1. Learning Resources Survey Summary March, 2009 Deb Ivey Dawn Doperalski

2. Purpose of the Survey To gather input from staff about the needs of their clientele for learning resources – what’s working, what’s not, what additional learning resources may we need, how to provide those – A goal of the 4-H Learning Resources Committee is to provide staff and those we work with access to a variety of high quality, low cost, easy to use learning resources that meet their learning styles and needs.

3. County Participation 45 Counties Responded – 5 counties had more than one response – 11 Responses from the Eastern District – 8 Responses from the Central District

4. Settings in Which 4-H Staff Work 4-H Community Clubs 90% Community Coalitions69% Afterschool Prpgrams59% Community Youth Groups57% Other18% – Classrooms, Teen Court

5. Populations You Would Work With if You Had Appropriate Resources Hispanic Low Income Special Needs Native American At Risk Hmong Amish

6. Reliable Access to the Internet Do most 4-H Families have access to the internet? – Yes65% – No37%

7. Current Project Literature Does current project literature meet the learning needs of your audiences? – Yes44% – No58%

8. Current Project Literature Do volunteers and members use the current literature? – Yes 2 % – Some76% – No24%

9. Volunteers And Project Literature Is training provided to project leaders and parents on how to use the literature? – Yes34% – No68%

10. Reasons Why Literature is Not Used Cost Too complex/ Vague Want a focus on skills/ project content No dedicated project leaders Leaders use own knowledge Does not meet leader or member needs Family needs access to materials

11. Staff Perceptions of Volunteer and Member Literature Preferences Project rich materials Skill based guides Fun, hands on activities Quick, factual project activities Activity sheets

12. Staff Perceptions of Volunteer and Member Literature Preferences Work books/project guides On-line resources – Able to download for a fee – Podcasts or vodcasts – Free on-line materials

13. 4-H Staff Preferences for Literature/Information Web-based79% Activity pages71% Print information60% Electronic/DVD54% Literature Book33% Other – Easy to use hands on activity pages; Kits; Variety of formats

14. Current Project/Topic Resource Needs Cloverbuds97% Vegetables68% Exploring67% Youth Leadership60% Adventures58% House Plants53% Plant Crafts58% Leathercraft50%

15. Other Comments A blended approach of traditional resources and emerging trends will be the key to meeting the needs of the next generation Quality project materials are important for members and leaders. Developing 4-H Learning Resources should be considered in the big picture of state resources and staffing.

16. Questions Should all of Wisconsin 4-H use the same materials? Have we lost our claim to using research based materials? What do we provide for youth who do not have a project leader/adult to work with?

17. Concluding Thoughts What should the Learning Resources Team focus on?