Designing Social-Ecological Programs to Support Extension Participants in Civic Engagement

Authors

Angela S. Gupta, University of MinnesotaFollow
Nathan Meyer, University of MinnesotaFollow
Michelle Prysby, Virginia TechFollow
Shelly A. Johnson, University of FloridaFollow
Gail Epping Overholt, University of Wisconsin-Madison ArboretumFollow

Volume

61

Issue

3

DOI

10.34068/joe.61.03.14

Abstract

To address a need to support volunteer and citizen engagement with decision-makers in addressing social-ecological challenges, we designed and tested a “flipped classroom” training to teach civic engagement processes in the context of invasive species management. We pilot-tested the curriculum in seven states. Using results from in-course and delayed surveys, we demonstrate that participants increased their capabilities for engaging decision-makers and took civic engagement actions related to invasive species issues. Although participant recruitment and retention were lower than expected, the overall results suggest that the training approach is an effective design for satisfying participant needs and achieving learning outcomes.

Creative Commons License

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Recommended Citation

Gupta, A. S., Meyer, N., Prysby, M., Johnson, S. A., & Epping Overholt, G. (2024). Designing Social-Ecological Programs to Support Extension Participants in Civic Engagement. The Journal of Extension, 61(3), Article 14. https://doi.org/10.34068/joe.61.03.14