Source: ALASKA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE submitted to
DISTANCE DELIVERY OF FOOD SAFETY, FOOD PREPARATION, AND NUTRITION INFORMATION IN ALASKA
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
TERMINATED
Funding Source
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0200298
Grant No.
2004-45066-03027
Project No.
ALK-04-06
Proposal No.
2004-06283
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Program Code
VH
Project Start Date
Sep 15, 2004
Project End Date
Sep 14, 2007
Grant Year
2004
Project Director
Dinstel, R. R.
Recipient Organization
ALASKA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE
PO BOX 756180
FAIRBANKS,AK 99775
Performing Department
COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE
Non Technical Summary
The challenge for Alaskas CES staff is to reach a widely dispersed population over a large geographic area. This project uses videoconferencing, webcast, and a library of digital audio visual files to deliver food safety, preparation, and nutrition information to rural areas of Alaska.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
100%
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
5035010302033%
7035010302033%
9035010303034%
Goals / Objectives
Alaska Cooperative Extension Service (CES) proposes to develop a video conferencing network to deliver home economics educational programming to rural communities. Programming will be in food safety, preparation, and nutrition. The programming will build upon CES experience in food preservation and preparation, Expanded Food and Nutrition Education programming, and food safety. The organization has extensive experience delivering home economics programming through workshops and in printed publications. Radio and television have also been used as media to deliver programming. The challenge facing CES is the states large size and widely dispersed nature of its rural populations. Video conferencing has the capability to place a virtual extension Educator in sites that may not be able to regularly receive home economics programming in food safety, preparation, and nutrition. Besides delivering live broadcasts of home economics programming, the project will produce digital video files that will be edited into a library of learning modules for rebroadcast and as streaming video materials accessible via CES website.
Project Methods
Alaska Cooperative Extension will develop a two-way interactive videoconferencing network to deliver home economics programs to field sites that serve rural and underserved communities. The organization will also develop a library of digital audio-visual home economics programming that can be delivered over the video conferencing network and be available as web streaming files accessible to anyone with Internet access and the appropriate web-based equipment and software. These two telecommunications will enable CES to more effectively deliver important food safety, food preparation, and nutrition information to people living in rural and underserved Alaskan communities.The two-way interactive video equipment will be placed at five field offices located at regional hubs that serve Nome, Bethel, Soldotna, Delta Junction, and Palmer regions. A sixth site will be located at CES' state office to facilitate the delivery of programming to the field sites. The availability of videoconferencing equipment at CES' field offices will facilitate better communication between field staff and specialists and be a useful tool for delivering professional development training to home economics field staff. The food safety, food preparation, and nutrition modules will build on programming developed by CES home economists and EFNEP nutrition educators. The content of the modules will focus on food safety, food preparation, and nutrition issues unique to Alaska's population, including Native Alaskans; its indigenous foodstuffs (e.g. wild berries and game meat); and the natural environment.

