Module 05: Adult Learning for Behavioural Change


Rural advisory services are called to help stimulate behaviour change amongst the clients they serve. However, change is not an easy process. There are many components which can influence change, one of those being the educational training received. Agricultural extension professionals provide much of the educational training to farmers about new and existing agricultural and environmental practices. Educating farmers within the agricultural innovation system requires the extension professional to be well equipped to provide programming that meets the needs of the learner, facilitates behaviour change and ultimately leads to the adoption of innovations. This module will provide an introduction to behaviour change and some of the factors that can influence it. Secondly, it provides an overview of important concepts for the facilitation of learning. You will also learn what factors to consider in order to develop a successful training programme. Finally, this module will explain why evaluation is vital in education programmes and show you how to evaluate the educational experience

Module outcomes

After completing this module, you will be able to:

  1. Explain the basics of behaviour change within the agricultural innovation system context and your role in that process;
  2. List the various components that influence the facilitation of learning;
  3. Discuss the differences between adult and youth learners and education;
  4. Describe and apply principles for proper training development; and
  5. Explain the importance of learning assessments and describe the various methods of assessing training programmes.

What to expect

Study units
Name Total videos Total assessments
Study unit 1: Understanding behaviour change 1 6
Study unit 2: Facilitating learning for behaviour change 0 7
Study unit 3: Training design for behaviour change 0 5
Study unit 4: Evaluating your educational programme 2 3

Click on the button below to start Module 5:

Introduction

Study unit outcomes

After completing this study unit, you should be able to:

  • Describe the challenges of behaviour change;
  • Explain the components influencing the adoption of innovations; and
  • Discuss criticisms surrounding behaviour change theories.

Study unit overview

This unit will provide a basic understanding of behaviour change and the potential barriers to behaviour change you will encounter. There are many theories that help explain why people choose or refuse to change. However, this module will simplify this process through discussing change in the context of a popular theory used in agricultural extension, namely diffusion of innovations. The unit will introduce you to the theory and discuss some of its shortcomings. It will help to outline your role in the change process and set the stage for the importance of proper facilitation of learning for behaviour change

This study unit is divided into the following sections:

  • Introduction
  • Session 1.1 Why is change difficult?
  • Session 1.2: Exploring how behaviour change happens
  • Session 1.3: Drawbacks of change theories
  • Conclusion

Click on the button below to start the lesson for Study Unit 1:

Study Unit 1

Study unit outcomes

After completing this study unit, you should be able to:

  • Explain the difference between passive and active learning;
  • List the various factors that influence learning;
  • Discuss the importance of motivation in learning and behaviour change; and
  • Describe the difference between adult and youth learners.

Study unit overview

One of the main functions of extension agents is the facilitation of learning for behaviour change. It is important that extension agents understand how people learn best and what factors affect learning. Throughout this unit, you will be introduced to basic knowledge about how people learn and you will learn the difference between active and passive learning and how to actively engage learners. This unit will discuss what factors influence learning and how you should consider these factors when designing an educational programme. Motivation is a very important concept in learning and behaviour change and this unit will deepen your understanding of the role motivation plays in the facilitation of learning. Finally, you will learn about the difference between adult and youth learners.

This study unit is divided into the following sections:

  • Introduction
  • Session 2.1: How people learn
  • Session 2.2: Factors that influence learning and learning styles
  • Session 2.3: The importance of motivation in learning and behaviour change
  • Session 2.4: Adults are a different kind of learner
  • Conclusion

Click on the button below to start the lesson for Study Unit 2:

Study Unit 2

Study unit outcomes

After completing this study unit, you should be able to:

  • Collect information about your clients to meet their needs;
  • Design a training programme for optimum information transfer; and
  • Discuss different approaches to facilitate learning

Study unit overview

Extension professionals may have a lot of knowledge about agricultural production, new technologies or new practices, but information about the clients they will be working with is vital to designing a training programme for successful knowledge transfer. As an extension agent, you will work with a wide variety of people. In this unit you will learn the importance of knowing your audience. Knowing how to teach is just as important as knowing your topic or audience. This unit gives an overview of the considerations to take into account when you design a training programme. Finally, this unit will provide an overview of different approaches for facilitating learning for behaviour change

This study unit is divided into the following sections:

  • Introduction
  • Session 3.1: Knowing your audience
  • Session 3.2: Training design
  • Session 3.3: Different approaches for facilitating learning
  • Conclusion

Click on the button below to start the lesson for Study Unit 3:

Study Unit 3

Study unit outcomes

After completing this study unit, you should be able to:

  • Discuss the importance of assessing client satisfaction;
  • Discuss the importance of evaluating learning and use appropriate evaluation methods;
  • Discuss the importance of evaluating extension training programmes and describe the commonly used indicators for programme evaluation.

Study unit overview

Evaluation is an important component of extension programming. Assessing clients’ satisfaction and their learning will help to plan future programmes and make existing programmes better. In this unit, you will learn why it is important to evaluate the extension services being provided to farmers. This unit will also discuss why learning evaluation is important. You will learn why evaluating adult learners is different from evaluating youth learners and what common indicators are available to successfully evaluate your education programme.

This study unit is divided into the following sections:

  • Introduction
  • Session 4.1: The importance of client satisfaction
  • Session 4.2: Evaluating extension programmes and learning
  • Conclusion

Click on the button below to start the lesson for Study Unit 4:

Study Unit 4