MSU Extension Fall Extension Conference

Below you find session information for the fourteen sessions that happened during Breakout Session 3 on Wednesday, Sept. 30 at 1 p.m.

Creating Activities and Sign-Ups in Volunteer Central

Speakers: Kristy Oosterhouse, Jennifer Weichel

Description: Are you seeking volunteers for your next event or have a variety of shifts that need to be filled? Learn how you can get the word out and create a sign up through Volunteer Central to get the right people in the right spot to help you make your event a success. Join us to learn how to create an event/activity, schedule shifts, discover how the system can automatically record hours, generate emails for volunteers who are referred or placed with your event and more. We can take questions before the session to help maximize our time and will walk you through event/shift creation. Join us to learn how to get the most out of Volunteer Central.

Intended Audience: MSU Extension Staff from all Institutes can utilize these features and reap the benefits.

Learning Outcomes: In this session you will learn how to:

• create an event/activity
• schedule shifts within that activity or event
• the difference between a volunteer being placed or referred
• generate emails to those who are referred or placed
• create requirements

Core Competencies: Physical and Fiscal Resources; Partnerships and Collaborations; Program Development, Evaluation, and Reporting; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Handouts: Activity Profile Creation Instructions

Greening the Garden

Speakers: Isabel Branstrom

Description: If you find yourself making resolutions to create a low maintenance and low input garden, don’t assume that all things beautiful must be put out to pasture. By understanding the site, expectations and harnessing Smart Gardening ideas, you can set yourself up for success. During this presentation you will get ideas for plants, strategies and tools to create a low input garden.

Intended Audience: All FEC attendees

Learning Outcomes: Develop strategies to create a low maintenance garden.

Core Competencies: Life Skills

Hidden in Plain Sight

Speakers: Maggie Merchberger, Erin Ross

Description: Drugs are becoming more and more prevalent in the U.P. and there isn't a lot of education for parents and caregivers. The Hidden in Plain Sight trailer is a great education tool that will be used at multiple community events to reach the majority of the community. We are currently working in partnerships with Michigan State Police and others on both the East and West ends of the U.P, in Gogebic and Chippewa Counties. As times and popular drugs change the contents of the trailer can be updated and modified to make sure that we have the most up to date materials as possible. This session will be an overview of this project as well as an interactive tour of the trailer to educate staff on drug prevention. We are engaging new partners and becoming more visible in our communities in ways not previously attempted. We have had a lot of success in fundraising as these issues are very important to the community and the families we serve. We hope that staff will see these opportunities as potential partnerships and also learning opportunities for parents, and even staff. It is surprising how many ways people can stash drugs where you would not suspect.

Intended Audience: Staff, parents, partners, caregivers

Learning Outcomes: Participants will learn more about potential partnership opportunities and drug prevention strategies they could participate in or seek funding in their local communities.

Core Competencies: Physical and Fiscal Resources; Team Work and Leadership; Partnerships and Collaborations; Program Development, Evaluation, and Reporting; Educational Delivery and Technology Adoption

Innovative Online Tools for Successful Nutrient Management: A Hands-on Training Experience

Speakers: Sarah Fronczak, Erica Rogers

Description: This professional development program focuses on providing outreach and training on three online tools that contribute to broader sustainability goals including stewardship of Michigan's land and water resources and enhancing quality of life for producers. The Sensitive Areas Identification System (SAIS), Michigan EnviroImpact tool, and the Computer-Assisted Nutrient Management Planning Program (CANMaPP) are a suite of support tools that facilitate conservation planning, nutrient management, and implementation activities. In this session, we anticipate giving a "lightning" talk on these tools, where we will present a brief overview and walk through their applications. Please note: Participants should join from a computer and follow along as we walk through using these tools.

Intended Audience: Other AABI, CEFI, and CYI Educators

Learning Outcomes: Gain further knowledge of these three tools and how they can contribute to broader sustainability goals.

Core Competencies: Educational Delivery and Technology Adoption

Handouts: Michigan EnviroImpact Tool Fact Sheet, Sensitive Areas Identification System Flyer

Is Step III for You? Tips for Potential Success

Speakers: Deb Barrett, Rob Sirrine

Description: This session will include an overview of the current process and timeline. In addition, we will share helpful hints and tips for potential success. 

