Professional Development for Early Childhood and School Age Providers through Extension: What Exists and How Might We Use it More Effectively?

Have you ever wondered what other states are doing in regards to professional development for early childhood and school age providers? Have you wondered what professional development programming exists through Extension on topics such as nutrition, physical activity, science, brain development, or parenting? Have you thought that surely there must be a program that already exists to teach providers how to (fill in the blank)? If you answered yes to any of these questions, this presentation is for you! Presenters will share results from their 2011 nationwide environmental scan of professional development offered through Extension. The purpose of the environmental scan was to discover what professional development was being offered through Extension to early childhood or school age providers across the nation. A secondary focus was to assess the availability of professional development opportunities for providers who served children (birth-12) from military families, both on and off installation. The presentation will highlight strengths, areas of need, differences between groups (early childhood vs. school age), and share recommendations. You’re invited to join the conversation and help figure out how this information can be used to strengthen what states are already doing and the impact it might have on the national context.

http://www.slideshare.net/JenniferGerdes/extension-professional-development-for-early-childhood-school-age-providers