Developing 360-Degree Video to Educate Youth Audiences.
4-H and Youth Programming
Rob Leeds
ANR Educator, Assistant Professor
The Ohio State University Extension
DELAWARE
Abstract
As Ohio's demographics shift toward suburbanization and the agricultural community becomes a minority, there is a growing need to educate non-farm audiences, especially the youth. Recognizing this, Ohio State University (OSU) is leveraging technology to create engaging and immersive content using 360-degree media. OSU Extension is employing virtual reality to educate youth and urban audiences about Ohio's vital agricultural industry.
With agriculture being Ohio's largest industry, employing one in every 7 workers and contributing over $124 billion to the state's economy, comprehensive education on farming and the food sector is crucial. OSU Extension's Agriculture and Natural Resources program has developed a 360-degree video curriculum with a focus on crop production, Ohio's food manufacturing, and the employment impacts of the state's agricultural industry.
Two of our most popular videos, "Wheels at Work" and "Breadth of Agriculture in Ohio," cater to families with younger kids. "Wheels at Work" provides an in-depth look at the equipment used in Ohio's farms, covering the production processes of major crops like corn and soybeans, as well as hay. The “Breadth of Agriculture in Ohio" delves into the rich history, natural resources, the diversity of agriculture commodities, food manufacturing, and agriculture’s impacts on Ohio’s employment.
To reach the non-farm audience, these videos premiered at the 2023 Ohio State Fair, where over 7,356 people, including 3,901 kids and 3,455 adults, experienced them during the 12-day event. The curriculum was also presented at the Ohio FFA convention and Farm Science Review reaching an additional 3,444 individuals, including an additional 2,613 kids and 831 adults. Online evaluations indicated a positive impact, with 96.92% of respondents learning something new and 92.96% feeling immersed in the videos. Remarkably, 62.32% of participants had no prior involvement in OSU Extension programming, highlighting the success of this immersive approach in reaching new audiences and effectively conveying the importance of agriculture.
This session will focus on development and implementation of the video footage, and theater experience. We will also examine the success/challenges of using the 360-degree video curriculum to educate youth audiences.
Authors: Rob Leeds, Kate Hornyak, Jacci Smith
-
Rob Leeds ANR Educator, Assistant Professor, OSU Extension, Ohio, 43015-1707
-
Kate Hornyak Program Coordinator ANR, OSU Extension, Ohio, 43015-1707
-
Jacci Smith ANR/4-H Youth Development Educator, OSU Extension, Ohio, 43015