Voices From the Field

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Voices From the Field

• Nancy D. Schaff
• June 13, 2007

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Voices
National Conference Volunteer and Staff
Workshop National Conference Youth
Workshop SET Liaison Training Youth Focus
Group National 4-H Curriculum Survey Open-Ended
Questions
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Five Common Themes

• Technology
• Accessibility
• Format
• Content
• Networking

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Five Common Themes
Technology Integrate technology more
effectively with curriculum delivery. Youth
Podcasts, 4-H TV shows Adults Online trainings,
CDs
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Five Common Themes
Accessibility Make curricula and trainings more
accessible. Youth Curricula easily available
directly to them Adults Deliver more rapidly to
system
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Five Common Themes
Format Revise curriculum format to be easier to
use. Youth More exciting, colorful, less like
a textbook Adults Easy to use, pack and go
kits, core content with tips to adapt to multiple
delivery modes
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Five Common Themes
Content Revise curriculum content to be better
suited for older youth. Adults and Youth More
in-depth content for older youth Adults
Continue to focus on Experiential Learning Model
and life skill development
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Five Common Themes
Networking Share expertise and knowledge
between states and youth. Youth Blogs, online
communities Adults National directory of
resources
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National 4-H Curriculum Survey
When thinking about national 4-H curriculum
products, what in your view would be MOST helpful
in your work with local youth?

• 720 responses!
• By a margin of almost 2 to 1, the 1 comment
  was the need for relevant and updated
  content.
• Other consistent comments were the need to make
  the curricula user- friendly, appealing, with
  lots of activities, and at a low cost.

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National 4-H Curriculum Survey
When thinking about national 4-H curriculum
products, what do you find about the current
products that is NOT helpful in your work with
local youth?

• 667 responses!
• Similar responses as with the previous question
  current curricula is NOT helpful because it is
  not relevant, not easy to use or appealing and
  is too expensive.

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Summary
The focus groups support what we have heard in
the National 4-H Curriculum Survey we need to
update the curricula, make it relevant to todays
youth, easy to use for our volunteers, and keep
the cost low.