As enabler and catalyst of change, particularly in agriculture sector, Agricultural Extension Workers (AEWs) should be provided with appropriate support and capacitate them with various competencies and skills to continuously deliver an excellent extension services to their clients. One of competencies that should be paid attention to is how to become an effective resource person.

Effective resource person makes positive connections with learner’s knowledge, skills and attitude. They become an influencer and serve as multipliers of agricultural technologies. Thus, the ATI MIMAROPA conducted a Training on Resource Person Development via Zoom for AEWs on June 27 – 30, 2022. Said training aims to develop an effective resource person and/or facilitator and improve their knowledge, skills and attitude to effectively deliver extension services in their localities.

During the training, Engr. Karen T. Vicente, Agriculturist I presented The Resource Person and His Task. She discussed the good qualities that a good resource person should possess. Further, Ms. Cristina G. Magnaye, Training Specialist III discussed the Training Methods and Selecting and Developing a Topic. She explained how a resource person should select an appropriate and relevant topic. She also gave some useful tips in topic selection. Meanwhile, Ms. Jezell dT. dela Cruz, Information Officer II discussed the Presentation Skills wherein she enumerated the different instructional materials that can be used in presentation. One of the applications that she introduced in making instructional material was Canva. Ms. dela Cruz explained the benefits or advantages of using Canva in creating designs. Moreover, she showed the use of each tool and eventually let the participants explore the Canva board for them to familiarize with the application.

As part of their workshop, each participant was tasked to create at least five slide-presentation using Canva.

The participants appreciated the new application that they could use in preparing their presentations. They said that using Canva app, they can make their presentations more attractive and interactive. In addition, they also applied the principals, concepts and learnings they acquired from the resource persons during the micro-teaching. The resource person also served as panelists of the activity where they provided comments, suggestions and more tips to improve their capacities as resource person and/or facilitators.

In her impression, Ms. Alpha Ramirez, Agricultural Technologist from LGU-Cajidiocan said that the training was very informative and that she has learned a lot, especially on how she could improve herself as a resource person or facilitator. She also appreciated the inclusion of Canva app in the training module.

“Napakarami kong ng natutunan especially in making presentation lalo na yung sa Canva, masishare ko sa aking mga kasamahan kung paano gumawa ng mga presentation at reports using Canva na magagamit namin sa pagtuturo sa mga farmer,” she said.

A total of 18 AEWs from the region attended the online training.