Using Turning Point for Program Evaluation and Impact Reporting.

Evaluation and impact reporting is an important part of an effective Extension program. For evaluation to be beneficial, it must be simple, involve the majority of participants, and focus on education, program goals and objectives. TurningPoint®, or Turning technology, is an audience response system that uses PowerPoint and “clickers” to transmit participant responses quickly and effortlessly into a data set that instantly display data in graphic format. This is a great method to quickly get valuable feedback in a fun and effective method. In my wireworm project, the goal is to have farmers identify wireworms, identify wireworm crop damage and scout. Administration and stakeholders want to know levels of knowledge and behavioral changes. In my grower meeting presentations, regardless of topic, I ask five questions; have you heard me talk wireworms (yes or no), what is your knowledge level regarding wireworm control (Likert scale 1-7), can you identify wireworms (yes, no, or maybe), can you identify wireworm damage (yes, no, or maybe), and do you scout for wireworms (yes, no, or maybe). In 2015 I asked these questions at five producer meetings with 200 people attending. I had 78% participation. As a result for my wireworm project goals, I know 65% can identify wireworms, 49% can identify wireworm damage, and 47% scout for wireworms. This tells me I have reached my target and can focus on control and less on identification and scouting, making my wireworm presentations more meaningful. For administration and stakeholders the data is divided into two groups; those who have heard me (51%) and those who have not (49%). I can conclude that those who have heard me are 31% more knowledgeable regarding wireworm control, 45% more capable of identifying wireworms, 28% more of capable identifying wireworm damage, and 22% are more likely to scout for wireworms.