Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Articles 1 - 3 of 3

Full-Text Articles in Adult and Continuing Education and Teaching

How Farmers Learn: Improving Sustainable Agricultural Education, Nancy K. Franz, Fred P. Piercy, Joseph Donaldson, Jessie Deelo, Johnnie Westbrook, Robert Richard Jan 2009

How Farmers Learn: Improving Sustainable Agricultural Education, Nancy K. Franz, Fred P. Piercy, Joseph Donaldson, Jessie Deelo, Johnnie Westbrook, Robert Richard

Nancy K. Franz

This project examines how farmers prefer to learn and what that means for agricultural education, especially Extension educational program development and delivery. Extension educators use a variety of methods for teaching content and processes that enhance farmer learning and adoption of new practices. This research project specifically looked at farmer learning preferences and Extension educator’s instructional methods.


Enhancing Extension Employee Coaching: Navigating The Triangular Relationship, Nancy K. Franz, Robin Weeks Oct 2008

Enhancing Extension Employee Coaching: Navigating The Triangular Relationship, Nancy K. Franz, Robin Weeks

Nancy K. Franz

Coaching Cooperative Extension employees is not easy but provides invaluable results. All three parties in the triangular coaching relationship--the coachee, the coach, and the organization--develop and grow from the process, in turn improving and sustaining the organization. The coaching process helps employees get to know themselves better, be more conscious about their way of being in the world, and contribute more fully to the work around them. This article addresses the importance of coaching employees, characteristics of good coaching, coaching risks, and tips for successful coaching of Cooperative Extension employees.


Adult Education Theories: Informing Cooperative Extension's Transformation, Nancy K. Franz Dr. Feb 2007

Adult Education Theories: Informing Cooperative Extension's Transformation, Nancy K. Franz Dr.

Nancy K. Franz

As the largest adult education institution in America, Cooperative Extension should ground organizational operations in adult education theory. This connection with theory is especially important as Extension systems work towards organizational transformation to create more participatory and democratic learning. Adult education theories of transformative learning and critical reflection from a critical theory perspective are especially pertinent to inform this type of transformation. This requires that Extension create opportunities for learners to experience disorienting dilemmas, critically reflect on their assumptions, and facilitate how to learn not just what to learn.