Shades of Seaman Knapp
Kenneth E. Pigg · Journal of Extension · 1983
Whether our intent is "knowing that" or "knowing how" should influence the demonstration methods we select.In the process of transferring technology and encouraging the adoption of innovation by farmers, Seaman Knapp used cooperative farm demonstrations implemented by farmers on their own land to teach farming technology to farm neighbors.1 In Knapp's view, "What a man hears, he may doubt; what he sees he may also doubt; but what he does, he cannot doubt." 2 Since Knapp's initial efforts, the demonstration technique has taken different forms so there's now considerable variation in the methodology of the demonstration.3 These variations have been developed to meet present needs and situations, more complex than those of earlier periods, providing important flexibility, but obscuring criteria by which individual adaptations are selected.Agents should recognize that criteria to select a particular demonstration method (or any other educational technique) involves several factors, including: type of knowledge to be transferred, degree of participation by clients, and type of impact desired.4