Progress 09/15/04 to 09/14/07

Outputs
OUTPUTS: The products list is a springboard on our efforts to expand the different types of media available from Alaska Cooperative Extension. We have always had written materials based on research done by our specialists and those from other Cooperative Extension Services across the nation. However, for those individuals who had difficulty reading, were not able to attend hands on classes, or simply learned better from another method, there was nothing available for them from Alaska Cooperative Extension. Other states had some Internet offerings in food preservation, but they didn't target the products we were preserving here in Alaska. This grant has allowed us to produce 3 DVDs with 7 lessons: Canning Basics, Canning Game Meat and Fish, Canning Game Meat and Fish in Cans. There are 8 corresponding Internet modules on each of these lessons. We have filmed 7 more lessons that will be formatted into 3 DVDs. We will continue this series on another grant with 8 more lessons currently planned. The DVD format was chosen to give a more permanent method of accessing the same information. Both the DVDs and the Internet modules include a variety of teaching methods including high resolution photographs, video clips, and sound bytes. We want our clientele to have the process completely explained so they have no hesitancies in dealing with the preservation of products available here in Alaska. Both the DVD and the modules have an "Ask an Expert" section that connects to CES offices for further information. Online, that message comes to the state office, but a list of local office phone numbers are included if callers prefer to call locally. The DVDs have a list of local offices and the website for CES. The DVDs are currently distributed through the CES publications office. We are producing a website that will show the learning modules and provide an opportunity for clients to order the DVDs. We are investigating other opportunities for distribution through the can sealer company and as an added enclosure with new canners shipped to rural areas of Alaska. There has been a concentrated effort to learn the skills necessary to produce the DVDs and internet modules by the Home, Health, and Family Development staff. The filming technician has training both formally and informally. Those of us most familiar with the subject matter have no formal training in this area. We have "learned by doing". We can now create scripts, deliver the content in the DVD, edit the material, and promote the final product. Though we are far from proficient in these areas, we are much more comfortable in performing the skills. We will continue to use the skills in filming the rest of the series. PARTICIPANTS: Dinstel, Roxie Rodgers: Principle Investigator. Ms. Dinstel oversees all aspects of the project. She participates in subject area selection for the lessons. Ms. Dinstel participates in the script writing process, focusing on production of an initial draft, and oversees filming, at times appearing as the host of selected module video productions. Ms. Dinstel also creates content for the web based modules. Koukel, Dr. Sonja D assists in the subject area selection process. She also participates in the script writing process focusing primarily on editing scripts for content and grammar. She also appears as the host of selected module video productions. Dr. Koukel participates in the creation of the web based modules and is intimately involved in the process of editing each module for content. Cascio, Julie M assists in the subject area selection process. She also participates in the script writing process focusing primarily on editing scripts for content and grammar. She also appears as the host of selected module video productions. Ms. Cascio participates in the creation of the web based modules and is intimately involved in the process of editing each module for content. Rinio, Tyson: Program Assistant. Mr. Rinio assists in all aspects of the project. He participates in the script writing process, focusing on the initial development of scripts through data collection and organization. Mr. Rinio is responsible for reporting the grants progress to interested agencies. Mr. Rinio ensures that the grants goals are reached in accordance with the grant proposal. Collaborators - Center for Distance Education, University of Alaska Fairbanks: The CDE has supplied experts in web page design and management for the creation of the web based component of this project. The web based content that has been completed is currently hosted on CDE's web servers, until such time as it can be migrated to Cooperative Extension Services own servers. Cooperative Extension Service Communications, University of Alaska Fairbanks: The Communications Department of CES has supplied us with a media technician to assist with and oversee the production of the digital video disk recordings. Additionally they have supplied us with camera equipment and personnel to film the video component of each DVD, the technical expertise and personnel to review and edit the raw footage into a useable format and the publication equipment to produce finished DVD's ready for consumption by the general public. TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audience consists of all persons in Alaska, both urban and rural who produce and/or preserve their own food. While urban residents of the state have greater access to regularly held CES food preservation classes, rural residents of Alaska do not. Due to the size of Alaska and related expenses incurred traveling through the state, it has proven impossible to reach all of the people Extension Service personnel would like to reach in a given year. These distance delivery modules, accessible via the World Wide Web, and as DVD video lessons will be used to reach those difficult-to-reach communities. These communities are predominantly populated by Alaska Native people. Additionally, the DVD's will be focused on delivering materials to those persons who have low literacy levels. These populations have been underserved due to the predominance of printed materials available through Cooperative Extension Service. The distance delivery focus of this grant is specifically designed to impart scientifically researched methods of safe home food preservation to the target audience. The deliverables produced by this project are in the form of several internet based, interactive web modules, DVD recordings and CD-ROM's which contain the web based material for those persons who do not have regular internet access, but do have a home computer.

Impacts
Food preservation is a way of life for many Alaskans. They harvest moose, berries, fish and other wild products to add to their daily diet. It is necessary for them to preserve these Alaskan foods so they are a wholesome, nutritious addition to their family meals. In all areas of Alaska, food at the grocery stores are expensive due to high shipping costs, sometimes more than twice the cost of buying the same foods in the contiguous United States. Being able to add these Alaskan foods to the family menu allows families to keep their food bills down. However, to add these foods to our menus, it must be preserved in a manner to retain high quality and nutrition. We have excellent written information that has been produced based on USDA research and our own research here in Alaska. Expansion to the internet is a natural outgrowth of our written materials. Though we are a very rural state, we are the most Internet connected state in the nation with 99.5% of all communities connected to the Web. In an effort to reach people who have difficulty reading English, or for those persons that learn better from a picture rather than the written word, we decided to transfer these lessons into DVDs and internet learning modules. Additionally, given Alaska's large geographic area, it is impossible for CES agents to reach all communities of the state in any given year to personally teach lessons. It is our hope that these DVD and internet lessons may help bring our programs to communities throughout the state in years we are not able to travel and visit them in person. One of the most important DVD/modules produced is Canning in Cans. Though we use cans extensively here in Alaska for food preservation, they are not available in other parts of the United States. The lesson content was based on research conducted by Dr. Kristy Long, food technology specialist from the State office. This information is unique to Alaska and is not available from any other CES. In addition, the lesson on Assembling and Adjusting a can sealer contains information so detailed and of such an excellent quality that the manufacturer of the can sealers refers customers to our publications. Currently, instructional DVDs are marketed to rural Alaska Extension clientele in lieu of workshops, or hands-on learning activities, or as follow-up instruction. Clients who contact CES for information on canning processes are receptive to the DVDs. As more products are distributed and utilized, Extension will be able to assess the impact from those who practice home canning for food preservation. Health advocates who partner with Alaska Extension professionals have acquired the newly released DVDs to use as training aids in food safety and food preservation programs. These advocates work in rural and remote areas in Alaska where there is no Extension educator and travel can be restrictive (i.e., weather, lack of infrastructure). It is determined that as the technology is utilized, these paraprofessionals can provide the Extension educators with input, feedback, and impacts of the end products.

