Breakout Session Descriptions

Breakout Session 1: 9:30 am – 10:45 am

Situational Leadership: How Come People Don’t Always Do What You Ask Them to Do?

David Scheidt, UMaine Human Resources Officer

This session will provide you with the tools to determine the “readiness” of other people (your employees, your colleagues, even your friends, and family members) to do what you want them to do. More importantly, you will also learn how you can adjust your approach and maximize the probability that they will be willing and able to do what you need them to do.

Number of attendees: 1 to 50

David Scheidt is a Human Resources Officer with the University of Maine’s Office of Human Resources. David also serves as the Office’s organizational development and employee education subject matter expert and coordinates the University’s New Employee Orientation program, Supervisor Development Institute, and OHR Skills Academy.

Webtastic! How To Create Effective Web Pages Using the CMS

Cindy Eves-Thomas, UMaine Extension Webmaster

This session will cover the basics of creating and editing Web pages with our WordPress content management system (CMS); legal issues, such as copyright and ADA compliance; how to connect with audiences using best web practices, including “search engine optimization,” which can help move pages to the top of Google’s search lists; and new CMS features, like image galleries, embedded videos, and tools for sharing our Web resources with social networks, to help us reach new audiences and connect more effectively with our existing clients.

As webmaster for the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, Cindy manages UMaine Extension’s intranet and Internet sites and provides leadership for the development and management of the organization’s distributed Web. She works with staff around the state to conceptualize graphic treatments for digital media. She provides training and technical assistance and assures that all of UMaine Extension’s Web pages comply with appropriate policies, guidelines, and laws. Cindy has been with UMaine Extension for 15 years and with the University of Maine for 29 years.

Social Media and Extension

Anne Adrian, eXtension, social media strategist for the Military Families Partnership, which is a Department of Defense Initiative with NIFA and Cooperative Extension

Join us for an introductory informational session around social media. We will define social media, discuss how social media can be used to add value to Extension programming and describe some Extension examples and best practices. Come ready to ask questions and discuss ideas and challenges of social media.

Anne Mims Adrian is the eXtension Social Media Strategist for the Military Families Partnership. Anne holds a doctorate in Management and has worked for Auburn University and Cooperative Extension for 23 years. Most of her online work can be found on her blog — Anne’s Spot, in Twitter — @aafromaa, and in Slideshare. Anne believes that online networks give Cooperative Extension and universities ways to include citizens into collaborative education, opening new opportunities to learn from others and build knowledge with others.

Creating Memorable Learning Experiences

Roger Merchant, UMaine Extension Educator

“Creating Memorable Learning Experiences” will engage participants in a reflective, interactive process which is designed to distill out the base of key elements which constitute memorable learning experiences. While there will be some input of classical information about the role of peak experiences in adult learning, the core purpose is to identify and value those elements which become known via the workshop and address how to integrate them into the program design and delivery process to foster creating memorable-impactful learning experiences.

Number of attendees: 6 – 16

Roger’s career in natural resource management and community development spans decades. His current rural development work though UM Cooperative Extension centers on rural community approaches to cultural heritage and natural resource tourism. Roger’s program base includes; forestry, environmental and outdoor leadership education, organizational and leadership development, home-based businesses, community tourism and economic development. Roger graduated from the University of Maine-College of Forestry in 1965. He managed forestry operations on a 100,000-acre working forest before pursuing graduate studies at West Virginia University-School of Social Work & Community Development in 1974. His licenses include professional forester and NAI Certified Interpretive Guide. Roger is an occasional musician, as well as an accomplished photographer of nature, forests, railroads and rural life.

Using Technology to Connect with Volunteers

Jen Lobley, UMaine Extension Educator for Volunteer Development

Feeling a bit overwhelmed or apprehensive about using technology? In this workshop, we will consider five Internet tools that can help you expand your support to volunteers, identify opportunities to use social media in volunteer engagement, and receive a Personal Online Skill Development Plan.

Jen Lobley has been with Extension for 10 years working directly with the 4-H program in Hancock and Washington Counties as well as acting as the Statewide Program Coordinator for the 4-H program for the past two years. In her new role as Extension Educator for Volunteer Development, she is working to build capacity within our organization across all program areas that engage volunteers by sharing and developing resources, offering workshops and working one-on-one with staff members.

Welcome to the Mac!

Lars Ljungholm, Apple Systems Engineer

Whether you’re new to the Mac, switching from Windows, or just want to learn more about the advantages of using a Mac, this session is for you. We will cover some of the basics like how your Mac is organized, basic navigation, printing, back-up, and a few of the key preferences to get you comfortable. In addition to the general setup, we will also uncover some of the hidden gems built into Mac OS X that make it the most advanced operating system in the world!

Lars Ljungholm, now in his eighth year at Apple, has been working with computers and personal technology for more than two decades. His introduction to the personal computer started with a BASIC programming class in high school, but his interest quickly grew into a passion the first time he used a Macintosh as a freshman in college… an experience he enjoys describing in full detail. For the last 12 years, Lars has been working to help K-12 schools, colleges and universities across New England integrate technology into the learning environment.

Breakout Session 2: 11:00 am – 12:15 pm

eXtension and University of Maine Cooperative Extension

Terry Meisenbach, Communications & Marketing Leader at eXtension
Anne Adrian, Social Media Strategist at eXtension (moderating)

This session will provide an update of eXtension and allow staff the ability to see how they can contribute and use its resources to assist in their work. Topics covered will include: Overview of eXtension, ways programming staff and/or staff can utilize (ex. Frequently Asked Questions), as well as communities of practice.

