professional communities of extension agents

Professional communities Professional communities of extension agentsof extension agents

1.1. Introduction Introduction

2.2. Veneto experienceVeneto experience

3.3. E-learning blendedE-learning blended

4.4. Professional communitiesProfessional communities

5.5. ProblemsProblems

Stefano BarbieriStefano Barbieri

Veneto Agricoltura - ItalyVeneto Agricoltura - Italy

19° European Seminar on Extension Education19° European Seminar on Extension Education

Assisi 2009Assisi 2009

1.1.1 1 - Introduction- Introduction

Professional communities of extension agents Stefano Barbieri - ItalyStefano Barbieri - Italy

The extension service is more like a knowledge market

the State makes the policies, the rules, supports the farmers, but doesn't manage the service

11.2.2 - Introduction - Introduction

Professional communities of extension agents Stefano Barbieri - ItalyStefano Barbieri - Italy

The farmer is “free” to choose the advisory agency

If, he chooses an accredited agency (according a set of criteria decided by State or Region) the Public give him a x % of cost(FAS in EU reg 1698/2005)

11.3.3 - Introduction - Introduction

Professional communities of extension agents Stefano Barbieri - ItalyStefano Barbieri - Italy

The consultants sell his knowledge, his skills, and compete with each other

11.4.4 - Introduction - Introduction

Professional communities of extension agents Stefano Barbieri - ItalyStefano Barbieri - Italy

Strenght aspect:

- more attention to farmers needs

- more power in the hand of the farmer

11.5.5 - Introduction - Introduction

Professional communities of extension agents Stefano Barbieri - ItalyStefano Barbieri - Italy

Hazards:

- dispersion of resources

- lack of coordination

- sterile competition

11.6.6 - Introduction - Introduction

Professional communities of extension agents Stefano Barbieri - ItalyStefano Barbieri - Italy

the opportunity to acquisition and spread of knowledge are multiplying, are opening

New media – web – web 2.0

is

is

11.7.7 - Introduction - Introduction

Professional communities of extension agents Stefano Barbieri - ItalyStefano Barbieri - Italy

We can address the present “situations of turbulence” doing appeal to a highly professionaland closely networked system of knowledge

11.8.8 - Introduction - Introduction

Professional communities of extension agents Stefano Barbieri - ItalyStefano Barbieri - Italy

It is important to promote

- free circulation of knowledge,

- professional development based on processes of collaborative learning,

- enhancement of the experience gained at work

11.9.9 - Introduction - Introduction

Professional communities of extension agents Stefano Barbieri - ItalyStefano Barbieri - Italy

two strategic methodologies:

- training of technicians through e-learning blended

- their informal aggregation into networks of skill (professional communities)

the Regional public Company for the agricultural, forestry and agri-food sector of Veneto Region – Nord-est Italy

- Research and experimentation

- Economic studies

- Nature and environmental conservation

and education

- Training and spreading information

Professional communities of extension agents Stefano Barbieri - ItalyStefano Barbieri - Italy

Other e-learning courses - Management in organic agriculture- Bioenergy- Beef traceability- Safety on the job in agriculture

Adviser on cross compliance

- E-learning blended course88 hours (22+66) – 2 months ½ - 16 editions - 400 technicens trained- Professional community

2 - Veneto experiences on e-learning and professional communities of extension agents

http://elearning.regione.veneto.it/

Professional communities of extension agents Stefano Barbieri - ItalyStefano Barbieri - Italy

33.1.1 – E-learning blended – E-learning blended

E-LEARNING BLENDED

class room

study tour

original texts and in-depth documents

Self-assessment tests

forumI think ...

Yes, but. ...Why ...?

exercises

defined group of students (20-30),led by a tutor

33.2.2 – E-learning blended – E-learning blended

Professional communities of extension agents Stefano Barbieri - ItalyStefano Barbieri - Italy

The course cannot be studied randomly, but according milestones

the students are professional that risk give priority to their work engagements than e-learning course, with a continue postpone

33.3.3 – E-learning blended – E-learning blended

Professional communities of extension agents Stefano Barbieri - ItalyStefano Barbieri - Italy

active interaction

discuss in Forum, upload documents and pictures, ect.share your experience

collaborative learning

33.4.4 – E-learning blended – E-learning blended

Professional communities of extension agents Stefano Barbieri - ItalyStefano Barbieri - Italy

This is the start to professional communities, which keep alive a network of knowledge and relationsthat conventional learning processes promote, but rarely preserve in the long term

44.1.1 – Professional communities – Professional communities

aa web web (but not only)(but not only) social/professional-social/professional-networknetwork where all professionals, where all professionals, interested in a particular interested in a particular subject, subject, are involved to share and are involved to share and to expand to expand their knowledge, their knowledge, professional skills, professional skills, experiences and solutions.experiences and solutions.

