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AGEX510 Agricultural and Natural Resource Extension

Credit Points 6
Offering
Responsible Campus Teaching Period Mode of Study Online Level
Armidale Semester 2 Off Campus A- Internet access required
Armidale Semester 2 On Campus A- Internet access required
Intensive School(s)
Start Finish Attendance Notes
14 July 2010 17 July 2010 Mandatory on-campus and off-campus students must attend intensive school
Supervised Exam There is no UNE Supervised Examination.
Pre-requisites candidature in a postgraduate award
Co-requisites None
Restrictions AGEX310
Notes None
Combined Units AGEX310 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Extension
Coordinator(s) Julian Prior (jprior2@une.edu.au)
Unit Description

The unit covers models, methodology and principles of rural extension science with relevance to agriculture and resource management. Emphasis is on communication techniques appropriate to extension/consulting personnel involved in agriculture, but which are applicable to a wide range of disciplines and industries. Skills in group facilitation, adult education, team work, strategic planning and media will be developed, and assessed, by assignments and seminars. There are two lectures, one tutorial and one practical session per week. The four-day intensivel school in July is mandatory for both on-campus and off-campus students. The 500 level unit is based on the undergraduate level unit with additional reading, assignments or projects and the demonstration of a greater level of understanding of the undergraduate material.
Recommended Material
Optional 		Text(s):

Note: Recommended material is held in the University Library - purchase is optional

Beyond Farmer First: Rural People's Knowledge, Agricultural Research and Extension Practice
ISBN: 9781853392504
Scoones, I. and Thompson, J., Intermediate Technology 1994
Text refers to: Semester 2 , On and Off Campus
Referenced Material
Optional 		Text(s):

Note: Reference material is held in the University Library - purchase is optional

Extension for Rural Change
ISBN: 9780724253807
Mortiss, P.D., Dept. of Primary Industries 2nd ed.
Note: Available from the Dixson Library, UNE
Text refers to: Semester 2 , On and Off Campus
Disclaimer Unit information may be subject to change prior to commencement of the teaching period.
Assessment
Title Exam Length Weight Mode No. Words
Assignment 1 10% 500
Assessment Notes
Media release
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 2, 3 GA: 2, 4
Assignment 2 20% 1500
Assessment Notes
Feature article
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1, 2, 4 GA: 1, 2, 4, 6
Assignment 3 10%
Assessment Notes
Oral presentation
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1-4 GA: 1, 2, 4
Assignment 4 10%
Assessment Notes
The degree of active participation in professional training (media and facilitation skills), experiential learning activities, and class discussions, demonstrated by students at the Intensive School
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1-4 GA: 1-8
Assignment 5 50% 4500
Assessment Notes
Feature article
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1-4 GA: 1-8

Learning Outcomes (LO) Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:
  1. develop a comprehensive understanding of the recent evolution of extension theory and practice;
  2. develop extension-related and employment-relevant skills and competencies in areas such as: (i) the use of the media; (ii) effective written and oral communication skills; (iii) group facilitation and group extension techniques; (iv) the application of adult learning principles to the development of an extension program; (v) the selection of farmer targeting strategies and the effective utilisation of farmer information networks; (vi) the development of research-extension linkages; and (vii) extension program planning;
  3. set and achieve their own individual learning objectives in relation to the above skills, competencies and knowledge;
  4. develop their own definition of the purpose of extension and consequently to refine their concept of their future professional role as an extension practitioner.

Graduate Attributes (GA)
Attribute Taught Assessed Practised
1 Knowledge of a Discipline
Students are required to read literature describing the recent evolution of agricultural and natural resource extension. During the mandatory intensive residential school they are also trained in relevant skill areas. Students are then asked to apply this knowledge and skills within both written assignments and within a team based practical extension consultancy. 		True True True
2 Communication Skills
Students are specifically trained and assessed in oral presentation skills. They are also trained and formatively assessed in communication skills related to group facilitation. Written communication is taught, practiced, and assessed in relation to media release writing, feature article writing, and extension plan writing. 		True True True
3 Global Perspectives
Students examine and analyse agricultural and natural resource extension examples from around the world. International trends in extension are taught and students are expected to demonstrate a knowledge of these trends in written assignments, particularly in assignment 5. 		True True True
4 Information Literacy
Students are instructed, assessed, and expected to demonstrate research capacity in written assignments, and utilise a wide range of sources. Students are expected to utilise journal articles, books, research reports and the internet to access relevant materials to complete assignments. 		True True True
5 Life-Long Learning
Students are instructed in, assessed and practice learning skills that will be useful to them beyond the Unit. Within this Unit there is a strong emphasis upon students setting their own personal learning objectives in the area of professional workplace knowledge and skills, and the ongoing life-long personal assessment and development of this knowledge and skills. 		True True True
6 Problem Solving
Students undertake a major extension consultancy task or an extension plan report that involves extensive problem solving. This assignment requires the application of a strategic planning process involving the identification of objectives, strategies, actions, and performance indicators in order to achieve extension-related outcomes. 		True True True
7 Social Responsibility
Students are trained in the concept of social responsibility and required to exhibit social responsibility in group discussions and when undertaking group work. 		True True True
8 Team Work
Students are given training in team skills and perspectives. Students subsequently work in teams in practical and class activities, and within their major extension consultancy assignment. Student teams collectively set behavioural rules for these activities, and undertake peer assessment of their teammates' performance. 		True True True
   

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