Action learning for achieving effective soil extension outcomes
David Hardwick1
1 Soil Land Food, PO Box 881 Albury NSW 2640
Action Learning activities: Left farmers in Nth Qld assessing soil organisms. Right Soil
organism assessment southern Tablelands NSW. 2014.D. Hardwick.
Introduction
There are a number of challenges when providing effective extension and education
about soils. Soils can be a highly technical and involved subject and participants at soil
field days often do not have the background scientific knowledge that presenters have.
Also many key soil processes occur at scales beyond the human senses. Finally soil
management is a complex topic of ecology with many factors, processes and
relationships occurring at different times and at different scales. These challenges can
sometimes lead extension professionals and soil specialists into the trap of providing
soils information using technical jargon that may not be understandable to non-
scientists and farmers.
The traditional approach to soils extension for landholders and farmers is for an expert
to deliver soils information to the learners. The learners in this process usually receive
the information passively and are often expected to not only retain complex scientific
concepts, but are expected to start implementing management change based on the
information. This is the classic Transfer of Technology approach based on one-way
delivery of information to passive participants and it does not always lead to practical
skills being developed by participants.
To overcome the challenges of providing meaningful soils information to landholders
and farmers, the use of Action Learning-based activities within a decision support
management framework has led to effective extension outcomes with a range of farmer
and Landcare groups in NSW and Queensland. The Day in the life of a soil Role
Play activity, Soils Olympics days and the 7 Soil Psychology Steps framework and
activities have led to successful engagement by landholders in soil topics.
. Olympics activities and qualifying as Landcare Soil Psychologists. 2014. Terrain NRM
Soil Psychology Step 6: Whole Farm Nutrient
Budgeting, Central Tablelands NSW. 2012.
D Hardwick
Exploring the soil ecosystem: Watershed Landcare members preparing
to role-play in a soil pit, Central Tablelands NSW. 2012. T Ridley
A day in the life of a soil role play activity
One method found to be very effective in getting farmer engagement in soil science
information, both soil chemistry and soil biology information, are role play games.
Role play is a well known and effective teaching method for both adults and children.
It provides the opportunity for learners to experience the topic from the first person in
an action-based, non-passive way. The use of role-plays often results in a real shift in
understanding.
Role play activities are informal and participatory and they usually create a relaxed
atmosphere in any learning group. They also break down the barrier between the
teacher and the learners, result in humour being expressed and they help relax
participants which builds group trust. Group trust is critical for the peer-to-peer
learning that comes out during any well facilitated soils workshops.
The result of many role play workshops with many landholders across Australia has
been the development of the Day in the Life of a Soil role play activity that has been
adapted and used widely with over 40 farmer and Landcare groups in NSW and
Queensland as well as with a number of Regional NRM Bodies.
The 7 Soil Psychology Steps
Decision support systems are frameworks that allow a landholder or farmer to make
decisions about their farm business, including soil and land management, in a practical
and relevant way. They help make the soils information relevant as they allow an
extension activity to be located in the context of the overall management system of a
property or farm business.
During a soils extension project with central west NSW Landcare groups in 2012, the
landholders requested a framework be developed to assist them in making better soil
management decisions. Through a collaborative approach, the 7 Soil Psychology Steps
was developed. This framework allows key soils management skills to be delivered
during extension projects. Crucially, it also provides landholders with a decision
support system to ensure soil management decisions can be made in a rational and
holistic way with management resources being directed to address key soil issues in
the correct sequence.
Within the 7 Steps framework are a number of skills-based, practical activities that
can be delivered to landholders as small group activities. These activities include field
assessment of soil health and condition, reading soils tests and conducting nutrient
budgets. The 7 Steps have been used successfully with farmers in extension projects
in the Wet Tropics, central NSW and southern Queensland.
Queensland's first Landcare soil psychologists: Participants in Terrain NRM's 5
month Digging Deeper Program on the wrap up day after completing their Soils
Conclusion
Sustainable management of soils in Australia's agricultural
landscapes requires landholders engaging with and
understanding their soils. The end result of any extension
process should be an increased understanding of soils as
well as practical skills being developed that can help
landholders manage their soils.
The Action Learning based activities such as the A day in
the life of a soil role-play activity and various practical
activities delivered as part of the 7 Soil Psychology Steps
management framework, are two ways to achieve this.
Soils Olympics activities: Left farmers in the Burnett Qld assessing soil properties. Right
farmers in Nth Qld completing soil assessments against the clock. 2014. D Hardwick
Has workshop increased knowledge on soil health Was workshop valuable to attend
30
25
25
20
20
15
15
10
10
5
5
0
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Definitely Somewhat Moderately Not really Not at all
Definitely Somewhat No difference Not really Not at all
Extension evaluation: Results from participant feedback survey from workshop at
Richmond NSW 2014 Angela Maier- Land Services Officer - Greater Sydney Local Land
Services, NSW Gov.