Rural Sociology and Psycology

2.3.3.Steps in Teaching – Learning Process

According to Wilson and Gallup the following six steps in teaching- learning process viz.,

attention, Interest, Desire, Conviction, Action and Satisfaction.

Attention: The first step in extension teaching is to direct the attention of the perspective learners to the new or better idea and expose the significance of it to them in order to arouse their interest.

Interest: Once attention has been captured, if becomes possible for the teacher to appeal to the needs or urges of the individual and arouse his interest in further consideration of the idea. Extension worker reveals how the new practice will contribute to the farmers’ welfare. The message should be presented attractively by referring to the local situation. This will help the learners to identify themselves with the subject being taught..

Desire: The desire is concerned with continuing learners’ interest in the idea or better practice until that interest becomes a desire or motivating force strong enough to compel the learners for action. Learners are provided with conviction that the subject or idea is directly applicable to their situation and highly useful to them. Providing additional information about the idea and possible outcomes as experienced elsewhere will develop desire among the learners for the idea.

Conviction: Action on the part of learners on the new idea will be followed in a condition when the learners are convinced so strongly that it will be easier for the people to act rather than just avoid it. The Teacher should convince that adoption of the new technology will be useful as well as possible in their own situation. Providing evidences like success stories of farmers (who had adopted the idea) and taking the farmers on field visit to successful farms / demonstration farms will be useful at this stage.

Action: Converting conviction into action requires a lot of homework on the part of the extension agency. They have to ensure that all the necessary inputs / implements for adopting the practice are available to the learners within their reach. If action does not follow the desire quickly, the new idea will fade away. At this stage, the extension worker has to frequently visit the farms where the idea is practiced to provide necessary guidance to carry out the practice in the correct way as mistakes committed at this stage will project a negative idea about the new idea in the social system.

Satisfaction: It is the end product of the teaching – learning process. The learner will get satisfaction out of his action if the anticipated results are obtained at the end of this process. Satisfaction is the motivating force to further learning. Satisfaction helps to continue action on the part of the learner with increased satisfaction.