Extension Practice

What is Extension?

A history in Australia

Performance Indicators and Benchmarking in Extension

Pareto's Law

To assist extension planning

Diffusion of Innovations Theory

Founded by Everett Rogers

Peter Honey and Alan Mumford

Learning Styles

Bennett's Hierarchy

Extension Program Evaluation Model

published - 1 May 2017
By Gavin Beever

Pareto’s Law

It is useful for Extension Professionals to consider Pareto’s Principle when planning and implementing extensions projects. Pareto’s Principle is often simplified to the 80/20 observation. It can be used to prioritise actions that will have the greatest effect.
Knowing that equal amounts of effort or inputs will not generate the same …
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80/20 Rule, Extension planning, Pareto's Law, Prioritise actions

Methods & Tools

published - 2 December 2016
By Gavin Beever

What is Extension?

Extension is the practice of transferring information, knowledge or skills that can assist individuals, families, communities, organisations or businesses achieve improved economic, social and environmental outcomes and create positive change. This article provides a brief history of Extension in Australia.
Agricultural extension is as old as the domestication of plants and …
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Extension, Extension Described, Extension Principles, History of Extension

Theory

published - 1 November 2016

Experiential Learning

David Kolb synthesised three models to develop key characteristics of experiential learning.
1)   The Lewinian Model
2)   The Dewey Model, and
3)   The Piaget Model
The Lewinian Model of Action Research and Laboratory Training believes learning is an integrated process involving a feedback loop amongst concrete experiences, observations and reflections, formation of abstract concepts …
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Action learning, Action learning cycle, Dewey model, experiential learning, Lewinian model, Piaget model

Theory

published - 1 October 2016

Participatory Research, Development and Extension – Sustainable Agriculture

Developed in the 1980s-1990s, Niels Roling argues for sustainable agricultural development practice (RD&E) to involve farmers in the R&D process as collaborators and driving the RD&E agenda, rather than simply being the end-users (i.e. A shift from a directive approach to participatory extension). Otherwise, Roling believed, there will be little change …
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Empowerment, Group extension, Interactive, Learning paths, Participatory approach, Social, Social transitions, Systems thinking

Theory

published - 1 October 2016

Balanced Scorecard

The Balanced Scorecard (BSC) process can align operational activities with an organisation’s vision, improve internal and external communications, and monitor organisation performance against strategic goals. It is best considered a value-based strategic planning and management tool that can assist extension professionals and their client’s best consider what areas a business …
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Balanced Scorecard, Management tool, value-based strategic planning

Methods & Tools

published - 30 September 2016

Continuous Business Improvement Model

The concept of Continuous Business Improvement (CBI) in a project setting is a structured and methodical process for developing profitable farm businesses. It draws on innovations in business and relationships with people. Its single most distinguishing feature is the in-built phase of reflection.
CBI in projects provides information on design and evaluation. …
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Methods & Tools

published - 28 September 2016

Adopt (Adoption and Diffusion Outcome Prediction Tool)

ADOPT has been designed to help evaluate and predict the likely level of adoption and spread of specific agricultural technologies and practices for particular target markets and where adoption will peak and the time it is most likely to. ADOPT is an MS Excel-based tool developed by CSIRO, the Victorian …
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ADOPT, Adoption, Adoption and Diffusion Outcome Prediction Tool, Innovations, Prediction, Target markets

Methods & Tools

published - 15 September 2016

Extension Continuum

The extension continuum recognises that there are four major strategies or models in agricultural extension. It illustrates that as extension situations become more complex, emphasis should be given to approaches, processes and tools that empower people to engage in ongoing processes of experimentation, learning and human development.
It recognises that there …
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Dealing with complexity, Empowerment, Engagement, Experimentation, Learning

Theory

published - 15 September 2016

Programmed Learning Model

Programmed Learning is essentially about formal or ‘packaged’ education opportunities that are positioned beyond informal learning that is often based on existing knowledge and experiences of individuals or bounded within a certain group. (Coutts et al., 2005). Programmed learning can be a formal qualification delivered by a Registered Training Organisation …
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adult learning, curriculum, experiential learning, learning objectives, Programmed Learning, top-down

Methods & Tools, Theory

published - 7 September 2016

Group Facilitation / Empowerment Model

This is about approaching extension as a bottom-up process to achieve change – as an exercise in human development for outcomes that have an impact at the farm, community and industry scale (Coutts et al., 2005). It uses a facilitation process to help groups of motivated participants to identify and understand …
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Methods & Tools, Theory