Important Agricultural Extension Teaching Methods

A Lecture ByMr. Allah Dad Khan Visiting professor

The University of Agriculture Peshawar

Extension Teaching Method DefinedExtension teaching methods may be defined as:

Devices used to create situations in which new information can pass freely between the extension worker and the rural communitiesthe tools and techniques used to create situations in which communication can take place between the rural people and the extension workers

Extension Teaching Method s Defined Cont.

Are the methods of extending new knowledge and skills to the rural people by :

1) Drawing their attention towards them,

2) Arousing their interest and

3) Helping them to have a success Extension Teaching Method s Defined Cont.

Conditions For Effective Use Of Teaching Methods

Four conditions are necessary for effective use of teaching methods:

1. learning situation,

2. learning objectives,

3. learning experiences and

4. use of a variety of teaching methods

LEARNING SITUATION

An effective learning situation requires the following essential elements:

1) An instructor (an extension worker)

2) Learners (the farmers).

3) Subject-matter (Research Recommendation)

4) Teaching material, such as a flannel-board, aback-board, charts, models, samples, slides, film strips, etc.

5) Physical facilities, such as sitting accommodation, good visibility, etc.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Any purposeful teaching has specific objectives which must contain four basic elements

1. People to be taught,

2. Behavior changes to be made,

3. Subject matter to be taught and

4. Life situation in which action is to take place

LEARNING EXPERIENCE

A learning experience is defined as the mental or physical reaction one makes in a learning situation through

1. Seeing,

2. Hearing or

3. Performing activities

4. During a learning process

USE VARIETIES OF TEACHING METHODS

provision should be made for the opportunity to use a variety of extension methods.

i. Cater for people who learn differently

ii. To reinforce learning

iii. To make learning more lasting

iv. To make learning more effective

CLASSIFICAION OF EXTENSION METHODS

Extension teaching methods can be classified on the basis of:

a. Outreach: Number of people it design to reach

b. Form or nature of teaching method.

Classification based on Outreach

Extension methods may be classified in three groups on the basis of the number of people they are designed to reach:

these are:

Individual method

Group methods and

Mass Method

Individual Methods

Individual methods include :

farm and home visits

I. Office calls

II. Telephone calls

III. Personal letters

IV. Informal contacts

V. Result demonstrations

Farm and Home Visits

Farm and home visits

1. Are essential elements of extension education.

2. They provide a means of: personal communication discuss matters of common interest in privacy Avenue for addressing problems of the marginalized in society

Purposes of Farm and home visits

For the Agent to acquaint with the farm family

1) To answer specific requests for help

2) To gain first hand knowledge of problems faced by the farmer or villager

3) To explain a recommended practice

4) To follow up and observe the results of recommended practices

Purposes of Farm and home visits cont.

To plan an activity such as demonstration, or a meeting

To invite the farmer or villager to participate in a planned activity

To discuss policies and programmes

To recruit, train or encourage local volunteer leader

Office calls

Office calls

1) Are made by the farmer for the purpose of:

2) Satisfying a felt need.

3) Expression of interest by the farmer

4) Providing the extension worker with knowledge of the needs of the farming community

Result demonstration

1. Is method of teaching designed to show, by example the practical application of an established fact or group of facts.

2. „The result demonstration”

3. “Is one which shows after a period of time what happened after practice is adopted

Advantages Of Result Demonstration

1) Furnishes local proof of the desirability of adopting are commended practice

2) Is an efficient method for introducing a new subject

3) Appeals to the eye and reaches the

4) “show me” individual

Advantages Of Result Demonstration cont.

i. Provides a good source of information for meetings, news items, pictures, radio talks.

ii. Furnishes cost data and other basic information

iii. A high percentage of people will understand

iv. Aids in developing local leadership

v. Establishes confidence in the extension worker and the rural people

Limitations of Results Demonstration

A. Result demonstration requires a largeamount of extension workers time

B. The cost is high per practice changed

C. Good demonstrations are hard to find

D. Few people see the demonstration at anot-convincing stage

E. The teaching value is frequently destroyedby unfavorable weather.

Group Teaching Methods

Group methods take into account:

the inclination of the individual to respond to;

pressures and opinions of groups

Group Teaching Methods

Group method include

1. general meetings,

2. group discussion,

3. exhibits,

4. tours and field trips,

5. Method Demonstration

6. extension schools and farmer training centre.

