1. Commitment to Extension’s Mission: the Role of Continual Learning Maxwell H. Mayeaux, Ph.D. Aquaculture Program Specialist Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service United States Department of Agriculture Washington, DC

2. Extension’s Mission Educational programs Educational programs Timely Timely Relevant Relevant Science-based information Science-based information Help people change!

3. We are Extension Professionals Committed to providing the latest science-based research findings to our clientele Committed to providing the latest science-based research findings to our clientele Producers, processors, marketing agencies, consumers, commodity organizations, environmental groups; policy makers, etc. Producers, processors, marketing agencies, consumers, commodity organizations, environmental groups; policy makers, etc.

4. Personal Commitment to Aquaculture Why did you get into aquaculture? Why did you get into aquaculture? Do you believe in the future of aquaculture development? Do you believe in the future of aquaculture development? Do you believe that aquaculture will help feed the hungry of the world? Do you believe that aquaculture will help feed the hungry of the world? Do you believe that aquaculture will help relieve some of the pressures off of threatened, wild fisheries resources? Do you believe that aquaculture will help relieve some of the pressures off of threatened, wild fisheries resources? Do you believe in aquaculture? Do you believe in aquaculture? Why? Why?

5. Personal Commitment to the Extension Mission Extension mission more important that ever? Extension mission more important that ever? Does helping people make you feel good about yourself? Does helping people make you feel good about yourself? Just a job or is it a “passion”? Just a job or is it a “passion”? “What do I get out of this?“ “What do I get out of this?“ Do you believe that you are an agent of change? Do you believe that you are an agent of change? Are you comfortable with your role and responsibilities as an agent of change? Are you comfortable with your role and responsibilities as an agent of change? Reassess your chosen profession because the American people deserve better. Reassess your chosen profession because the American people deserve better.

6. Soul Searching Passion for the work. Passion for the work. Continual learning for the Extension professional as important as providing information and technology transfer to and for our customers Continual learning for the Extension professional as important as providing information and technology transfer to and for our customers Continual learning for the Extension professional is at the very heart of the Extension mission. Continual learning for the Extension professional is at the very heart of the Extension mission. Continual learning latest innovations and techniques in educational program content and delivery. Continual learning latest innovations and techniques in educational program content and delivery. Time, funding, and, more importantly, EFFORT Time, funding, and, more importantly, EFFORT

7. Sir Winston Churchill “Personally, I’m always ready to learn, although I do not always like being taught”

8. We are Leaders We are in a leadership role We are in a leadership role We are agents of change We are agents of change Take the initiative to learn the newest, latest technologies and information Take the initiative to learn the newest, latest technologies and information Rework it into the proper format Rework it into the proper format Deliver in a timely, appropriate, and professional manner Deliver in a timely, appropriate, and professional manner

9. Leadership Competencies Team Building Team Building Political Savvy Political Savvy Flexibility Flexibility Human Resources Management Human Resources Management Resilience Resilience Vision Vision Interpersonal Skills Interpersonal Skills Conflict Management Conflict Management among others among others

10. Continual Learning Changing society with changing societal values Changing society with changing societal values Changing and new technological innovations Changing and new technological innovations Changing domestic and world political climates Changing domestic and world political climates Changing personal views relative to a changing world around us Changing personal views relative to a changing world around us Some societal values require long periods of time to change Some societal values require long periods of time to change Others are forced to change abruptly, such as those values changed by the tragedy of 9/11. Others are forced to change abruptly, such as those values changed by the tragedy of 9/11.

11. How do we do this? No prescribed methodology No prescribed methodology Personal decision Personal decision Time constraints Time constraints Budgetary concerns Budgetary concerns Clientele Clientele

12. Personal Extension Paradigm Don’t just become a subject matter specialist, become a people specialist. Don’t just become a subject matter specialist, become a people specialist. Without the necessary skills to reach the desired clientele, our educational programs can only focus upon content and we could miss the “people” component of program delivery. Without the necessary skills to reach the desired clientele, our educational programs can only focus upon content and we could miss the “people” component of program delivery.

