EXTENSION TEACHING METHODS INTRODUCTION A variety of methods

EXTENSION TEACHING METHODS • INTRODUCTION • A variety of methods can be employed by the extension agent to transfer knowledge or share information with his clients. • There are differences in people with regard to the ways and rates of learning.

TEACHING METHODS CONT. • The right choice and use of different teaching methods is very vital to the transfer of knowledge to a person or group. Selection of the right method depends on the skills of the extension agent.

CONT. • Extension teaching methods can be classified into three main groups namely: • the mass method • the group method and • the individual method

MASS MEDIA • The mass method is basically designed to create awareness and whip up interest in new ideas among people. These include such things as radio, television, newspapers, circulars, bulletins, posters and the cinema.

GROUP METHOD • Group methods are designed to advance people from awareness and interest stages to the desire and trial stages of accepting new practices. They include general meetings, group discussions, result demonstrations, method demonstrations, farm visits, conducted tours and short courses of instruction

INDIVIDUAL METHODS • Learning is always an individual affair despite the fact that teaching is done in groups. Most of the time individuals have to be taught separately in order to motivate them to adopt a new practice. • In this method the extension agent must study and know the situation of his client and obtain his confidence very well before he can convince him/her to adopt a new practice.

INDIVIDUAL METHOD CONT. • Individual methods of extension include farm or home visits, visit to the office, letters, telephone calls etc.

MASS METHODS OF EXTENSION • RADIO AND T. V. BROADCASTS • Broadcasting of information over the radio or on television has achieved positive results in many countries, especially in the rural and inaccessible areas by means of transport. • Radio audience is very large. People conveniently listen to the radio in cars, buses, trotros, markets, stores, home, on the streets etc.

MASS MEDIA CONT. • WRITING NEWS ARTICLES FOR THE PRESS • Writing news articles to the press is a useful means of creating public awareness and interest. • Extension agents therefore have to take advantage of this and write useful articles to the press to educate farmers both in the rural and urban communities.

NEWS ARTICLES FOR PRESS CONT. • An article for publication or a newspaper must be precise and direct to the point. It must make a judicious use of the five Ws: why, who, where, what, when and how to bring out vital information.

NEWS ARTICLES CONT. • The facts in answer to these questions must be arranged in order of importance - the most important first and gradually to the least important. The reason for this is to enable the editor to cut the article short when the need arises without causing damage to the information to be disseminated.

NEWS ARTICLES CONT. • Some setbacks in this means of teaching are: high cost of the newspapers to readers, low literacy levels especially in rural areas, lack of motivation in writing articles by extension officers.

AGRICULTURAL SHOWS • Agric shows are an excellent medium for mass instruction and valuable in initiating a campaign about some new practice, health concern or disease invasions. • Agric shows involve a lot of planning, propaganda and hard work to ensure that attendance is good

AGRIC SHOWS CONT. • Themes are selected for agric shows and these are broadcast over a long period over radio, TV, through banners, posters etc. During these shows exhibits are displayed and these may illustrate better cultural practices, correct feeding of poultry and livestock, farm management practices etc. Short video clips can be made and shown to the audience, followed by explanations.

AGRIC SHOWS CONT. • It is at these shows that a lot of agricultural information on leaflets or pamphlets can be given out to the general public. • The show is generally climaxed by the selection of an overall best farmer and award of an “expensive never to be forgotten” price • Agric shows are very expensive to organize.

BULLETINS • Bulletins are prepared by research workers and specialists in selected fields for printing and circulation to the general public. • They only become valuable when people have access to and read them. These should be readily available to extension agents for distribution to farmers who need them as they travel within their operational areas.

LEAFLETS • These comprise a single sheet of paper with simple caption designed to catch attention and arouse the reader’s interest e. g. • EATING SPOILT PEANUTS (GROUND NUTS) CAN PREDISPOSE YOU TO COLON CANCER. BEWARE OF USE OF GROUNDNUT PASTE!!!

LEAFLETS CONT. • Leaflets may arouse people to take an immediate action or seek for more information. • They achieve their objective only when they are widely distributed and read. They should be printed in varying and attractive colours to catch attention.

LEAFLETS CONT. • They should also be printed in various dialects to increase understanding by readers. Mode of distribution can be by throwing them out from moving cars onto the streets, giving them to school children, distributing them at crowded spots like the sports stadium, supermarkets, lorry stations etc.

GROUP METHODS OF EXTENSION • The group extension methods include Demonstrations, Group meetings, Play and puppet shows, Farmers’ day, Farm institutes, conducted tours and visits, etc.

DEMONSTRATIONS • There are two main types of demonstrations: The method demonstration and the Result demonstration. A good practical demonstration is the most important teaching method used in extension work

DEMOS. CONT. • The effectiveness of demonstrations depends on: • How people see it - not all people can give a right interpretation of pictures or objects they see. • Whether it is in line with logic and sound reasoning • Whether it is more advantageous than an old one • Whether the changes brought about are better than a previous one.

METHOD DEMONSTRATION • This is used to teach how to do a particular job or activity in a stepwise manner. There are three stages involved in any method demonstration and the extension agent must be skilful in them. • These are:

METHOD DEMO CONT. • Planning stage • Presentation stage and • Follow-up stage

RESULT DEMONSTRATION • The basic objective of mounting a result demonstration is to convince the people that the fresh extension officer from the university knows what he/she is talking about. • They prove that the new practice being presented is applicable locally. • It takes time for the results to show.