Intended Audience: Educators who want to learn more about, or are considering applying for Step III, along with any administrator or supervisor that wants to learn how to be supportive of a Step III candidate.

Learning Outcomes: Participants will increase knowledge and understanding of the current Step III guidelines, timelines and tips for potential candidate success.

Core Competencies: Interpersonal and Organizational Professionalism

Handout: Step Process Guidelines

Learning Through Experience: Designing and Facilitating Experiential Learning in Adult Education

Speakers: Dr. John Dirkx

Description: How do we learn from and through experience? What transforms the rawness of past or current experience into what Lindeman referred to over 100 years ago as the “resource of highest value in adult education”? In this session we explore how experience-based processes of reflection, imagination, and relationship foster development of new perspectives, changes in behavior and commitments to action. Using these ideas, we discuss practical strategies for using experience most effectively to stimulate and enhance the quality of formal and nonformal learning and digital environments.

Intended Audience: Staff leading programs

Learning Outcomes: Learn more about the various learning processes and how to recognize which option your group of learners seem drawn to.

Core Competencies: Educational Delivery and Technology Adoption

Live on the Farm: a Virtual Tour of MSU Tollgate's Vegetable Production - CANCELLED

Speakers: Darby Anderson, William Jaquinde

Description: A live virtual tour of MSU Tollgate Farm and Education Center's diversified vegetable production. The production serves as a farmer training program, community supported agriculture (CSA) program and provides an interactive learning space for many programs on-site. See which crops among the 50 that are grown are in season and learn about small scale production methods from the farmers in the field.

Intended Audience: All staff who have a professional interest in food, agriculture and natural resources.

Learning Outcomes: Participants will come away with a better understanding of small scale vegetable production methods and crop seasonality.

Core Competencies: Educational Delivery and Technology Adoption, Other

Meeting Michigan’s Beginning Farmers’ Needs - Where to Start?

Speakers: Vicki Morrone, shakara tyler, Jen Silveri, Katie Brandt

Description: Within Michigan alone, there are over 60 community-based organizations to promote, assist and offer training events for beginning farmers.  Since everyone learns a bit differently, each program uses different approaches to implement beginning farmer trainings and programs. Join us for an exchange of experiences, perspectives and discussion with leaders from four organizations; Detroit Black Community Food Security Network (shakara tyler), Michigan Food and Farming (Jen Silveri), MSU Organic Farming Training Program (Katie Brandt) and Organic Farmers of Michigan through MSUE (Vicki Morrone). Each program follows different models and implements different approaches. Let’s discuss, with some of the beginning farmers, how they have worked and some of their challenges. Maybe together, with your contributions too, we can come up with ways to better meet beginning farmers’ needs and expectations.

Intended Audience: AABI and CFEI staff who work with farmers

Learning Outcomes: Learn about different approaches groups are using to implement beginning farmers programs and resources. Learn ways to better meet beginning farmers' needs and expectations.

Core Competencies: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Handouts: Beginning Farmer Presentation

Productive Call-Outs: Tools and Strategies for Responding to Microagressions

Speakers: Lynn Lammers & Transforming Theatre Ensemble

Description: This session focuses on tools and strategies for transforming hot moments into growth moments. Utilizing a scenario by Transforming Theatre Ensemble that depicts a microaggression, we will unpack the harm that can be caused in these moments and how we might attempt to address and repair it. Please note this session will be 75-90 minutes long.

Intended Audience: All FEC attendees

Learning Outcomes: Following this session, participants will:

• Understand what a "call-out" is and why it's an important tool in creating equitable spaces at MSU.
• Understand the difference between "call-outs" and "call-ins" and when they might be appropriate.
• Have tools and strategies for addressing call-outs, whether you are the person doing the call-out, or you are on the receiving end of a call-out.

