Carolina Extension agents with master gardener volunteer administration responsibilities. Respondents indicated 52 of the 55 competencies were important to the administration of master gardener volunteers. We concluded that although traditional volunteer management skills are essential, a more comprehensive model encompassing personal and leadership skills is needed to inform development of training and resources that will support attainment of competencies required for successful master gardener volunteer administration.

Author(s):  
Kelly E. Proulx ◽  
Mark A. Hager ◽  
Denise A. Wittstock

Traditional volunteer management is a bureaucratic process involving recruitment, screening, training, assignment, scheduling, recognition, retention, and reporting on volunteers. New workplace technologies provide ways to conduct these tasks with greater efficiency and increased accuracy, thereby enhancing both the volunteer experience and the impact of volunteers on organizational operations. This chapter reviews the literature regarding theories of technology acceptance and use, technology use in nonprofit organizations, and technology in volunteer programs. Three organizational case studies provide insights into both the promise and limitations of the adoption and use of Volgistics, a commonly used Web-based software designed for volunteer management in nonprofit organizations. The authors conclude by discussing what these cases suggest for the challenges and promise of adoption of new technology in the management of volunteers.


Author(s):  
Kelly E. Proulx ◽  
Mark A. Hager ◽  
Denise A. Wittstock

Traditional volunteer management is a bureaucratic process involving recruitment, screening, training, assignment, scheduling, recognition, retention, and reporting on volunteers. New workplace technologies provide ways to conduct these tasks with greater efficiency and increased accuracy, thereby enhancing both the volunteer experience and the impact of volunteers on organizational operations. This chapter reviews the literature regarding theories of technology acceptance and use, technology use in nonprofit organizations, and technology in volunteer programs. Three organizational case studies provide insights into both the promise and limitations of the adoption and use of Volgistics, a commonly used Web-based software designed for volunteer management in nonprofit organizations. The authors conclude by discussing what these cases suggest for the challenges and promise of adoption of new technology in the management of volunteers.


2001 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 472-476
Author(s):  
Sheri Dorn ◽  
Paula Diane Relf

The Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) Master Gardener (MG) Coordinator Manual, a 14-chapter resource book, was developed cooperatively with teams of VCE MGs, coordinators, and agents to enhance coordinators' skills. It includes chapters on risk management, volunteer management, the educational process, current policies, and the volunteer section of the VCE Master Gardener's Handbook. The VCE MG Coordinator Manual was the basis of four local VCE MG coordinator-training sessions in 1998. This evaluation showed that coordinators are using the manual and adapting the suggestions and samples to fit their local programs, despite the fact that more planning time is often required. Those using the manual increased their understanding of VCE goals and the role of the VCE MG and slightly increased their leadership skills. Reading the manual showed a need for information on training VCE MGs to work with agents to design and implement strong horticulture education programs for Virginia communities. Areas for improvement were identified before final publication.


HortScience ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 503a-503
Author(s):  
Sheri T. Dorn ◽  
Paula Diane Relf

Virginia Cooperative Extension's (VCE) Master Gardener volunteer program is available in 72 unit offices. The unit programs are managed by MG coordinators who currently include 10 locally funded agents, eight locally funded technicians, and 28 volunteers. The VCE Master Gardener Coordinator Manual, a 12-unit resource book, was developed cooperatively with teams of MGs, coordinators, and agents to enhance coordinators' skills for managing the local VCE MG program. The manual includes chapters on VCE MG components such as risk management; job descriptions; recruitment and screening; and volunteer review, recognition, and retention. Additional resources within the manual include a synopsis of educational program planning, implementation, and evaluation, as well as a copy of the current VCE Master Gardener Program Policies and the volunteer section of the Virginia Master Gardener Handbook, which serves as program orientation for new or prospective trainees. The VCE Master Gardener Coordinator Manual is the basis of three local MG coordinator training sessions in 1998. Additional resources available to coordinators for enhancing the local MG program include a MG newsletter focused on the role of Master Gardeners as community leaders and educators; program policies and guidelines for the management of MG training and operation; VCE publication 426-699 Welcome to Virginia Master Gardenering! Guide to Educational Programming and Resource and Reference Guide; and the VCE Master Gardener Internet website at http://www.ext.vt.edu/vce/specialty/envirohort/mastergard/master.html.


2016 ◽  
Vol 125 (5) ◽  
pp. 1046-1055 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huaping Sun ◽  
Yan Zhou ◽  
Deborah J. Culley ◽  
Cynthia A. Lien ◽  
Ann E. Harman ◽  
...  

Abstract Background As part of the Maintenance of Certification in Anesthesiology Program® (MOCA®), the American Board of Anesthesiology (Raleigh, North Carolina) developed the MOCA Minute program, a web-based intensive longitudinal assessment involving weekly questions with immediate feedback and links to learning resources. This observational study tested the hypothesis that individuals who participate in the MOCA Minute program perform better on the MOCA Cognitive Examination (CE) compared with those who do not participate. Methods Two separate cohorts of individuals eligible for July 2014 and January 2015 CEs were invited to participate in this pilot. The CE scores for each cohort were compared between those who did and did not participate, controlling for the factors known to affect performance. For the first cohort, examination performances for topics covered and not covered by the MOCA Minute were analyzed separately. Results Six hundred sixteen diplomates in July 2014 and 684 diplomates in January 2015 took the CE for the first time. In multiple regression analysis, those actively participating scored 9.9 points (95% CI, 0.8 to 18.9) and 9.3 points (95% CI, 2.3 to 16.3) higher when compared with those not enrolled, respectively. Compared to the group that did not enroll in MOCA Minute, those who enrolled but did not actively participate demonstrated no improvement in scores. MOCA Minute participation was associated with improvement in both questions covering topics included the MOCA Minute and questions not covering these topics. Conclusions This analysis provides evidence that voluntary active participation in a program featuring frequent knowledge assessments accompanied by targeted learning resources is associated with improved performance on a high-stakes CE.


