231 Podcasting as an Extension Tool: Limitations and Opportunities

Abstract

Abstract Extension challenges today include prompts for increased consideration for online platforms for educational content programming to best reach young producers about the latest discoveries in terms of production agriculture. Because of these challenges, research was conducted to evaluate the use of podcasts as an Extension tool. For the purposes of this research, a mixed methods approach was utilized to collect both quantitative and qualitative data. Two separate surveys were written for the purposes of this study, and both were housed on the survey platform Qualtrics (Version 2022, Provo, Utah, U.S.). Of the two surveys regarding perspectives towards podcasting as a Cooperative Extension System (CES) tool, one was written for data collection from CES personnel, and the other was written for the purposes of collecting data from CES stakeholders. Both surveys were reviewed for validity by expert panels consisting of graduate students, university faculty, and CES personnel. Before survey recruitment, survey materials were provided to the Auburn University Institutional Review Board, and study #21-438 was considered exempt. Participant recruitment took place through email and data analyses used SPSS to conduct descriptive statistics and frequencies. Results included perspectives of personnel towards podcasts, the status of use for their work, and viewpoints of stakeholders and current use of already available Extension podcasts. A total of 50% of extension personnel responded that they had not thought of using a podcast to disseminate information and 22% said their priorities lie elsewhere. While the potential for podcast modalities is great, results indicated diverse views, varied levels of podcast understanding, plans for adoption, and perceived barriers for use of podcasts in Extension.