Terry Meisenbach is eXtension’s Communications & Marketing Leader and is responsible for all aspects of internal and external communications for the initiative. Prior to this role, he served for nearly eight years as the Communications Director for USDA’s Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) now the National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Before joining the Federal government, Meisenbach was at the University of Nebraska for 18 years where he served as an Extension communications specialist and publishing coordinator within Communications & Information Technology. Meisenbach has a Masters degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in Journalism and a Bachelors degree in Journalism from Kearney (NE) State College.

Creating Capacity — One Meeting at a Time

Jane Haskell, UMaine Extension Educator

We have all been in meetings we cannot get out of fast enough. Yet, we live in a world where groups are expected to produce results in collaboration with others. Sometimes we are placed in a facilitation role that is not easy, where the concept of facilitation (and collaboration) are loosely used and understood. We courageously navigate meetings; some with skills, some do not, some have had the training, some have been haphazardly trained with information we have assembled in our own group management toolkits. When we train to strengthen our group and facilitation skills, we gain confidence and credibility and move to become a model for leadership and community involvement that will influence choices and decisions. Our strengthened capacity will build the capacity in others to bring about change that any one of us could never achieve alone. In this short, interactive workshop, you’ll be introduced to basic group facilitation tools to influence your work as it ripples throughout the community. Techniques, tools, and methods that may be introduced: use of objectives and an agenda, use of openers and closings, working agreements, the world cafe method, stages of group development. Participatory processes via the Strengthening Your Facilitation Skills, Level 1 curriculum will demonstrate the learning.

Number of attendees: 12 – 36

Jane brings over 20 years of experience in the design and implementation of experiential community development programs for youth and adults. Over the years, she has launched several innovative Extension programs, from Voices, a school-based enrichment program for teens, to the Mid-Coast Home-Based Business Conference, the first statewide conference for home-based business owners in Maine, to producing and hosting Doing Business, a live, public affairs radio show. As a result of her community facilitation work, her latest innovation is the collaborative creation of Strengthening Your Facilitation Skills, Levels 1 and 2. The Training Series is designed to help local citizens, as well as professional staff, learn how to get work done more effectively and efficiently in group meetings. Strengthening Your Facilitation Skills, Level 1 has been used to train hundreds of volunteers and staff from over 30 organizations in Maine and is now being used to train new Extension staff as well as citizens in other states. It has been identified as a curriculum by the National 4-H Learning Priorities to Build Effective Organizational Systems. Jane is working collaboratively to research the societal impact of having skilled community facilitators, Extension customers’ perception of focus groups, and meeting the learning styles of New England’s fishermen. She is a member of the International Association of Facilitators and the National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals.

Universal Design Strategies: Reaching Everyone!

Tina Passman (Kristina Passmann Nielson), Associate Professor of Classical Languages and Literature

This presentation will provide a brief overview of Universal Design principles, showing how planning inclusion and access from the start of a project assures greater participation and clear communication of your message. After the overview, the bulk of the presentation will concentrate upon accessibility and inclusive practices for online teaching. Discussion and questions are welcome at any point, and handouts and resources will be provided.

Number of attendees: 7 – 25

Tina Passman is an Associate Professor of Classical Languages and Literature and a pioneer in the delivery of online and distance education. She began offering online courses in the early ‘90s and has developed programs and courses for online and distance delivery using a variety of course management systems. She is currently investigating Second Life and other VR platforms for accessible and inclusive delivery of distance education.

Introduction to Google Apps for Managing Documents, Calendars, and Groups!

Matt Graham, Lecturer of MIS-Maine Business School & IT Trainer — Faculty Development Center

This training will cover all the basics of working with three cool Google applications. In this hour and a half workshop, participants will learn how to use

Google Docs for document sharing and real-time collaboration on documents
Forms within Google Docs for doing quick polls of your students
Participants will learn how to use the Google Calendar and share it with others for meetings and appointment scheduling
Participants will learn how to set up a Google Group for use in virtual teams

Matt Graham, a Ph.D. candidate, is a faculty member at the UMaine Business School and has considerable experience teaching Management information systems, database design and development, MS Office software and other computer applications at UMaine and other colleges and universities over the last six years. Matt is IC3 (Internet and Computing Core) Certified and an IC3 Authorized Instructor. Matt has also recently been designated an MS Office 2010 Subject Matter Expert (SME) for the MS Office 2010 suite. With this designation, he has assisted Certiport, a Microsoft certification organization, in the development of certification exams for the MS Excel 2010, MS PowerPoint, and MS Word 2010.

Thinking & Learning — Do You Know Your Style?

Cathy Elliott, Jon Prichard, Leslie Forstadt, UMaine Extension Faculty

Each of us has a “natural” style for how we gather and process information from the world around us; are you concrete or abstract, random or sequential? Using the Gregoric Style Delineator, you will determine your personal preferences and what that can tell you about how you go about your work and your interactions with others. Knowing your style, you will better appreciate your strengths and challenges, and those of people with other styles. Join us and explore how that can be helpful, at work and at home.

Cathy Elliott, Leslie Forstadt, and Jon Prichard are Extension faculty members with a combined 50 years of experience at UMaine. Cathy is our Sustainable Living and Wildlife Specialist, Leslie is our Child and Family Development Specialist, and Jon is an Extension Educator in 4H Youth Development and Community Leadership. They each love facilitating groups of people who are interested in learning more about themselves and how that helps them work better in groups. They enjoyed meshing their individual learning styles to work together on this presentation — can you guess who prefers which style?

Welcome to the Mac!

Lars Ljungholm, Apple Systems Engineer