General meetings

General meetings include all kinds of meetings held by theextension worker except demonstration meetings.During the meeting, provision should be made for use of

1. models,2. charts,3. specimens,4. pictures etc to illustrate points.5. Towards the end of the meeting allowance should be made

for questions and answers which would help clarify specific ideas

General meetings contd

1. the extension worker should enlist the help oflocal leaders to:

2. agree on the purpose of the meeting and todraw up tentative programme;

3. decide on and secure speakers;

4. arrange for social and recreational aspectsof the meeting;

5. agree on the place and time of the meeting;

6. select the chairman and advertise themeeting.

Group discussion

1. is the process by which

2. two or more persons pool their knowledge and feelings

3. through mutual agreement

4. clarify the issues under consideration

Exhibits Exhibits are systematic displays of specimens, models, charts, posters, etc.

Their main purpose is to develop the interest of those who see them,

influence their attitude, increase their knowledge and stimulate them to action

Tours and field trips Tours and field trips

Are methods of extension teaching which appeal to man’s desire to “go places and see things”.

A tour can be made to a research station, demonstration farms and similar places of educational interest.

How to organize Field trips

1.Decide exactly what you wish to accomplish

2. Work out a detailed plan for the tour well in advance

3. Go through a rehearsal or “dry run” of the entire programme well in advance

4. On the day of the tour, keep the party together and keep them moving briskly from point to point.

Method Demonstration

1. It teaches how to do certain work.

2. It is always interesting to the farmers and especially when the demonstration is concluded by the extension worker,

3. it increases their respect forth worker.

4. A method demonstration is to teach a skill

Step in method demonstration

1.Outline operations in logical steps

2. Identify key points

3. Carefully select materials and tools

4. Arrange for diagrams or other teaching aids. Rehearse demonstration until

5.Make sure all the audience can see and hear him

6. Explain purpose and show application to localproblem

7. Show each operation slowly, step by step

8. Emphasize key points

9. Invite members of audience to repeat demonstration

Demonstration

1.. It teaches needed skill to many people at one time

2. Seeing, hearing, discussing and participating stimulate action.

3. It builds confidence in extension worker if demonstration is skillfully performed

Advantages of Method Demonstration cont.

4. Local leaders easily learn simple demonstrations

and can repeat them with other groups.

5. It promotes personal acquaintance between the demonstrators and the farmers

6. It influences changes in practice with many people at a single meeting.

Limitations

1. It is frequently difficult to ensure that all members of the group can see clearly

2. With certain demonstrations considerable equipment must be transported to the meeting places

3. Requires a certain amount of showmanship not possessed by all extension workers.

Mass Methods

1. radio,

2. television,

3. cinema vans and

4. public address systems,

5. newspapers,

6. posters and other printed materials are used to reach large numbers of people quickly.

Advantage o Radio an Television

1.Radio programmes are especially fitted to handle emergency information

2. Reach people who cannot read

3. Reach people who cannot attend extension meetings

4. Build interest in other extension activities

Advantage of TV 1. Broadcasting facilities are not everywhere available

2. Active involvement of the audience in the teaching process is impossible

3. Frequently extension programmes are given poor time for farm listeners

4. Direct and immediate feedback from the audience to the teacher is not possible

5. Frequently extension programmes loose out in competition with entertainment

6. Specific local needs cannot be given adequate attention and there is often cultural gap (e.g. language, dialect) between the speaker and the audience.

Classification Based on Form

1. Extension-teaching methods are also classified according to their forms, such as

2. written,

3. spoken and

4. audio-visual

Categories

1. Written Spoken visual2. Bulletins meeting Result Demonstration3. Leaflets Home visit Demonstration posters4. Articles Office calls Motion-picture5. Personal letters Radio slides/

filmstrips model exhibits

Emerging Technologies in Information Dissemination

1. Multimedia Technologies

2. Mobile telephoning Technology

3. Participatory extension video documentaries

4. Internet

ICT and Efficiency Ext. Service