DEMONSTRATION METHOD- PRINCIPLES & PRACTICES
Meaning– Demonstration means showing by doing. The basic principle of Demonstration is learning by seeing and doing.
Farmers & Demonstrations
A good, practical demonstration is most effective method in extension work. Farm demonstration is good way to show how a new idea works, and what effects on increasing crop production. Through the demonstration, both purposes can be achieved and farmers will be satisfied. Here farmers will be able to observe the differences between a recommended new crop practice and traditional practices.
Extension agents used principally two types of demonstration which are described here.
Types of Demonstration
Method Demonstration
How to do something? Here extension worker shows the method step by step and made clear to the people/farmers. For example, workers show how to plant seeds in line, to use zero tillage etc.
- It is short-type demonstration.
- Its main purpose is to provide only skill.
- It does not compare between the old and new technique/method/skill.
- It is the oldest form of teaching.
- It is a single practice demonstration, used to show how to do something, e.g. how to operate tractor, how to apply fertilizer in the field, method of sowing, soil sampling, grafting fruit trees, etc.
- Seeman A. Knapp is known as father of method demonstration.
Result Demonstration
Result demonstrations were the foundation of Cooperative Extension. In 1902, Seaman A. Knapp and Walter C. Porter had conducted result demonstrations in Texas (USA) to show local farmers how to reduce boll weevil damage on cotton.
Comparison is the important element in a result demonstration. A result demonstration is an ideal way to present a comparison between traditional and new practices. For example, comparison between local seed and selected seed or between use of fertilizer and no fertilizer etc. When a farmer sees the results between two ideas or method he will be convinced by the agent’s recommendation. It can also help to establish confidence in more scientific farming methods and increase the farmers’ confidence in ideas originating from research stations. It shows proof of the value of a new practice.
- This method is based on seeing by doing.
- It is long type demonstration.
- Comparison between two practices i.e. old and new is always done. Finally results of both practices are shown.
- This method is used to show the superiority of practices.
- No method influences adoption decisions by a target audience as much as the result demonstration.
- It may be conducted by a farmer under direct supervision of an extension worker.
National Demonstrations
National demonstrations are the “front-line demonstrations (FLDs)”, conducted by researchers on the farmers’ field.
- It is composite of both method and result demonstration.
- Multiple cropping systems are usually followed and High yielding varieties (HYV) are used in this demonstration.
- The main objective is to show how production can be increased per unit area and per unit time.
- Such demonstrations were first initiated on a modest scale in 1965 by Ministry of Food and Agriculture.
Basic Principles for Demonstrations
Participation- Demonstrations should be carried out on local farms/villages as much possible with farmers’ participation rather than on an extension plot or research station. Usually farmers gain more confidence if a demonstration is held on a neighbor’s land, or if a new practice is shown by a fellow farmer, than if it is carried out by agents on extension land. More the participation of local farmers in the whole process of a demonstration, the greater will be their self-confidence and readiness to learn.
Simplicity- Simple, clear-cut demonstrations of a single practice or new idea will be far more effective than over-complex demonstrations. It is better to proceed step by step with a number of demonstrations than try do everything at once.
Learning environment- The demonstration should be run in learning environment and the agent must be conscious of classroom requirements in terms of space, time, equipment and the teaching method to use.
Preparation- Careful planning and preparation are basic requirements by extension agent for conducting a demonstration. A demonstration quickly given could have disastrous consequences.
Demonstration process
There are six steps in the process.
- Planning and preparation- proper planning and preparation are required for good demonstration.
- Introducing the lesson.
- Presentation of subject matter.
- Demonstration
- Teaching Aids.
- Evaluation
Audio Visual Aids
Movies (Motion picture) – Movies are the most suitable medium for attracting bigger audience and are effective tool for arousing interest among the people. A film show is followed by a discussion with the villagers.
Exhibition– It refers to the systematic display of information, actual specimens, models, posters, photographs, and charts, etc. in a logical sequence.
Posters– A poster is a temporary promotion of an idea, product, or event put up in a public space for mass consumption. Typically, posters include both textual and graphic elements, although a poster may be either wholly graphical or wholly text. Posters are designed to be both eye-catching and informative. Posters may be used for many purposes. A poster should be 50 x 75 cm size or less.
Flannel-graphs- It is graph adhered to thick flannel cloth fixed on a board. Flannel-graphs serve as a good teaching aid.
Flash cards- Flash cards are a set of small compact cards, used for transmitting a unique idea viz. cultivation of hybrid maize, organic farming etc. generally, 10-12 flash cards for one discussion is required. For a group of 30-50 people use flash cards of 15″ x 20″ (37.5 cm X 50 cm) each and for a small group (10-25 people), we can use flash cards of 10″ X 12″ size.
Puppets- It is a media to communicate with farmers. A puppet is an object, often resembling a human, animal, that is animated or manipulated. The puppeteer often speaks in the voice of the character of the puppet, and then synchronizes the movements of the puppet’s mouth with this spoken part. The actions, gestures and spoken parts acted out by the puppeteer with the puppet are typically used in storytelling. Puppets are suitable for village people.
Slides- A slide is a transparent picture or photograph in an individual mount, projected through slide projector. A slide show may be a presentation of images may be used to clarify or reinforce information, ideas, comments, solutions or suggestions which are presented verbally.
Filmstrips- These are a kind of slides depicting a single idea in the form of story, mounted and printed on a single length of 355mm strip film.
Bulletin boards- It’s a kind of simple board serving the purpose of making announcements, displaying events of short duration.
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