METHODS AND TECHNIQUES OF EXTENSION

Method/Technique, defined

• General established way or order of doing anything.

• Manner by which you present or teach your subject matter.
• Systematic plan adopted in presenting instructional materials.
• Tools in approaching, working with and influencing people to
become interested and have successful experiences in solving
their problems through their efforts making maximum use of
the guidance and technical resources of the government
 Main Groups of Extension Methods

 Mass Methods

 Group Methods

 Individual ( Face-to-face or personal

 Mass Media
Characteristics:

 Mass media such as print and electronic media help extension

agents to reach large numbers of farmers simultaneously.
However, there is little opportunity for these farmers to interact
among themselves or to provide feedback to the extension
agents.

Mass media offer the least expensive media to carry messages

to large number of people. It can accelerate existing change
process, but seldom bring about changes in behavior by
themselves. This is because sender and receiver tend to employ
several selective processes when using mass media, which often
result in the receiver distorting the sender’s message.
 Group and Individual Methods

 Group methods such as formal lecture, demonstrations and

meetings reach fewer farmers but offer more opportunities for
interaction and feedback. This method reaches one select part
of the target group because only those who are interested or
members of farmers’ group come to the meetings.

 Individual extension consists mainly of a dialogue between

extension agent and farmer.
Considerations in the Choice of Extension Teaching

• Rural people are not at all alike.

• People differ in nationality, culture background, schooling,

occupation, religion, income, organization membership, size
family, attachment to local community, size of farms they operate
and type of agriculture. These affect their attitudes, habits and
actions and responses.

• People do not live alone.

• People satisfy desire for group association in a number of ways.

• People associate with their own kind and just naturally form
groups.
Considerations in the Choice of Extension Teaching, continued

• Extension can serve people along group organizational lines.

• There is tremendous power in group.

• People are likely to act when in a group.

• Local community is the main group.

• Most human relations are carried on within a fairly small area, in

nearby places, i.e. churches, schools, community centers, etc.
Considerations in the Choice of Extension Teaching, continued

• Extension teaching must be based on group life below the

province level, (generally at the barrio level).

• People want security, recognition and response. Psychological

security is needed in addition to economic security.

• People have objectives, hopes, standards and values.

• Social objectives are necessary together with economic objectives.

• People differ in their goals and standards, depending upon age

levels, nationality, education and religious values, etc.

• Goals and standards are determined by family and community.

Objectives of farmers and housewives are mostly geared to needs
of family.
Considerations in the Choice of Extension Teaching, continued

• Motivation should be made on the basis of family-community

circumstances.

• Effective teaching and responses are attained when people are

concerned and involved in the planning process.

• People like to do things for themselves, and they do not like to

overtaken.

• People respond better when the approach is made on self-

analysis basis; made to feel that the program is theirs and not
that of the extension worker.
Considerations in the Choice of Extension Teaching, continued

• People learn from others, but not just from anybody.

• The power of influence of the informal leaders is great and

should be used.

• Leaders must be accepted leaders with large following.

Extension workers must learn to identify these leaders.
 Ways of Reaching your Extension Audience

• Through the Family Case Method (also known as Farm or Home

Visit)

Extension information is provided on a family or individual case

basis. This is the simplest way of doing extension work, for no
major organizations are involved.

• Through the Key Family Case Method

Individual casework is purposely done with families who have

influence over others. It is simple form of teaching people.
Ways of Reaching your Extension Audience, continued

• Through the Project Leader Idea

Certain persons are selected as project leaders or teaching

leaders, who serves as local point of contact. Project leader is
trained in a subject, then in turn trains others.

• Through the Country Planning or Advisory Council

Provides a way of finding felt needs and interests of the people

and discovering real problems. This leads towards good
program development and also contributes towards leadership
development.
Ways of Reaching your Extension Audience, continued

• Through the Inside-Extension Club

This is common in home demonstration or home economics work

where groups are organized by extension and meet regularly for
extension lessons.

• Through Direct-Purpose-Sponsor Organization

Similar to that of through the Inside-extension Club, except that

the local club is organized by some allied sponsoring
organization, such as Farm Bureau, Home Bureau, etc., rather
than organized by extension.
Ways of Reaching your Extension Audience, continued

• Through Miscellaneous-Regular Local Organizations

Well suited to communities where people belong to one or more

well-organized groups, such as PTA, church and others.

• Through Farmer’s Commodity Organization

Common in areas where agriculture is highly specialized. Provides

an excellent means of reaching people in the community.

• Through a Whole Community Organization

Whole community functions as one large group representing the

people. Various functional committees are set up to handle
different phases, including farming, homemaking, etc.