Communication And Audio Visual Techniques
- Agricultural Sciences
- 300 level
- 2 credit units
- 88 pages
- 18 units
This course is designed to equip modern agriculture graduates with essential communication and audio-visual techniques for effective extension delivery services. It explores the principles and elements of communication, including sender, message, channels, and receiver. The course covers training materials, media choices, visual aids, and the use of the internet in extension work. Students will develop skills in message design, effective writing, and editing, as well as strategies for communicating with diverse audiences, including those with limited literacy.
About this course
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Study hours
- 50 hours
- Maths
- None
- Content
- Theoretical, practical, case study
- Practical work
- Yes
- Assignments
- Tutor marked assessments
- Final examination
What you'll read
The real module and unit structure of ARD304, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.
One paragraph, so you can see how it reads
ARD304 · UNIT 1 MEANING AND TYPES OF COMMUNICATION
The assignment file will be given to you in due course. In this file, you will find all the details of the work you must submit to your tutor for marking. The marks you obtain for these assignments will count towards the final mark for the course. Altogether, there are 18 tutormarked assignments for this course.
What you should be able to do
- Define communication and its key elements
- Apply communication principles in extension settings
- Design effective training materials
- Select appropriate media for different audiences
- Utilize visual aids to enhance communication
- Integrate the internet into extension work
What it prepares you for
- Extension Officer
- Agricultural Communicator
- Training Facilitator
- Rural Development Officer
- Information Officer
- Agriculture
- Rural Development
- Education
- Government Agencies
- Non-Governmental Organizations
Where it gets hard
The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.
- Module 3: Communication Theories and Skills
Unit 3: Skills in Communication and Perception
Understanding and applying dialogical communication requires a shift from traditional, one-way communication models, demanding active listening and empathy.
- Module 4: Training and Communication Strategies
Unit 4: Communication with Illiterates
Requires understanding of diverse learning styles and cultural contexts to effectively tailor communication methods.
A suggested way through it
13 weeks, about 46 hours in total. Yours will differ.
- Week 1Module 1: Communication Fundamentals
Unit 1: Meaning and Types of Communication · 2 hours
Define communication. Identify types of communication (downward, upward, horizontal). Analyze communication flow in organizations.
Unit 2: Principles of Communication · 2 hours
Explain principles of effective communication. Identify barriers to communication. Discuss indigenous communication channels.
- Week 2Module 2: Core Communication Elements
Unit 1: Elements of Communication: Sender · 2 hours
Describe the role and attributes of a good communicator. Explain the functions of a sender. Identify constraints faced by the sender.
Unit 2: Elements of Communication: Message · 2 hours
Explain message treatment. Design effective extension messages. Describe attributes of innovations.
- Week 3Module 2: Core Communication Elements
Unit 3: Elements of Communication: Channels · 2 hours
List advantages and disadvantages of communication channels. State guidelines for using different channels. Differentiate between mass media, group, and individual channels.
Unit 4: Elements of Communication: Receiver · 2 hours
State the nature and characteristics of farmers/receivers. Describe how farmers learn as adults. Analyze factors influencing message reception.
- Week 4Module 3: Communication Theories and Skills
Unit 1: Feedback in Communication · 2 hours
Describe the nature of feedback in communication. Explain the role of feedback in extension efforts. Analyze different forms of feedback.
Unit 2: Two-Step Flow Communication Theory: Assumptions and Implications · 2 hours
Explain assumptions of the Two-Step Flow model. State implications of the theory. Analyze the role of opinion leaders.
- Week 5Module 3: Communication Theories and Skills
Unit 3: Skills in Communication and Perception · 3 hours
Explain dialogical vs. monological communication. Develop dialogical communication skills. Describe the perception process and its role.
- Week 6Module 4: Training and Communication Strategies
Unit 1: Training Materials: Meaning, Uses and Design · 3 hours
List uses of training materials. Describe how to design training materials. Explain graphics for training and design approaches.
- Week 7Module 4: Training and Communication Strategies
Unit 2: Media for Training · 3 hours
Describe uses and techniques of various media for training. State advantages and disadvantages of Flip Charts. Analyze different media options.
- Week 8Module 4: Training and Communication Strategies
Unit 3: Choice of Media: Problems and Techniques · 3 hours
Identify problems/challenges in using selected media types. State properties of selected media types. Evaluate media effectiveness.
- Week 9Module 4: Training and Communication Strategies
Unit 4: Communication with Illiterates · 3 hours
Identify the nature of the illiterate farmer. Explain the basis for a new training approach. Analyze communication strategies for illiterate audiences.
- Week 10Module 5: Advanced Communication Techniques
Unit 1: Visual Aids in Training · 2 hours
Describe roles of visual aids in training. Explain functions of pictures in communicating information. Prepare a poster.
Unit 2: Visual Aids and Good Illustrations · 2 hours
Discuss factors in selecting visual aids. Determine qualities of good illustrations. Analyze the impact of visual aids.
- Week 11Module 5: Advanced Communication Techniques
Unit 3: Effective Writing and Editing · 2 hours
List guidelines for effective writing. Give reasons for editing a training manuscript. Practice writing and editing skills.
Unit 4: The Internet in Extension Work · 2 hours
Give meaning and uses of the internet. Describe how the internet works. Describe how cyber extension works.
- Week 12Module 5: Advanced Communication Techniques
Unit 5: Audio-Visual Aids and Techniques · 3 hours
Explain value of using radio, television, and video for training. Explain value and process of participatory video in development work. Analyze audio-visual techniques.
- Week 13Course Review and Exam Preparation
Final Revision · 4 hours
Review all modules and units. Complete assignments. Prepare for final examination.
Preparing for the exam
- Create concept maps linking communication elements (sender, message, channel, receiver)
- Practice designing training materials for different audience literacy levels
- Review case studies on effective media selection for rural communities
- Summarize key principles of visual communication and poster design
- Explore online resources and cyber extension platforms
- Practice effective writing and editing techniques for extension materials
Questions students ask about this course
What is ARD304 about?
This course is designed to equip modern agriculture graduates with essential communication and audio-visual techniques for effective extension delivery services. It explores the principles and elements of communication, including sender, message, channels, and receiver. The course covers training materials, media choices, visual aids, and the use of the internet in extension work. Students will develop skills in message design, effective writing, and editing, as well as strategies for communicating with diverse audiences, including those with limited literacy.
How many units does ARD304 have?
ARD304, Communication And Audio Visual Techniques, has 18 units across 5 modules, over 88 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.
How many credit units is ARD304?
ARD304 carries 2 credit units, at 300 level in Agricultural Sciences.
Is ARD304 hard?
ARD304 is rated intermediate level, with no mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical, practical and case study work, and it has a practical component.
How long does ARD304 take to study?
About 50 hours of study, spread across its 18 units.
How is ARD304 assessed?
ARD304 is assessed by assignments, tutor marked assessments and final examination.
What can I do with ARD304?
Extension Officer, Agricultural Communicator, Training Facilitator, Rural Development Officer and Information Officer.