10.2196/13579 ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (11) ◽  
pp. e13579 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yisselle Ilene Virella Pérez ◽  
Sharon Medlow ◽  
Jane Ho ◽  
Katharine Steinbeck

Background More adolescents with chronic physical illness are living into adulthood, and they require the development of proficient self-management skills to maintain optimal physical health as they transition into adult care services. It is often during this vulnerable transition period that deterioration in illness control is seen as a result of inadequate self-management skills and understanding of their chronic illness. Mobile technology has been proposed as an innovative opportunity to assist in improving the management of chronic conditions as young people transition to adult care services. Over the past 5 years, there has been a significant increase in research into the use of health-related apps. Objective This study aimed to evaluate the utility and effectiveness of mobile and Web-based health apps that support self-management and transition in young people with chronic physical health illnesses. Methods We conducted a comprehensive review of the literature in 5 bibliographic databases, using key search terms, considering only articles published from 2013, as we were extending the data from 2 previous systematic reviews. Abstracts were screened for possible inclusion by 2 reviewers. Data extraction and quality assessment tools were used for the evaluation of included studies. Results A total of 1737 records were identified from the combined electronic searches, and 854 records were removed as duplicates. A total of 68 full articles were further assessed for eligibility, and 6 articles met our review criteria: 3 pilot studies, 2 randomized controlled trials, and 1 prospective cohort study. Publication years ranged from 2015 to 2018. The apps reported were targeted at type 1 diabetes mellitus, epilepsy, asthma, beta thalassemia major, and sickle cell disease, with a combined sample size of 336. A total of 4 studies included in this review reported being effective in increasing knowledge of the targeted condition and increasing therapy adherence, including increased medication adherence. A total of 2 manuscripts only mentioned the word transition. Participant’s satisfaction was reported for all studies. Heterogeneity of the studies prevented meta-analysis. Conclusions There remain limited data on the effectiveness and use of mobile and Web-based apps, which might facilitate the transition of adolescents with chronic illnesses from pediatric to adult health care services. This systematic review provides an updated overview of available apps for adolescents with chronic illnesses. This systematic review has been unable to provide evidence for effectiveness of this approach, but it does provide insights into future study design, with reference to the development, evaluation, and efficacy of apps tailored for adolescents with chronic illnesses, including the involvement of adolescents in such designs. Trial Registration PROSPERO CRD42018104611; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=104611


2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 19
Author(s):  
Tri Candra Wulandari ◽  
Kawakibul Qamar

Mathematics is based on certain concepts and rules, teachers must motivatestudents to be able to express the concept in the real world yet. not allmathematical material is abstract or all mathematical material can be madereal. Therefore, there needs to be a bridge between the abstract world andthe real world. Mathematics Manipulative Media is one of the subjects inmathematics education program at Kanjuruhan University. This subjects isgiven to third year students this class started using Project-Based Learning(PBL). PBL was design to teach the student with combining concept andstudent skills. These skills include communication and presentation skills,organization and time management skills, research and inquiry skills, selfassessmentand reflection skills, group participation and leadership skills,and critical thinking. All of these skills are needed for their life in theirsociety. Implementation of PBL in this manipulative media class is doneusing 4 stages, namely the delivery of rules and concepts, the delivery ofideas, product/creation solution and problem conclusion. While the skillsinvolved at each stage are communication and presentation skills, time andorganizational management skills, searching and discovering skills, selfassessingand reflection skills, leadership and lead skills, and criticalthinking.


10.2196/33506 ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. e33506
Author(s):  
Anna Hatzioannou ◽  
Andreas Chatzittofis ◽  
Virginia Sunday Koutroubas ◽  
Evridiki Papastavrou ◽  
Maria Karanikola


2011 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 150-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ellen M. Bauske ◽  
Lelia Kelly ◽  
Kerry Smith ◽  
Lucy Bradley ◽  
Timothy Davis ◽  
...  

Extension Master Gardener (EMG) volunteers are key to effective dissemination of horticultural information to the public. The goal of this workshop was to identify techniques to increase the capacity and effectiveness of EMG volunteers. The workshop focused on projects and tools that reduce the administrative burden of managing volunteers, increase the scope of issues that volunteers are prepared to address, and pool volunteer efforts and resources across county lines. Two online systems for managing and reporting EMG volunteer activities were described. Both systems are intuitive, user-friendly, and updated without the assistance of web managers. Regional web-based, advanced training on specific topics was used to expand educational messages of EMG volunteers and eliminate the costs associated with face-to-face training. Presentations were made using distance learning technologies and resources were shared online. Hosting agents tailored hands-on supporting activities to meet local needs. Volunteers expanded extension outreach by answering noncommercial landscape and garden telephone questions. Many of the administrative, logistical, and resource burdens associated with the EMG helpline phone service were overcome by working across county lines, standardizing training, centralizing supporting resources, and clustering volunteers into regional telephone helpline offices. Other projects and tools presented in the workshop focused on the need to affirm and/or foster the volunteers' connection with the university and the outreach mission of Cooperative Extension.


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