Evaluation Notes: Session III Observing and Participating, International Extension Training Program 2003-2004

Participatory Evaluation of Session III: Observing and Participating

Please fill out these few questions. (Answers will remain anonymous.) A discussion will follow.

 1.  What was an unexpected aspect of the experience (something that surprised you most or was different than you had imagined)?

  • The community needs for local, state and federal infrastructure and service are the same in Costa Rica as they are in the U.S. We share the same deficiencies and challenges, the only difference is the standards from where you begin.
  • The family experience was different (much better, more exciting and pleasant) than expected.
  • While I anticipated making new contacts on this trip, I did not expect to make so many and varied connections.  I was pleasantly surprised and impressed by the opportunities provided to out group by our UF leadership to see a variety of different agricultural concepts and activities and to meet with Costa Rican leaders in a variety of sectors.
  • The canopy tour was a great opportunity that I had never experienced before.  It provided a unique opportunity to see Costa Rican wildlife.  The home visits were very positive and were a real highlight for many participants. I was not sure how they were going to come across—how people would perceive them.
  • The wonderful integration of agriculture and trying to work with nature instead of against it; can we say $600 voucher??; the lack of urban extension; how many SUVs there were on the road; EARTH felt their affirmative action type admission was a non-debatable issue unlike here in the U.S.; EARTH-how beautiful and well manicured it was; how much each member added to the group-I love the economic realities the commissioners added; a better appreciation for the land-grant system and close ties between university and extension; my naiveté about the port-it is so important and I knew so little.
  • The schedule was overly aggressive, without regard for travel time issues.  Needed fewer stops with more time at each stop and more flexibility in travel time between points
  • I thought the translation would be more efficient.  I also thought that my host family would be a little more excited to show off  their farm/house/family/culture.  Huge variations between regions of the country.  The highest standard of living near Atenas area.  The beautiful houses in the Argentina Community; previously I had seen smaller farms, ignorant that such nice homes also existed in the community.
  • The meeting with Amos Bien; that was a very good meeting.
  • I didn’t expect to learn as much about agriculture in general.
  • The amount of time we spent in structured activities.  I thought we would have more time to socialize and relax.
  • The reality of where extension is most needed in countries where the information makes a life changing impact on the individual and the community.  So different from most of the US where the information is of more casual benefit, than direct.
  • The obvious availability of business opportunities.

2.  What have you learned from this experience that you already think you will incorporate into your work? (For example-partnership relationships with commodity groups and civic, religious, or educational organizations, etc.)

  • Nuances of the Hispanic culture can immediately be used with audiences in educational programs.  Deepened my belief that to be an effective educator you must be able to place yourself in the shoes of your audience.  Must continually focus personally and in training others on the need to respect audiences before teaching.  Must continue to learn from our clientele.  Cross cultural skills will allow me and my colleagues to better serve diverse domestic audiences.
  • partnership opportunities
  • To move a portion of my program into international work.  Where the basics are so desperately needed.  The importance of a demonstratable impact!
  • Organizing programs to meet the needs of a diverse audience.  Focusing on low income families.
  • Revisions to my county’s evolving ecotourism business model
  • The experience showed me that my county (Leon) can have a much stronger working relationship with our Cooperative Extension Service in meeting the needs of our citizenry
  • Possibilities include partnerships with EARTH University to do things such as student exchanges/internships, graduate student opportunities, training workshops, or progress on Extension Education.  Partnerships and / or work with the University of Costa Rica to work on a University model of Extension Education.
  • How successful biocontrol is catching on in Costa Rica; how can we model their successes to market this idea to our growers? And hopefully building relationships to explore this; Understanding the importance of sustainability being equal or more important than economics and how that can be marketed to growers; Hopefully a summer internship in the next year and a half; helping with the internship of EARTH students
  • 1. Create outreach to Hispanic clientele; broaden understanding of Latin American culture
    2. Greater capability to facilitate partnerships between Florida’s governmental and NGO’s and Costa Rican partners
  • All of my dialogues with extension personnel have served to greatly enhance my understanding of the extension situation in Costa Rica.  I will use this information in finalizing my research/thesis, for a class project to develop a new extension system for Costa Rica, and my future work with Costa Rica.  The realization that the trend is toward a mixed pest management approach-less chemicals, fewer inputs, biological control, and herbicides.
  • The local county extension and county commissioners need to have community meetings, on time each month to have dialogue with the people (exposure to county extension activities)
  • I think I will use this experience and situations I’ve seen as examples for experiential learning in the classroom with my students.

