Using Internet-Based Technology to Conduct Extension Education Programs.

Decreased personnel, reduced travel budgets, and increased demands on professional time make it more difficult for extension specialists to comply with a growing number of requests to conduct educational programs or to provide county extension agent training. The use of internet-based technology has the potential to allow extension specialists to deliver relevant, science-based information to larger audiences, especially those some distance away without requiring the travel time or expenditure of scarce funds associated with face-to-face meetings. Centra Symposium by Saba is one such technology tool being utilized by Texas AgriLife Extension Service to replicate the physical classroom experience and deliver programs in much the same way as if they were at the meeting location in person. Initially, extension specialists used Centra Symposium to conduct single county extension educational program with success. Based on positive feedback from the initial single-county events, the next logical step was to conduct multi-county programs. Educational events conducted via Centra Symposium are highly coordinated between specialists and county extension agents. Trial sessions are conducted to ensure that equipment on both sending and receiving ends is working properly. To date, these programs have been unqualified successes as gauged by both agricultural producers and county extension agents. Customer satisfaction with the delivery of educational programs via the internet-based system has been very positive, as indicated by post-program survey evaluations. The use of Centra Symposium has also provided the vehicle by which extension specialists are able to conduct state-wide county extension agent trainings and provide updates to agents when emerging or crisis issues develop. Centra Symposium also provides the opportunity for recording educational or training programs for later viewing by agents or others who were unable to attend the original event. While the use of distance technology will not completely replace face-to-face educational program delivery, internet-based tools may become the program delivery method of choice for extension specialists in the future.