13. We are Agents of Change Subject matter specialists Subject matter specialists Employed to deliver technical information to our clientele because of our education and expertise. Employed to deliver technical information to our clientele because of our education and expertise. We must stay current with these technological changes. We must stay current with these technological changes. This is inherently obvious. However, since we are all agents of change, we need to value continual learning. This is inherently obvious. However, since we are all agents of change, we need to value continual learning. Takes time, energy, and funding to become more knowledgeable and skillful as an agent of change Takes time, energy, and funding to become more knowledgeable and skillful as an agent of change We need to make it personal. We need to make it personal.

14. What can we do? Request from your supervisors to take classes that will enable you to do your job better Request from your supervisors to take classes that will enable you to do your job better Take courses in leadership skills Take courses in leadership skills Learn how to get your clientele interested and excited about new things, new ideas, new technologies, and new paradigms Learn how to get your clientele interested and excited about new things, new ideas, new technologies, and new paradigms Learn how to convince your clientele that it is in their best interest to keep up with these rapidly changing times. Learn how to convince your clientele that it is in their best interest to keep up with these rapidly changing times. Learn how to pull people together and avoid conflict to work on a common issue; this takes special skills. Learn how to pull people together and avoid conflict to work on a common issue; this takes special skills. Learn how to motivate, not just educate! Learn how to motivate, not just educate!

15. Antoine de St. Exupery “If you want to build a ship, then don’t drum up men to gather wood, give orders, and divide the work. Rather, teach them to yearn for the far and endless sea”.

16. Program Delivery Analyze – define the learning objective Analyze – define the learning objective Design – plan a strategy for developing the instruction Design – plan a strategy for developing the instruction Develop – develop instruction and materials Develop – develop instruction and materials Implement – provide the instruction Implement – provide the instruction Evaluate – measure the success in terms of learning outcomes Evaluate – measure the success in terms of learning outcomes

17. Continual Learning Comes in Many Forms Formal training Formal training Spend time with others who are competent at a skill you are interested in acquiring Spend time with others who are competent at a skill you are interested in acquiring Take on a challenging special assignment Take on a challenging special assignment Recruit a mentor Recruit a mentor Serve as a mentor for others Serve as a mentor for others

18. Continual Learning Comes in Many Forms Read books, articles, and other materials dealing with leadership skills Read books, articles, and other materials dealing with leadership skills Go out to lunch with someone with these skills Go out to lunch with someone with these skills Ask others around you for feedback to learn how you are doing in a particular leadership skill area Ask others around you for feedback to learn how you are doing in a particular leadership skill area Socialize with a goal in mind Socialize with a goal in mind

19. Continual Learning Comes in Many Forms Arrange a detail in another part of the organization or another agency or non- profit organization to gain experience Arrange a detail in another part of the organization or another agency or non- profit organization to gain experience Subscribe to a publication that covers an area with which you have not had previous exposure or experience. Subscribe to a publication that covers an area with which you have not had previous exposure or experience. Try a new skill in a volunteer organization Try a new skill in a volunteer organization

20. Continual Learning Comes in Many Forms Conduct interviews with professionals in unfamiliar disciplines to gain knowledge Conduct interviews with professionals in unfamiliar disciplines to gain knowledge Work the net Work the net Spend time looking for information pertaining to your clientele Spend time looking for information pertaining to your clientele Join Listservs and discussion groups Join Listservs and discussion groups Sign up for E-Newsletters Sign up for E-Newsletters

21. Journal of Extension It’s FREE!

22. Why is Extension Important Today? Change is at the heart of the Extension mission. Change is at the heart of the Extension mission. Extension professionals are public servants and the American people are better-served by a knowledgeable Extension professional who is better-able to anticipate change. Extension professionals are public servants and the American people are better-served by a knowledgeable Extension professional who is better-able to anticipate change. Avoid stagnation and embrace change. Avoid stagnation and embrace change. Embracing complacency reduces our competency as Extension professionals and our role as agents of change becomes moot. Embracing complacency reduces our competency as Extension professionals and our role as agents of change becomes moot.

23. Take Personal Responsibility Competency in this role is imperative. Competency in this role is imperative. Our employers expect it Our employers expect it Our country deserves it! Our country deserves it!

24. They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself Andy Warhol (1928 – 1987)