Reshaping Rural Extension: Learning for Sustainability (LforS): An Integrative and Learning-Based Advisory Approach for Rural Extension with Small-Scale Farmers

This publication offers concrete suggestions for implementing an integrative and learning-oriented approach to agricultural extension with the goal of fostering sustainable development. It targets governmental and non-governmental organisations, development agencies, and extension staff working in the field of rural development. The book looks into the conditions and trends that influence extension today, and outlines new challenges and necessary adaptations. It offers a basic reflection on the goals, the criteria for success and the form of a state-of-the-art approach to extension. The core of the book consists of a presentation of Learning for Sustainability (LforS), an example of an integrative, learning-oriented approach that is based on three crucial elements: stakeholder dialogue, knowledge management, and organizational development. Awareness raising and capacity building, social mobilization, and monitoring & evaluation are additional building blocks. The structure and organisation of the LforS approach as well as a selection of appropriate methods and tools are presented. The authors also address key aspects of developing and managing a learning-oriented extension approach. The book illustrates how LforS can be implemented by presenting two case studies, one from Madagascar and one from Mongolia. It addresses conceptual questions and at the same time it is practice-oriented. In contrast to other extension approaches, LforS does not limit its focus to production-related aspects and the development of value chains: it also addresses livelihood issues in a broad sense. With its focus on learning processes LforS seeks to create a better understanding of the links between different spheres and different levels of decision-making; it also seeks to foster integration of the different actors’ perspectives.

The Quiet Eye in Motor Performance and Learning – Functional and Theoretical Considerations

High precision in motor skill performance, in both sport and other domains (e.g. surgery and aviation), requires the efficient coupling of perceptual inputs (e.g. vision) and motor actions. A particular gaze strategy, which has received much attention within the literature, has been shown to predict both inter- (expert vs. novice) and intra-individual (successful vs. unsuccessful) motor performance (see Vine et al., 2014). Vickers (1996) labelled this phenomenon the quiet eye (QE) which is defined as the final fixation before the initiation of the crucial phase of movement. While the positive influence of a long QE on accuracy has been revealed in a range of different motor skills, there is a growing number of studies suggesting that the relationship between QE and motor performance is not entirely monotonic. This raises interesting questions regarding the QE’s purview, and the theoretical approaches explaining its functionality. This talk aims to present an overview of the issues described above, and to discuss contemporary research and experimental approaches to examining the QE phenomenon. In the first part of the talk Dr. Vine will provide a brief and critical review of the literature, highlighting recent empirical advancements and potential directions for future research. In the second part, Dr. Klostermann will communicate three different theoretical approaches to explain the relationship between QE and motor performance. Drawing upon aspects of all three of these theoretical approaches, a functional inhibition role for the QE (related to movement parameterisation) will be proposed.