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Understanding Farmer Learning

Understanding Farmer Learning. Farmers are adult learners not children Farmers have different goals and interests Farmers like to learn in different ways (eg reading, TV/radio, talking, seeing, doing) Farmers like to learn from other farmers (eg relatives or friends or neighbours)

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Understanding Farmer Learning

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  1. Understanding Farmer Learning • Farmers are adult learners not children • Farmers have different goals and interests • Farmers like to learn in different ways (eg reading, TV/radio, talking, seeing, doing) • Farmers like to learn from other farmers (eg relatives or friends or neighbours) • So extension needs to use multiple learning and teaching methods!!!

  2. Adult Learning • Adults are self-directed not dependent. Involve them in designing their learning! • Adults have life experiences and knowledge. Acknowledge and use it. • Adults are goal-oriented. Set goals with farmers . • Adults need information to be relevant to their situation. • Adults are practical. Information needs to be applied to something. • Adults need to be shown respect.

  3. Learning Cycle

  4. Learning Styles • See (learn from observation) • Hear (learn from listening) • Do (learn from doing) • Talk (learn from discussion) • Feeling (learning from success or failure) • Review (learn from reflecting)

  5. Example – farmer group meeting • Hear from experienced farmer about growing shrimp • See the shrimp pond, feed, products etc • Catch some shrimps, do some measuring etc • Discuss the techniques- what to do, not to do • Discuss how farmers feel about growing shrimp • Reflect on meeting during follow up visit

  6. How to facilitate effective learning • Know your farmers (goals, values, interests) • Plan learning activities together • Make it relevant!! • Provide a range of learning methods (tell, show, do, reflect) • Use the learning cycle with your farmers (plan, do, review)

  7. Extension or Learning Methods • Group meetings • Farm or Pond walks • Practical activities • Farmer to farmer visits (cross visits) • Using case studies (examples) • Using CD/DVD • Using posters or books

  8. How to Facilitate Field Visits • Appoint a facilitator (for process), information presenter (for content) and observer to take notes on process and content. • Make introductions SHORT if possible • Go to the field as farmers want to see • Introduce the subject and ask farmer to talk about what they have done, the benefits and any problems • Facilitate questions to host farmer

  9. Try to include quiet people by asking their views or if they have any questions • Stand next to talkative people. If they continue, gently ask them to listen and allow others to talk • Allow farmers time to walk and look and discuss amongst themselves. • Move from site to site to keep interest

  10. Be aware when people are getting bored, tired or hungry • Be flexible (don’t be afraid to change activity) • Summarise content at the end of the day • Have a farmer feedback session away from the site (what was most interesting, what else do they want to learn?) • Have a DAFO meeting to reflect on the day (+/ -) • Enjoy yourself- if you are positive and happy then others will follow!

  11. Facilitation Activity • Decide on type of field day- pig production? • List a variety of people who might attend a field day and staff roles • Nominate roles • Decide on program for the day • Develop range of scenarios that might happen to challenge facilitation • Do role play • Reflect on process and tips to improve

  12. Why Evaluate Extension? • Have we been effective with farmer learning? • How can we improve our extension methods? • How can we help farmers gain more benefits? • How can we report to our managers? • How can we demonstrate our impacts?

  13. How to Evaluate Extension • What do we want to know? • Write a list of the information you need (eg what did farmers learn? Were there any problems? what did staff learn?) • Choose the best method for getting the information (eg observe, interview, survey, photo points, meeting) • Use the information to IMPROVE extension

  14. Evaluation of Meat Market • How many sellers are there? • How many women and men sellers? • What type of meat/fish are they selling? • Where does the meat/fish come from? • How many head per day do they buy? • Do they buy direct from farmers or traders? • What is the range of prices? • How much profit do they make per day? • How many hours per day are they selling? • What do they think of the quality of product? Difference between upland and lowland? • Other information from observation or photos?

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