The Learning have a clear demonstration of what we are expected
The Learning to learn;
Process have opportunities to practise the new behaviour;

 receive reinforcement that what we are doing is
 correct;
 have available an appropriate set of learning
 materials.
 Let us take up each one of these points in turn and relate them to
 what is known about the farmers you are working with-and to
 what you can do to make sure these conditions are present when
 you act as instructor, demonstrator or discussion group leader.

 Motivation
 Motivation can be seen as a force-either positive or negative,
 either encouraging or discouraging someone to engage in learning.
 So it relates to many of the issues we were discussing in the
 previous chapter: for example, the desire for an increased income
 can be a positive motivator; conformity to traditional practices can
 sometimes be a negative motivator.
 These are the feelings and attitudes a farmer may bring with him
 when he attends one of your field days or when he visits your farm.
 But, of course, these feelings and attitudes will be affected by what
 you yourself do on these occasions. Your approach to a farmer will
 be either a positive or a negative influence.
 If you present relevant information, if your delivery is coherent and
 emphatic, then the farmer's interest will be aroused and main-
 tained. But if what is said is not relevant to his needs and if your
 delivery is too complicated or dull, then his enthusiasm can be
 blunted. A positively motivated farmer can be turned into a nega-
 tively motivated one by unimaginative or insensitive extension
 agents-and vice versa.

 Receptivity
 This factor relates to whether a person is ready to admit that he
 needs to learn-whether he is prepared to admit that there are
 certain gaps in his knowledge or deficiencies in his skills.
 Usually, it is not a problem when someone is encountering com-
 pletely new material. There is no loss of face involved. However,
 when someone is placed in the position of a learner in a field about
 which he already knows something, then there may well be internal


Chapter 4