National Extension Water Outreach Education
Changing Public Behavior
Content redirected from https://fyi.extension.wisc.edu/wateroutreach/
Facilitating Access to Resources and Best Practices
Increase Citizen Involvement Using Target Audience Information
The water outreach web resource introduces two initiatives conducted by the University of Wisconsin, 1996 – 2012, and developed in collaboration with multiple partners and funded primarily by the United States Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension program office.
Water Outreach Education tools and techniques aid natural resource professionals and agencies realize their water management goals. Changing Public Behavior focuses on the application of social science tools to enhance the education process.
Project outputs build on original research and previous University of Wisconsin initiatives to improve the quality of outreach education for a variety of audiences whose actions affect the quality of water.
Outreach educators build skills to choose the most effective methods to meet specific goals. Educators consider:
- Community and audience of interest
- Consultative vs collaborative teaching & learning
- Problem-solving emphasis
- Focus on identified skills & barriers
- Short-term vs long-term change
These pages summarize research, activities and key projects for enhancing outreach educator effectiveness. Learning guides and training resources will be available in a document soon. Watch this space!
Use Best Education Practices to plan an effective natural resources outreach strategy.
Resource and research examples focus on water:
- Connect the situation with the people
- Choose achievable goals
- Select relevant outreach techniques
- Get measurable results
Water Outreach: Project summary
Water Outreach: Building the case for value
Water Outreach: Organizing a system for access
Use social assessment resources to design a natural resources outreach initiative with measurable impacts:
- Become familiar with the “community of interest”
- Define and assess the target audience
- Actively engage the target audience in planning
Changing Public Behavior: Project summary
Changing Public Behavior: Tools
Changing Public Behavior: Impacts