Core Competencies: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Science of Team Science (Team Collaboration and Communication)

Speakers: Michael O'Rourke, Stephanie Vasko

Description: Collaborative teamwork is a hallmark of today’s modern work environment. However, how to communicate and collaborate on teams are skills that are both not often taught and the key to a team’s success. In this interactive session, we’ll present you with some history and theory of collaboration, including how teams do science and how these teams are studied (known as the science of team science). You’ll learn about why and how teams struggle with communication and ways to enhance your communication and collaboration. We’ll discuss our own experience as members of the Toolbox Dialogue Initiative, a research collaborative that uses philosophical dialogue and co-creation activities in helping teams from different backgrounds learn to communicate and collaborate. Finally, we’ll draw on the work of Hall et al. (2019), and engage in a small group activity focused on developing a collaboration plan with your team.

Intended Audience: Anyone interested in improving their team's ability to more effectively communicate and collaboration.

Learning Outcomes: Learn ways to more effectively communicate and collaborate with teammates.

Core Competencies: Teamwork and Leadership

The Basics of Understanding Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO's)

Speakers: Joe Bixler, Erika Garner

Description: An introductory presentation providing baseline information about Genetically Modified Organisms in our food system. The presentation covers topics of safety, utility, labeling, regulations and identification of the current 13 GMO foods approved in the United States.

Intended Audience: This presentation is valuable for all those who want a basic understanding of GMO's, including HNI PI's

Learning Outcomes: Participants will acquire knowledge about GMO's, the 13 approved currently approved GMO foods and labeling information

Core Competencies: Educational Delivery and Technology Adoption

Handouts: GMO Resource CNI Instructor, GMO Resource Companion

The Jim Crow Museum Virtual Tour

Speakers: Cyndi Tiedt

Description: Join the Jim Crow Museum Educator and Collections Database Administrator, Cyndi Tiedt, as she leads visitors through the Jim Crow Museum via an interactive virtual tour. The museum displays a wide variety of everyday artifacts depicting the history of racist portrayals of African Americans in American popular culture. The Jim Crow Museum says it has amassed the nation's largest public collection of artifacts spanning the segregation era, from Reconstruction until the civil rights movement, and beyond. https://www.ferris.edu/jimcrow/. Please note this session will be 90 minutes long.

Intended Audience: All FEC attendees

Learning Outcomes: "I have a goal to create a room that when people come into that room, it changes the way they talk about race." - Dr. David Pilgrim, Professor of Sociology, Ferris State University; Curator, Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia.

Core Competencies: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Understanding Pre-Award at Michigan State University

Speakers: MSU's Office of Sponsored Programs

Description: Presenters from MSU’s Office of Sponsored programs will discuss their processes for reviewing, interpreting and implementing sponsor and/or institutional rules, regulations or requirements; assisting with proposal preparation by ensuring compliance with university and sponsor policies; identifying potential problems and resolving issues that arise throughout the pre-award lifecycle; submitting proposals as MSU’s Authorized Organizational Representative; negotiating award terms and conditions and executing agreements on behalf of MSU; and communicating with MSU offices to facilitate the proposal and award processes.

Intended Audience: Individuals interested in having a deeper understanding of the grant proposal and submission process at MSU.

Learning Outcomes: Learn more about the pre-award process

Core Competencies: Physical and Fiscal Resources

Working With Support Staff to Promote Your Programs

Speakers: Laura Trombley, Eric Walcott
Panelists: Tonya Barrington, Melissa Burns, Melissa Franklin, Kim Jackson, Kellie Jordan, Janelle Stewart

Description: County Support Staff are a valuable asset in making sure programs reach the audiences they're designed for. Support staff are well connected in the counties they work in and can help staff promote programs to the right local audience. This session will discuss how to communicate with support staff to request support in program promotion, what networks are available, and how support staff can assist educators in the process. Expand your program's reach by connecting with local support staff!

Intended Audience: educators, specialists, support staff

Learning Outcomes:

• Educators/specialists will understand how to best work with local county support staff to promote programs
• Support staff will learn how to connect with work teams to stay up to date on upcoming programs in their community

Core Competencies: Team Work and Leadership; Program Development, Evaluation, and Reporting; Interpersonal and Organizational Professionalism

Handouts: Example Promotion Checklist