Oregon Ask An Expert

Ask an Expert is a national web-based system, supported by eXtension, that helps Extension faculty, staff, and volunteers respond more efficiently to questions they receive each day. Questions are submitted through Ask an Expert widgets, question forms on Extension websites, which are routed to appropriate OSU Extension experts. This statewide project is an effort to (1) continue the Extension tradition of delivering public education information with increasingly limited resources and (2) increase engagement with new and existing audiences using online communication methods that Oregonians have come to expect. For background on Ask an Expert read Game Changer for Extension, by Associate Provost Dave King.

Training Materials

Our goal is to answer questions with objective, research-based information in less than two business days.

Overview (PDF - 716 KB)
Signing Up (PDF - 376 KB)
Question Answering (PDF - 96 KB)
Question Monitoring (PDF - 114 KB)

Training Videos:

Master Gardener volunteer (70 mins. - 2/25/2011)
OSU faculty and staff (30 mins. - 1/26/2011)
Includes how to setup your settings to only receive questions in your area.
Advanced: Question Monitor (1hr 25 min. - 1/20/11)
How to direct questions to the appropriate experts

Questions

If you have comments, questions, or suggestions, please send them to Jeff Hino. We will do our best to answer your questions in a timely fashion.

Comments

Separation of commercial versus consumer questions

Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 04/16/2012 - 9:29am.

I followed the instructions, as per a prior reply, to set preferences so that I would be sent requests appropriate to my program responsibilities. However, there are no categories for commercial nursery production or for many of our other commercial horticulutural crops at the As an Expert website. I prefer not to receive consumer horticulture requests due to the high demand already from the commercial sector. So far all of the requests I have received are consumer horticulture and not connected with my program responsibility. Most of the questions would have been more appropriately directed to a consumer horticulturist or Master Gardener. My communication about this with wranglers and others involved in the program has not changed the situation. I do not want to spend so much time logging in to the website to send these requests elsewhere.

Thank you

Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 04/16/2012 - 1:12pm.

I've forwarded your comment to Jeff Hino. Would you be willing to send Jeff your contact info so he can better address your concern?
Please see: http://extension.oregonstate.edu/employee/jeff-hino
Thank you for your time.
Tamara

Commercial Orchards

Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 03/03/2011 - 3:59pm.

I want to be sure that I am only sent questions about commercial orchards.
Jeff Olsen
OSU Extension Horticulturist
Commercial Orchards

RE: Commercial Orchards

Submitted by dodrills on Mon, 03/07/2011 - 12:54pm.

If you visit http://extension.oregonstate.edu/webhelp/oregon-ask-expert, you can download step-by-step instructions (the "Signing Up" PDF) on how to set your "Ask an Expert" preferences. The 30-minute "Expert" training video also walks you through the process, as well as other important information about the project. Look for "Areas of Expertise" within your "Ask an Expert" preferences, and then select the categories that best match your area of expertise. Understand that existing categories and subcategories may not be a perfect match for your expertise. If you can't find options that are anything close to what you do, share that in the comment section below and let us know what would work for you. If you can find categories that are close, however, that will give our Oregon Question Monitors some guidance in directing questions to you. Also, remember that the Question Monitor for your program area is likely to know who you are and what you do. If they don't, a short email to that person should help.

FAQ

Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 02/28/2011 - 3:20pm.

Many of the Master Gardener Associations have already documented FAQs from the public. It would be worth gathering this information and compiling your FAQs.

RE: FAQ

Submitted by dodrills on Thu, 03/03/2011 - 6:50pm.

Thank you for this suggestion. Master Gardner volunteers who are participating in the "Ask an Expert" project may refer to their local databases, or eXtension's national databases. The national databases include peer-reviewed responses to questions (FAQ), as well as responses that have been researched, but not yet peer-reviewed (AaE). No matter which database you use to answer a question, your responses will be logged in eXtension's (AaE) database and may end up being used as the foundation for another Expert's response. That's why it's so important that each answer is based on accurate, research-based information.

Ask an Expert and SNAP-Ed grant

Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 02/28/2011 - 12:49pm.

I am a FCH Instructor whose position is 100% funded through the SNAP-Ed grant. This restricts the audiences I can work with to those whose income qualifies them for SNAP-Ed. How does this restriction on the scope of my work fit within the Ask an Expert expectation for performance reviews?

RE: Ask an Expert and SNAP-Ed grant

Submitted by dodrills on Sat, 03/05/2011 - 2:42pm.

I am told that an FCH faculty member funded entirely by SNAP-Ed/OFNP should not participate in "Ask an Expert." This is because we cannot discern whether the person asking a question would qualify for that faculty member's assistance under federal guidelines. Thus, a faculty member funded 100 percent by SNAP-Ed/OFNEP should not be concerned about participating in "Ask an Expert" for the purposes of his/her annual performance reviews.

SNAP-Ed/OFNP and Ask an Expert

Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 01/04/2012 - 3:11pm.

This policy is being reviewed by FCH administration. We would encourage SNAP-Ed/OFNP grant funded faculty to answer questions which could very likely be coming from SNAP-Ed/OFNP clients. Ask an Expert provides a powerful means for SNAP-Ed/OFNP to reach their clientele---possibly even new or under-served clients.

Master Gardener Volunteers

Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 02/25/2011 - 6:41pm.

Is there a certain number of volunteers recommended for different counties. I can see more volunteers are needed in populated areas such as the Metro area, but what about east of the Cascades. Our county (Wasco) averages 25-30 calls a month April thur September in the clinic. Although the clinic is not open Oct. thru March calls are still taken, averaging 5 a month. As coordinator they are refered to me. Any more information you can give me would be helpful

Thank you
Cheri Austin