Professional communities of extension agents Stefano Barbieri - ItalyStefano Barbieri - Italy

44.2.2 – Professional communities – Professional communities

NO traditional NO traditional educational experience, educational experience, but “professional”but “professional”, ,

targeted at job and targeted at job and focused on the experience focused on the experience of the participants and of the participants and their ability and desire to their ability and desire to cooperate.cooperate.

Professional communities of extension agents Stefano Barbieri - Italytefano Barbieri - Italy

44.2.2 – Professional communities – Professional communities

The community generates among its members a The community generates among its members a process of identification and aggregation among process of identification and aggregation among "equals" "equals"

More effective More effective communities are born communities are born from a previous from a previous e-learning coursee-learning course

Members know each Members know each other, equal basic skills. other, equal basic skills. Familiar with networkFamiliar with network

Professional communities of extension agents Stefano Barbieri - Italytefano Barbieri - Italy

44.3.3 – Professional communities – Professional communities

““community buildercommunity builder” - stimulate the activities of members, ” - stimulate the activities of members, facilitate the approach to the technologies of the web, etc. facilitate the approach to the technologies of the web, etc.

New job for extension agentNew job for extension agent

Professional communities of extension agents Stefano Barbieri - Italytefano Barbieri - Italy

44.4.4 – Professional communities – Professional communities

Integrated projectsIntegrated projects, , that use different kinds of that use different kinds of tools and methodologies: tools and methodologies: the printing and the printing and dissemination of fact dissemination of fact sheets and handbooks, in-sheets and handbooks, in-depth seminars, etc.. depth seminars, etc..

Professional communities of extension agents Stefano Barbieri - Italytefano Barbieri - Italy

These instruments play a role in enhancing the These instruments play a role in enhancing the diffusion of knowledge and support the diffusion of knowledge and support the consultancy activities of the agents.consultancy activities of the agents.

handbook

Cross compliance

Advisory Dossier

Check-list

e-learning

Professional community

workshops

sheets

Internet

Individual information

service

Training

Integrate projectIntegrate project

55.1.1 – Problems – Problems

Digital deviceDigital device

Estension agents:Estension agents:no-expert about no-expert about informatics tools and informatics tools and their language. their language.

prefer express prefer express themselves verbally themselves verbally than writingthan writing

Professional communities of extension agents Stefano Barbieri - Italytefano Barbieri - Italy

Give the right space for experiential knowledge ...often take the form of stories ... told in informal spaces and informally , en famille

Professional communities of extension agents Stefano Barbieri - ItalyStefano Barbieri - Italy

Professional jealousy market of knowledge vs. collaborative learning

- skills, knowledge as a precious personal resource- competence and knowledge improve thanks to the contribute and the experience of all.

55.2.2 – Problems – Problems

Professional communities of extension agents Stefano Barbieri - ItalyStefano Barbieri - Italy

Hesitation of civil servants to expose themselves

Often the issues being discussed are legislation problems

Often civil servants are teachers or experts

but generally they are afraid to expose themselves in informal situations such as web forums, in which their answers appear such as an official document

55.3.3 – Problems – Problems

Professional communities of extension agents Stefano Barbieri - ItalyStefano Barbieri - Italy

The method change the knowledge ?

G. Siemens (Knowing Knowledge, 2006)

55.4.4 – Problems – Problems

Professional communities Professional communities of extension agentsof extension agents

Stefano BarbieriStefano Barbieri

Veneto Agricoltura - ItalyVeneto Agricoltura - Italy

19° European Seminar on Extension Education19° European Seminar on Extension Education

Assisi 2009Assisi 2009

Stefano Barbieri - Veneto AgricolturaStefano Barbieri - Veneto Agricoltura

www.venetoagricoltura.orgwww.venetoagricoltura.org

stefano.barbieri@venetoagricoltura.orgstefano.barbieri@venetoagricoltura.org