Publications

  • Cascio, J., Dinstel, R., & Koukel, S. (2007). In Acidity. Retrieved 10/17/2007 from http://distance.uaf.edu/cc/ces/acidity/
  • Cascio, J., Dinstel, R., & Koukel, S. (Writer), & Fay, J. (Director). (2007). Assembling a Can Sealer [Video series episode]. University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service (Producer), Preserving Alaskas Bounty. Fairbanks, AK:
  • Cascio, J., Dinstel, R., & Koukel, S. (Writer), & Fay, J. (Director). (2007). Boiling Water Canner Basics [Video series episode]. University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service (Producer), Preserving Alaskas Bounty. Fairbanks, AK:
  • Cascio, J., Dinstel, R., & Koukel, S. (2007). In Boiling Water Canner. Retrieved 10/17/2007, from http://distance.uaf.edu/cc/ces/boilingwatercanner/
  • Cascio, J., Dinstel, R., & Koukel, S. (Writer), & Fay, J. (Director). (2007). Canning Fish in Cans [Video series episode]. University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service (Producer), Preserving Alaskas Bounty. Fairbanks, AK:
  • Cascio, J., Dinstel, R., & Koukel, S. (2007). In Canning Fish in Cans. Retrieved 10/17/2007, from http://wwwprod.dist-ed.uaf.edu/cc/ces/canningfishincans/
  • Cascio, J., Dinstel, R., & Koukel, S. (Writer), & Fay, J. (Director). (2007). Canning Fish in Jars [Video series episode]. University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service (Producer), Preserving Alaskas Bounty. Fairbanks, AK:
  • Cascio, J., Dinstel, R., & Koukel, S. (2007). In Canning Fish in Jars. Retrieved 10/17/2007, from http://wwwprod.dist-ed.uaf.edu/cc/ces/canningfish/
  • Cascio, J., Dinstel, R., & Koukel, S. (Writer), & Fay, J. (Director). (2007). Canning Game Meat in Cans [Video series episode]. University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service (Producer), Preserving Alaskas Bounty. Fairbanks, AK:
  • Cascio, J., Dinstel, R., & Koukel, S. (2007). In Canning Game Meat in Cans. Retrieved 10/17/2007, from http://wwwprod.dist-ed.uaf.edu/cc/ces/canningmeatincans/
  • Cascio, J., Dinstel, R., & Koukel, S. (Writer), & Fay, J. (Director). (2007). Canning Game Meat in Jars[Video series episode]. University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service (Producer), Preserving Alaskas Bounty. Fairbanks, AK:
  • Cascio, J., Dinstel, R., & Koukel, S. (2007). In Canning Game Meat in Jars. Retrieved 10/17/2007, from http://distance.uaf.edu/cc/ces/canningmoose/
  • Cascio, J., Dinstel, R., & Koukel, S. (2007). In Making Jams and Jellies. Retrieved 10/17/2007, from http://dbs.dist-ed.uaf.edu/projects/jam/
  • Cascio, J., Dinstel, R., & Koukel, S. (Writer), & Fay, J. (Director). (2007). Pressure Canner Basics [Video series episode]. University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service (Producer), Preserving Alaskas Bounty. Fairbanks, AK:
  • Cascio, J., Dinstel, R., & Koukel, S. (2007). In Pressure Canner. Retrieved 10/17/2007, from http://distance.uaf.edu/cc/ces/pressurecanner/


Progress 10/01/05 to 09/30/06

Outputs
Filming for all seven proposed DVD video distance delivery modules has been completed and final editing and publication are currently in progress. Seven corresponding internet-based modules have been completed, and are currently undergoing review and editing for final release. Initial development of CES web space that will host these modules has begun. We forecast all aspects of the project will be completed by the grants termination date later this year.

Impacts
These modules will form a library of food preservation and nutrition topics that is accessible from the CES website. The first module has already been used in teaching one class for Community Wellness advocates through the University of Alaska Southeast. As other are developed we will add them to the CES website.

Publications

  • No publications reported this period


Progress 01/01/05 to 12/31/05

Outputs
The initial focus of the project was on a video conferencing network. After investigating costs of upkeep on such a system, the scope of the project was changed to a web delivery. We are working with the Center for Distance Education to develop learning modules in a variety of forms: video, webcast, publications, and CDs to deliver food and nutrition information over the internet. The first module on making jams and jellies has been completed and is on the web at http://distance.uaf.edu/projects/jam/ We have seven other training modules planned. The preliminary filming for two modules is scheduled for late January. Each module can be accessed through the web, or through a CD of the training. Upcoming topics are: Canning fish, cutting up moose and reindeer, canning moose, canning fish in cans, smoking fish, making sauerkraut, using a pressure canner, and acidity of products and method of canning.

Impacts
These modules will form a library of food preservation and nutrition topics that is accessible from the CES website. The first module has already been used in teaching one class for Community Wellness advocates through the University of Alaska Southeast. As others are developed, we will add them to the CES website.

Publications

  • No publications reported this period


Progress 01/01/04 to 12/31/04

Outputs
We are developing a contract with the Center for Distance Education to develop learning modules in a variety of forms: video, webcast, publications, and CDs. The equipment needs are being evaluated and coordinated with the prior Food Product Development grant.

Impacts
A partnership has evolved between the researcher and the Center for Distance Education to develop learning modules. These processes can be applied in other discipline areas and projects.

Publications

  • No publications reported this period