207-328 Working with Community Groups

The objective of this subject is to introduce the students to the roles, understanding and skills of extension workers, through practice, observation and reflection.

The content includes:

• exploration of the roles of extension workers in a range of occupations, including some background on the philosophy and practice of extension;

• methods extension workers use to engage rural people in individual and cooperative learning projects;

• practice in group skills and other skills used by extension workers;

• an insight into the workings of rural communities; and

• introduction to the literature of extension and rural sociology.

Students are assessed on their participation in the subject (10%), a reflective statement (20%); a literature review (40%) and presentation of a case study (30%).

• C Leeuwis, Communication for Rural Innovation: Rethinking Agricultural Extension. Third Edition, Blackwell Publishing, Oxford, 2004.