RESULTS DEMO CONT. • Result demonstrations are a means of demonstrating the practical value of the findings of research workers. It helps to established confidence for both the farmer and the extension worker.

RESULTS DEMO CONT. • Some of the advantages of result demonstrations are: • It gives proof of the desirability of adopting a recommended practice • It is an effective way of introducing change • It appeals to the eye of the “show me” individual • It gives understanding to a large number of people • It establishes confidence in the extension worker, the farmer and the extension programme.

GROUP MEETINGS • This is one of the oldest methods of teaching farmers. People tend to have a similarity of interests within their own social groupings • Those having similar interests must be encouraged to meet and form a society to promote their actual interests.

GROUP MEETINGS CONT. • Such groups should be non-partisan and nonreligious. • The extension officer should be there in the capacity of a counselor and technical advisor but not an imposter.

PLAYS AND PUPPET SHOWS • These are used to provide entertainment as well as instruction for the audience. They should be humorous and well rehearsed. • In the simplest type, the glove puppet, the head is worked by the index finger and the arms by the thumb and second finger.

THE FARMERS’ DAY/FIELD DAY • The field day (farmers’ day) is an admirable medium of instruction. The people within a locality are gathered on the farm of a progressive member in the vicinity. • The programme is started with a talk followed by activities involving all present. Most often it is desirable that the host farmer be allowed to do most of the talking and explanations. He should guide the people in the various activities and operations while the extension officer fills in the gaps.

CONDUCTED TOURS AND VISITS • These should be employed as an important means of instruction. The visit must not be made to a place very different in ecology from what the farmers are already familiar with. It should be within the same locality and important scenes must be seen in a single day.

INDIVIDUAL EXTENSION METHOD • FARM AND HOME VISIT/PERSONAL VISIT • These provide a greater means of interaction between the farmer and his family on one hand the extension officer on the other. It is the most effective but also one of the most expensive extension methods.

INDIVIDUAL METHOD CONT. • The purposes of this method are: • to help the extension agent gain acquaintance with the farmer and his family • to gain a first hand knowledge of the farmers problems • to answer specific requests for help

INDIVIDUAL METHOD CONT. • to explain recommended practices to farmers • to plan various activities including demonstrations or meetings • to follow-up and observe the results of recommended practices • to discuss new agricultural policies and programmes • to recruit, train and encouraged a local volunteer leader

ADVANTAGES • It gives the extension agent first hand knowledge about the farmers problems • It affords an opportunity of making friends and gaining the confidence of farmers • It enables the extension worker to gain an insight into the lives and outlook of the farming community • It helps in the discovery and selection of local leaders and demonstrators.

CONT. • It provides material for success stories and opportunities for result demonstrations when made to progressive farmers. • Teaching at the individual level is the most effective

DISADVANTAGES • The disadvantages in this method are: • It is very expensive in terms of money and time. • Very limited number of farmers can be contacted within a given period of time. • The tendency to visit some farmers more frequently than others is high for obvious reasons. • The time of visit may not be suitable to the farmer.

OFFICE CALLS • Farmers may call on the extension worker at his office to discuss problems being faced on their farms. The extension worker is expected to have time to discuss all issues brought by the visiting farmer. The office settings must be such that visitors must feel comfortable to bring out issues affecting them.

OFFICE CALLS CONT. • The advantages here are: • The farmer who calls has a greater capacity to learn. • The officer saves time and traveling expenses, as well as faces no risks of accidents as no traveling is involved. • It is an indication that the farmer has confidence in the extension agent and the extension programme.

OFFICE CALLS CONT. • DISADVANTAGES: • The farmer may not be able to give an apt description of the problem he is facing. • The solution to the problem given by the extension agent may not be beneficial • If the extension officer is not informed before the visit, the farmer may meet his absence.

TELEPHONE CALLS • With the advent of cellular phones as well as landlines, most people can be reached more easily at less cost, no risks and on time. Telephones have lessened the burden, risk and time of traveling. Both extension workers and farmers alike can utilize this means of communication to achieve desired goals.

TELEPHONE CALLS CONT. • ADVANTAGES: • It is useful in soliciting and giving specific information. • It provides a means of follow-up and evaluation of the effectiveness of radio and TV broadcasts. • It helps callers to make requests for visits, bulletins, planning materials and equipment, etc.

TELEPHONE CONT. • DISADVANTAGES: • The situation on the field cannot be assessed if the story is not clearly told. • Moods cannot be assessed, as there is no faceto-face contact.

PERSONAL (CIRCULAR) LETTERS • These are similar to bulletins and leaflets in that they all contain the same information. However, unlike bulletins they are addressed personally to individual farmers or householders and are written in a personal manner. The words should be simple and the paragraphs should be short.

PERSONAL LETTERS CONT • They should be written with a single purpose in view. All needed information must be clearly stated to enable the reader carry out the action intended by the writer. It should be written to people the worker intends to visit personally and whom he hopes will take action before his visit. • One disadvantage in the use of circular letters is that it depends on the literacy level of the reader.