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11.30.21 Final Thesis Draft.pdf (777.86 KB)

ETD Abstract Container

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Examining the Preparedness of Ohio 4-H Volunteers to Lead Virtual Club Programs

Foos, Frances
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1638351439240384

Abstract Details

2021, Master of Science, Ohio State University, Agricultural Communication, Education and Leadership.
In mid-March 2020, a global pandemic shifted the world to a virtual setting. 4-H volunteers were forced to cancel or move programs and meetings to a virtual format (Buck, 2020), meaning no in-person club meetings, county or state level events, volunteer trainings, and most other activities. As a result, there was much uncertainty for the 4-H program, extension staff, and volunteers. Many volunteers had no prior experience meeting virtually, but still wanted to connect with their youth members during the pandemic. While some resources were made available for 4-H volunteers to use a few months into the pandemic, they otherwise had no training for conducting virtual club meetings or activities. This study explored Ohio 4-H volunteers’ perception of their preparedness to participate and lead in virtual settings by comparing volunteers’ experiences with virtual programs before the coronavirus pandemic and after when programs were moved to a virtual platform as required by local, state, and Ohio State University guidelines. Specific objectives of this research were: (a) to describe the familiarity, comfort level and use of technology in Ohio 4-H volunteers before March 2020, (b) to describe the familiarity, comfort level and use of technology in Ohio 4-H volunteers after March 2020, (c) to identify the resources and/or trainings needed to increase comfort level of 4-H volunteers to use technology in programming, (d) to compare the difference in familiarity, comfort level, and use of technology for Ohio 4-H volunteers before and after March 2020. Participants were a sample of Ohio 4-H volunteers who completed an online questionnaire exploring three main constructs: familiarity with technology, comfort with technology, and use of technology using a five-point Likert response scale. To provide an adequate sample of the 18,000 volunteers in Ohio, a cluster random sample from the nine regional geographic areas across the state randomly selected 150 volunteers from each area. A total of 1,350 volunteers were invited to complete the survey. The response rate for this survey was 32% (n=434). Analysis revealed an overall significant increase in their familiarity with, comfort level, and use of technology after March 2020. The findings suggest that training and resources should be made available for 4-H county volunteers to better equip them with the skills needed to use this technology in their 4-H club programs. Overall, the pandemic had an influence on the familiarity, comfort level, and use of technology with at least a medium effect size or more using Cohen’s d descriptors (Cohen, 1988). The results suggest a willingness of volunteers to use technology when given the proper training and resources. It was found that volunteers received valuable resources from their local county 4-H programs that helped them use these technologies, however there is room for improvement as more technology advancements occur and more applications for using technology through 4-H increase. Local and state 4-H leaders should consider ways to incorporate technology training into their volunteer development. More research is needed to show what specific technologies or methods would be most useful for Ohio 4-H volunteers.
Dr. Hannah K. Epley (Committee Member)
Dr. Scott D Scheer (Advisor)
111 p.
Agricultural Education; Agriculture
4-H, volunteer, technology, virtual, pandemic

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Foos, F. (2021). Examining the Preparedness of Ohio 4-H Volunteers to Lead Virtual Club Programs [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1638351439240384

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Foos, Frances. Examining the Preparedness of Ohio 4-H Volunteers to Lead Virtual Club Programs. 2021. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1638351439240384.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Foos, Frances. "Examining the Preparedness of Ohio 4-H Volunteers to Lead Virtual Club Programs." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2021. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1638351439240384

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1638351439240384
382
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This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.