Evaluation Notes: Session Two, Understanding - International Extension Training Program 2003-2004

Participatory Evaluation of Session II: Understanding

The objective of the Internationalizing Extension Training Program 2003-2004 is to internationalize University of Florida IFAS Extension professional development and institutional building. While you have been defined as the “learning team” of this project, we also hope to learn from you. This training session is to serve you and we look forward to a two-way exchange of knowledge throughout the program. We value your expertise and are interested in your feedback in order to best adapt the sessions to your needs as we proceed.

 

Please fill out these few questions. (Answers will remain anonymous.) A discussion will follow.

1. Do you feel that the program organizers value and have responded to your feedback?

  • 6 responses of: "yes" with no other comment.
  • Yes.  It was nice to see the coffee and better chairs
  • Yes. I really appreciated the language training
  • Yes. There were refreshments, more comfortable chairs, some Spanish, etc.
  • Yes-Dr. Pete Vergot: very good logistics
  • Definitely.  Great group
  • Definitely & it is appreciated

2. Has the session addressed issues that are important to you?

  • 7 responses of: "yes" with no other comment.
  • Yes, I feel I am more “culturally prepared” for what to expect while there
  • For the most part.  You all have done a GREAT job putting all of this together
  • Yes, food and water precautions, insects-mosquitoes, ticks, fleas; health: Malaria, what it is, and the disease caused by the parasite
  • Yes, I would have enjoyed an interactive Spanish lesion forcing participants to interact in Spanish

3. Are the speakers and style of delivery effective? Why or why not?

  • All presenters have done a superb job.  Information has been well explained
  • Yes  -Yes, more informal but this makes sense since the group is becoming more comfortable with each other
  • Yes, informal
  • The most effective presentations used pictures and personal experience—helps me imagine being there
  • Yes-good mix of people who have different perspectives and backgrounds to share and that help us prepare for the trip experience
  • Yes-hometown boy “Daniel very good” and Karen was very good on health care
  • Yes.  Because they are  speaking from the foundation of vast and informed experience.  Additionally, we were exposed to people from Costa Rica themselves and made for a nice connection.
  • Yes   -Very
  • Yes, but I find after Session I that my time becomes dearer so I’d prefer to condense things into a more focused, shorter session

4.  What has been particularly effective/positive about Session II?

  • Presenters sharing experiences they have had in Costa Rica
  • Mickie Swisher’s presentation/ appreciate the facilitation of vaccinations
  • The speakers focusing on “country” issues.  Personal experiences, getting to know the other participants better
  • More focused on particulars about the trip itself
  • language training, hearing from people who have been to Costa Rica and EARTH: Steffany, Daniel, B.K., and Mickie
  • The mix of speakers and presenters
  • “Stakeholder” farmers, and EARTH University
  • Medical information, exposure to goals and objectives of CALS with regard to globalization initiatives, contact with the Costa Rican Consulate, and the better facility (McCarty vs. Reitz)
  • Areas of interest discussions
  • Information about campus programs so we can answer people’s questions
  • Mickie Swisher and Daniel—real life people.  Erika is also a great resource..thanks a lot!

5.  What did you dislike about Session II?

  • 2 no answers
  • language terms to know
  • parking
  • I couldn’t be there the whole time
  • vaccines
  • some participants not respecting the schedule
  • the discussion of the polycom tech—what did this have to do with our trip??
  • some of the presenters from UF/IFAS were too abstract, covering UF stuff which is somewhat irrelevant to most of us.  Miskie Swisher and Jane Luzar presentations could have been combined.  B.K. Singh needed more direction.  Fill the day more, shorten up the number of days
  • I wish it could have been held a week earlier in the semester.  As a student, I am beginning to get busy
  • nada

6.  Were your concerns or personal questions, opinions, and comments being heard and addressed during this session?

  • 7 "Yes" responses
  • For the most part
  • It seems like we keep changing things-like our final meeting time.  I understand the need for flexibility but we also need to be able to plan—need some firm dates/times
  • Yes, thanks to the program organizers
  • no answer

7. Do you feel adequately prepared for the international extension experience in Costa Rica? How or how not?

  • 3 "Yes" responses
  • no answer
  • appreciate the information in brief form about history and culture
  • Yes.  I understand my role in the experience on a deeper level
  • Definitely; good reviews of what we’ll see, what facilities are like, what to pack, etc.
  • No, but you have done the best you can.  This is a REALLY good way to introduce the capability of international extension work those who have never done it before
  • Yes, but we shall see!
  • Need to improve on my Spanish
  • Sure

8. Do you feel confident about what is expected of you and your assignments in Costa Rica?

  • 6 "Yes" responses
  • No response
  • Not completely
  • Probably an 8 out of 10.  I am still a little uncertain what will be expected of us in some situations, especially governmental situations like with the legislature
  • OK
  • Absolutely

9. Are there any other topics that you would like to have addressed?

  • 4 no answer
  • Business opportunities.  Import/Export potentials.  Trade mission information.  Logistics database
  • More information on the Costa Rican people and culture
  • Really looking forward to the follow-up, how to do more stuff in the future-maybe not even in Costa Rica.  Highlight some follow-up opportunities for us
  • A list of what to pack
  • 3 "no" responses

10. ANY other comments that might help the future sessions be more effective?

  • 3 no answer
  • 2 no responses
  • we should try to organize lunch together
  • UF stuff is OK, but UF programs should be down-played –focus more on the how and why-this could easily be done with only 1 3-day session before the trip.  There is much wasted time and much of the UF presentations took entirely too long, concerning stuff of interest to the presenter, but much of it irrelevant to us (their audience).  Overall, the whole set of 2 sessions really needs to be tightened up and drop some stuff
  • I feel like we all realize we are going to Costa Rica to learn from the people there, but we all might need to be reminded that we can learn from each other as well. Sometimes, I got the impression that certain group members felt they couldn’t learn anything from the rest of us
  • Would like to have seen a more concrete schedule for out time in Costa Rica
  • no answer
  • More participation from the State Department: to be aware of their initiatives in order to piggy back on previous efforts.  –Awareness to insure we do not negate official efforts- need a broader, more holistic view to maximize returns from expenditures of time and resources
  • create a list of what to pack so it is in one handout