3.  At what moment of the experience did you feel most engaged as a learner? Why?

  • Meeting with political counterparts.  The realization that we face similar issues and seek affordable solutions.
  • The entire time---very difficult to pull out one moment; Perhaps the most “A-ha” moment was when I began to understand the 3 pillars of the EARTH Academic model:  community (social equity and justice),  entrepreneurship,  agriculture and natural resources sustainability; the unique model would serve us well if replicated if we are to truly become a compassionate interdependent world.
  • Recovering some of my Spanish when visiting my host family.  To find in language, a place where I utterly knew nothing and had to build back up to a level of communication!
  • 1. At EARTH University when we visited students’ entrepreneurial demonstration projects
    2. Farms that are engaged in various agricultural enterprises: various methods and technology can be used in our local Cooperative Extension Service programs.
  • At Argentina.  It was not so much what I learned, rather, observing first-hand the though process that my hose (Rafi y Betty Hora) is using to establish his eco/agri-tourist business.
  • That is a difficult question to answer because the entire 10 days were completely filled with learning opportunities.  However, if I have to pick one moment, it was probably during the give-and-take session with the elected officials and mayor of Guacimo.  The reason I would offer is that it was the moment I came to understand  a marvelous opportunity I had personally to learn about various aspects of another culture from another political leader. 
  • When I had informed discussions with people involved in Extension Education in Costa Rica.  This was an opportunity to really ask questions and learn and focus on specific issues an topics.
  • The casual, often somewhat private conversations I had with the lower level workers.  For example, talking with extension agents, walking around town with the vice mayor, and hearing her perspective on her city’s politics, listening to farmers outside their “public speeches”.  I think people are more open and real in a relaxed setting.  In addition, those who were not first in command were more honest and to the point with their answers.  Also, the Carambola farm was just super excellent.  She was so knowledgeable and so willing to share useful information.
  • 1. The time spent with the host family was the time when I was most deeply engaged.  The immersion experience was ideal and extraordinary.
    2. Time spent in personal interaction with Costa Ricans.  This was when there was no one structuring our discussion for us and we could speak freely and learn freely.
  • When I was having private conversations with extension agents/technicians or directors who  work on the ground level or combine that with an administrative role.  I was so  thirsty to hear 1st hand , the problems, issues, concerns they were facing along with their models, approaches, successes, philosophy, and overall attitude.  I really learned the most from this type of informal interaction.
  • The stay overnight with family in La Argentina community, taking part in the family daily activities.  The family of “Margarita” good people.  “Bien gracias” hasta luego
  • When we met with Pedro and learned about the experiences working with families in LA Argentina.  To see the pedagogy behind the concept before doing it ourselves.

4.  At what moment of the experience did you feel like you contributed the most? Why?

  • I felt like I helped others feel good about their experience and listened to them share ideas
  • My presentation; The government Dept of Agriculture.  The exchange of ideas
  • Will immediately share experiences with Advisory Committee members, office colleagues, family and friends, and volunteers focusing on what we have to learn from others and how new experiences contribute to re-energizing and opening new doors.
  • During my interaction with speakers, my family and other officials, I felt as though I was an ambassador for UF, Extension, Florida as well as the U.S.  The impression I made would reflect positively or negatively.
  • In explaining different aspects of EARTH University, translating (somewhat), helping the morale of the group with the feel-good day, being happy
  • Time spent with the host family.  I formed a good bond with them and was able to broaden their horizons, experiences and knowledge, while learning even more from them
  • giving the presentation for students interested in internships/graduate school –talking with students individually throughout the week about possibilities
  • When I was providing leadership for different segments of the program because it provided greater ownership and involvement.  This also applied to times when I was speaking for the group
  • Alerting our group and our hosts as to the value and industry of bird watching
  • I was probably was able to make my most significant contribution when we met with and spoke to the Costa Rican Congressional Delegation
  • Our group presentation to the minister of agriculture.  The amount of time it took to prepare the presentation
  • In working on the future alliances and helping to establish connections between Costa Rica & Florida
  • Meeting with their National Ag Committee.  I was in my element.

5.  What are some ideas that you have about how you think you will share your experience with others?

  • As the opportunity arises
  • better maps of Florida to highlight counties of interest in presentations; the overall importance of bi-languidness in class; presentations and lectures
  • 1. through local 4-H projects
    2. small farm demonstrations
    3. photos and power point presentations
  • I intend to present a workshop for my commission in the next several weeks.  I intend to organize, along with Dr. Vergot, and commissioners Thaxton, Hatch and Peters, a FAC workshop on improving relations with the Cooperative Extension Service.
  • Cultural and Social values likenesses/differences –Costa Rica’s strong environmental ethics, particularly with habitat preservations
  • I will share the experience at the departmental and college level through informal discussions and possibly 1-2 seminars.  I’ll incorporate what I’ve learned into my teaching assignment with classes as well as with graduate student research.  I’ll be better able to communicate about Costa Rica, EARTH, and the University of Costa Rica with colleagues, co-workers, and students to encourage their involvement.
  • In the IPM meeting in a few weeks I know I will be talking about biocontrol in Costa Rica. –A presentation for my department
  • approach others about possible exchange programs for EARTH students and ideas of internship ideas when I go.
  • 1. presentations to the Board of County Commissioners, to inter-agency and civic groups, and to professional groups
    2.Personal sharing with peers and clients
  • Holding seminars for other students to attend in the fall semester, promoting international experiences, highlighting lessons learned, and impacts of the experience.  Discuss the extension systems further with other international students from Latin America, brainstorm and propose new models. 
  • Meeting with civic groups
  • I will use a lot of the visuals provided in my teaching.  I also plan to use relationships formed on this trip to establish linkages for study tours and further research

