Australian Journal of Adult Learning - Volume 51 - Exploring Video Conferencing for Farmer Education

Oct 15, 2026

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Australian Journal of Adult Learning investigates whether video conferencing, supported by other technologies, is a feasible and viable approach for engaging New Zealand farmers in education. With attendance declining due to time and cost, the paper reviews farmer learning preferences and reports three small-scale FeedSmart trials. The trials test interactive, participatory, small-group formats delivered at a distance through video-conferencing technology connected to feed planning specialists. Findings indicate this e-learning approach has potential and merits further study.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages12

Reading Time30 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Background and feasibility question

Learning needs and preferences

FeedSmart e-learning trials

Trial purpose and scoping approach

Trial design and delivery model

Australian Journal of Adult Learning Volume 51, Special Edition, December 2011 Is the use of video conferencing and supporting technologies a feasible and viable way to woo farmers back into farmer education? Margaret Brown and Tom Fraser AgResearch Ltd (New Zealand) North Dakota State University (USA) have been using video conferencing as a delivery mode for farmer education for about twenty years and report that their farmers find this delivery method both practical and worthwhile. With the number of New Zealand farmers attending learning events decreasing, due mainly to time and cost, maybe it is time to use different approaches to engage farmers in learning. A study called ‘FeedSmart’, which looked into the ways farmers preferred to learn, identified that e-learning is worth further investigation as a learning delivery approach. In this paper we report on three small-scale trials that investigated the viability and effectiveness of generating and delivering information to farmers via a video-conferencing-based learning approach. This study showed that e-learning of this type has potential as a learning approach for farmers and is worthy offurther investigation. Video conferencing 181 Introduction North Dakota State University (USA) have been using video conferencing as a delivery mode for farmer education for about twenty years and report that their farmers find this delivery method both practical and worthwhile. With the number of New Zealand farmers attending learning events decreasing, due mainly to time and cost, maybe it is time to use different approaches to engage farmers in learning. Therefore, this study investigated the question: is video conferencing, supported by other technologies, a feasible and viable learning approach for members of the New Zealand farming community? New Zealand providers of farmer education are currently finding it difficult to attract farmers to learning events. Anecdotal information from farmers and findings from a recent large (845 respondents) survey on farmer learning needs (MacKay & Bewsell, 2010), indicate that, while there is a plethora of learning events offered to farmers, few of these actually meet farmer-identified needs. Farmers report that they want to attend learning events that have direct relevance and application to their own needs, contexts and particular farming issues. They also report that they prefer to learn with and from other farmers. FeedSmart, a Meat & Wool New Zealand and Foundation for Research, Science and Technology (FRST) funded research program, was charged with identifying the most effective learning approaches to use to assist farmers across New Zealand to learn to feed plan more effectively. Initial research directed the development of a series of five different face-to-face workshop styles for delivery to a range of targeted audiences. During the course of this study to identify farmer learning needs and preferences with regards to feed planning, e-learning was identified as a possible delivery mechanism that that farmers might be interested in using and therefore worthy of further investigation. 182 Margaret Brown and Tom Fraser This finding led to exploration of possible e-learning delivery modes that would cater for the farmers’ identified learning preferences for small-group, social, interactive and hands-on learning that is related directly to the farmers’ levels of knowledge and expertise, interestsand their own farming systems and local context. To this end, video conferencing was identified as a technology that had the potential to deliver the type of social learning program the farmers reported they preferred. At the time of this work (2006), the New Zealand Ministry of Education was promoting and co-funding the installation of video-conferencing facilities into many of our high schools, and in particular into rural high schools. This assistance came with the proviso that, whilst the facilities were primarily for classr

FAQs

Why does the paper focus on video conferencing for farmer education?

Attendance at learning events in New Zealand is decreasing mainly due to time and cost. The paper asks whether video conferencing, supported by other technologies, can provide a practical way to engage farmers in learning.

What role did the FeedSmart program play in the study?

FeedSmart was a funded research program tasked with identifying effective learning approaches for farmers. During the project, e-learning was identified as a delivery mechanism worth further investigation.

How were the FeedSmart e-learning trials designed?

The study reports three small-scale trials. Each trial involved groups of eight to ten farmers who traveled to local high schools for three or four two-hour sessions at about three-week intervals, connected to a feed planning specialist elsewhere.

Oct 15, 2026

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