Researching Relevant Professional Development Learning Task # 6 - A Presentation of Findings Melinda Re March 1999

My findings are based on feedback from the staff of the University of MN Extension Nutrition Education Programs:

Project Contacts (PCs) - including myself - 6 Nutrition Education Assistants (NEAs) - attended UMES Annual Conference, 2 of which are Cluster 9 staff - 7 Nutrition Education Assistants - Cluster 9 staff - 4

Total - 17

The staff development opportunities that the staff attended and requested for future opportunities fell into 3 main categories:

Subject Matter

This is content information needed to reach and maintain a level of expertise in the field, including nutrition and food safety updates.

Process Information

This is specific information on job tasks and duties needed to reach and maintain a level of expertise for job performance, including data management, supervisory skills, computer proficiency, teaching and presentation skills, and writing skills.

Personal Enrichment

This is information to foster personal development, including humor and stress reduction.

For insights into the professional development attended, refer to Learning Task # 1.

This presentation will focus on the summary of my findings as it relates to the needs/wants of staff concerning future professional development opportunities. (Refer to Learning Tasks # 4 & 5 for more details.) These findings are presented in 6 charts. These charts were developed using MS Excel and were sent directly to Professor Quintero via e-mail attachments. Upon request they will be made available to cohort members.

Type of Professional Development

Staff Subject Matter Job Duties Personal Enrichment PCs 6% 35% 6% NEAs 59% 29% 29%

Format of Professional Development

Staff Seminar Individual Reading PCs 100% 33% 33% NEAs 100% 0 0

Timing of Professional Development

Staff Monthly Quarterly Annually PCs 0 100% 0 NEAs 67% 33% 67%

Length of Professional Development

Staff = - 1 Day 2 -3 Days PCs 50% 50% NEAs 0 100%

Group Size Preferred for Professional Development

Staff Over 20 Under 20 Individual PCs 17% 83% 17% NEAs 50% 100% 17%

Educator of Professional Development

Staff Experts ColleaguesBoth PCs 0 0 100% NEAs 0 33% 67%

My findings show that the majority of the nutrition program staff would prefer to attend a professional development in a small group of under 20 people, led by both experts and colleagues. They would prefer to attend these seminars 4 times per year with a length of 2-3 days each.

I have forwarded this information to the state office of the Nutrition Education Programs for consideration. I will be conscientious of the needs of the NEAs when developing local training directed at them.

-- Anonymous, March 24, 1999

Answers

Any response from the state office of the Nutrition Education Programs? Just curious if you have any way to know if you're being paid attention to!

-- Anonymous, April 23, 1999