Adaptation of the Tyler-Schwab curriculum model to the training of agricultural advisers

• Published in: Agricultural administration and extension Vol. 25; no. 1; pp. 37 - 47
• Main Authors: Blum, Abraham, Azencot, Moshe
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 1987
• Subjects: advisory officers; agricultural education; curriculum; extension education; training officers
• ISSN: 0269-7475
• DOI: 10.1016/0269-7475(87)90056-0

Tyler's and Schwab's contribution to curriculum development is described and shown to be of special relevance to agricultural adult extension education. Differences between students in schools and farmers as learners are analyzed, using the Tyler Schwab curriculum model which emphasizes subject matter, society, the learner and the teacher as sources for objectives. The main implication for curriculum development is the need to emphasize in the curriculum for farmers the development of an inquiry approach (including field trials), the development of understanding scientific principles behind farm practices, based on earlier experience, the development of skills to apply these principles to new situations, and the development of a better understanding of the decision-making process. Following a policy decision of the Extension Service, a course on curriculum development for agricultural advisers was developed, based on the needs identified by using the Tyler-Schwab model. Impact evaluation showed that the model influenced the curriculum revision process to some extent, but its main impact was that ex-students used a more systematic approach in their efforts to improve those points which the model stresses.