6.  Was anything particularly positive about the experience? What?

  • The diversity of places we visited and people we met, here in Costa Rica and in our group from the states
  • Yes, the people I came with to Costa Rica.  I will always remember them.
  • Nestor’s operation with the banana plantation.  Our group.  We had excellent cohesion.  I enjoyed listening to the wealth of wealth of knowledge from within our group and Costa Rica
  • The time spent in personal interaction with Costa Ricans, not in scheduled short stops to farms and government agencies.  Most special time was in host families.
  • I really enjoyed our group and getting to know everyone.  Each person contributed a particular aspect and the trip wouldn’t have been the same without them.  A better understanding of another extension system.  To see success in areas of extension that I have felt pessimistic about.
  • The small group and one-on-one discussions to learn about specific areas of interest related to Extension.  Seeing many parts of the country, seeing a diversity of programs and people.  The breadth helped to give a good overview. –The opportunity to not only learn, but to also have some opportunity for personal enjoyment  ie. Canopy tour, hot springs, etc.
  • Yes. Costa Rican heritage, social and environmental
  • Again, too hard of a question to pin down.  The entire 10 days were filled with positive and rewarding experiences.  Probably one of the most positive was the weekend stay with our “families” in the little rural village of  “Argentina”. 
  • Yes.  1. EARTH University methods of preparing students for Agricultural endeavors.
    2. The visits to all of the farm enterprises were extremely positive. 
  • That there is such a need for international cooperation
  • Yes! Increased awareness of cultural differences and cultural similarities
  • Meeting the EARTH University faculty and becoming more familiar with the institution’s model for delivering a quality education—particularly the community out-reach component.  Family visit, camaraderie of group.

7.  Was anything particularly negative about the experience? What?

  • Too tight of a schedule. Not enough “down time” to digest experiences.  Accumulated fatigue shortens tempers.
  • Nothing, an excellent experience
  • Visits to the local Cooperative Extension offices. Poorly organized.  No evidence of working with small or large farmers
  • The only “negative” I can think of was the problem we encountered in the Port of Moin wherein we were unable to actually board one of the ships and see fully the operation at that level.  The schedule was also very jam packed and sometimes became a little overwhelming; such as the visit (unscheduled actually) in which we traveled one hour to see a plantain farm and see the difference before chemical and non-chemical. 
  • The grueling schedule made it difficult to appreciate (or even learn) from the many special opportunities we were having; Concerned that even though we were prepared, still needed more cultural sensitivity training and a session with a UF faculty member on conflict resolutions and what to expect when sharing such close environs might be helpful; Suggestions:  More cultural sensitivity training, conflict resolution (UF/IFAS faculty) interpersonal relationships.
  • The schedule was a bit ambitious
  • Sometimes we tried to pack too much in and thus did not give us adequate opportunity to discuss and really learn –this decreased the depth of learning.  This was an issue also because of the diversity of people that were part of this group.  We needed to see various things to meet the diverse needs.  In the future there may be opportunities to have breadth as well as depth through offering concurrent sessions—if possible.  The rhetoric from some administrators was frustrating and confusing
  • I could have been better engaged as a learner if more time had been spent in particular places.  The day we spent with the mayor and the town officials was great but I would have loved to have spent equally long and relaxing time with extension agents and government officials.  More time should be spent with the workers and less time with the directors.
  • Dr. Vergot did not seem to have a good understanding of the expectations of the Costa Ricans for what they wanted from us.  He tended to be overly restrictive, trying to force us to comply with his expectations even when our hosts were asking for something more.  Each member of this group deserved the respect due them by virtue of their position and personhood and many were not accorded personal respect by him.
  • Meeting with politicians.  We should have had more time to meet, exchange ideas, knowledge, form linkages, joint initiatives with extension agents, faculty from EARTH and UCR (rather than have meetings that consisted of mostly fluff and formal proceedings with guarded, affected discussions).  Need more time to actually make progress, accomplish something to get the ball rolling in the right direction.  Lloyd Foster was not in touch with what was really going on, answered NO questions appropriately, and contributed NOTHING to our understanding of extension. Huge waste of time. Nobody’s fault, but he should not be included in future sessions.
  • Yes.  The visit to the University of Costa Rica….needed more time on campus.
  • Only that we couldn’t stay longer in all the great places!