The type of training that takes place in a Farmer Field School is often referred to as “non-formal adult education”. What is the difference between formal and non-formal education?
| Formal Education* |
Non-formal Education |
- Teacher
- Teacher is the center of instruction
- Information ‘push’ (teacher decides what trainees are being taught)
- Teacher is responsible to deliver contents from the curriculum
- Teacher has to prepare all sessions
- Teacher forced into being ‘expert’
- Teacher lectures trainees.
- Trainees are passive receivers of information
|
- Facilitator
- Participants can give inputs
- Information ‘pull’ (focus on actual information needs)
- Facilitator ensures that participants learn basic contents and involves participants to determine additional learning goals
- Informal, open exchange; equal chance to participate
- Active cooperation and collaboration from all participants
- Facilitator is a group member
- Facilitator can use inputs of the group
- Questions from the group can be answered BY the group (discussion/sharing of experiences, setting up experiments, inviting resource persons, etc.)
- Working in small groups
- Facilitator stimulates critical thinking.
|
* Modern “formal education” is increasingly using some of the non-formal facilitation skills, placing more emphasis on working in small groups, and stimulating critical thinking and active involvement by the trainees.
