Preparing to Cocreate: Using Learning Circles to ReadyExtension Professionals for Meaningful StakeholderEngagement

Authors

• Bob Bertsch, North Dakota StateUniversityFollow
• Jill Heemstra, University of IllinoisUrbana–ChampaignFollow
• Doug Golick, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

6-2020

Citation

Bertsch, B., Hemstra, J. and Golick, D. 2020. Preparing to Cocreate: Using Learning Circles to Ready Extension Professionals for Meaningful Stakeholder Engagement. Journal of Extension, v58 (3), Feature v58-3a1. https://joe.org/joe/2020june/a1.php

Comments

©2020 Extension Journal Inc.

Abstract

Extension professionals are being asked to address complex public issues. Doing so requires cocreativeapproaches that engage, in a significant way, the people affected by these issues. Successful engagement,however, requires specific skills and a cocreative mind-set. Extension professionals in two states participatedin learning circles to improve their engagement skills. Using a survey and interviews, we studied the impact ofthe learning circle experience on participants. We found that learning circles helped participants practicecolearning, build relationships, and change their mind-sets in ways that could move their work toward morecocreative efforts.