Outreach educators bring university research and training to communities outside of formal university settings. They work in agriculture, health services, and general interest education, with a focus on sharing knowledge produced in academic environments with the wider public. Extension educators teach a variety of subjects, from crop rotation to health education, and offer opportunities for personal growth through short classes and distance learning programs.
An outreach educator works to bring the benefits of university research and training to community members outside the formal university setting. Many outreach educator jobs are in the field of agriculture and life sciences. In other cases, an outreach worker may work to provide health services and information to underserved populations. A significant number of university extension programs also offer general interest education and training, and an extension educator working for this type of program could teach virtually any subject.
Extension teaching is based on the idea that universities must have an active and ongoing relationship with the communities and populations they serve. Universities, especially public institutions, in the United States have long had a tradition of sharing research and information with interested members of the general public. This allows knowledge produced in an academic environment to be disseminated more widely, so that men and women who spend most of their time engaged in non-academic pursuits can still benefit from university research.
Information about crops and animal husbandry is often shared this way. An extension educator can teach classes in soil conservation, crop rotation, or other subjects at a local community center. Some educators work with local groups like 4-H to help teach young people. In other cases, an extension educator working in agriculture may be responsible for answering questions from the general public in areas ranging from pesticide application to large commercial crops to growing personal gardens.
A second pillar of extension education is the field of health education. Many university programs offer free clinics or free training in fitness, nutrition, child development and many other health topics. An outreach educator working for this type of program can lead small classes on issues of specific interest, such as pregnancy or preventing childhood illnesses. A portion of this work may also be carried out via the Internet and may involve direct questions and answers from members of the public.
Other types of extension education provide continuing education for adults and aim to provide an alternative path to a university degree or opportunities for personal growth. Distance learning programs are generally managed by extension centers, and an extension educator working for this type of program generally has the same responsibilities as any other faculty member who teaches in a distance learning program, and the Extension educator requirements for these programs generally reflect this fact. Other extension educators offer short classes that cater to individual interests, ranging from pottery to history, that are intended to provide an opportunity for personal development, but do not offer degree credit.
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