e-Extension’s advocacy means a lot of IEC (Information, Education and Communication) materials to prepare and deliver.

From pins to bags, pens to ID sling then to cardboard hand-fans and the like. These and all were given with one ultimate purpose “to inform clients about the program” and at least let them grasp a little about the benefits from it.

As an e-Extension Coordinator known to be “hard-line with the program,” sometimes our hands are full bringing this stuff to support the things we shared through word-of-mouth.

Last April I was given the privilege of speaking before the 2012 graduating class of the UPLB College of DevCom. For most of my speech, I talked about my real world experience at ATI, with e-extension. Just how many of them would join us in extension work? I wouldn't know, but here were my talk-points, abridged.

It was the 4th e-learning mass graduation hosted by ATI-Caraga and the first that I attended. No, of course it was not virtual, not online. It was12-01-2011 in real time, with the characteristic personal touch of ATI as seen and felt in its trainings.

We'd like to give a salute to the man who made us realized that Philippine e-Extension and ATIiNteractive possible. He made himself a part of the ATI family and pushed us to embrace change and think outside the box. With him, we were able to push through with e-learning and expanded it further to embrace the different components of the e-Extension Program for Agriculture and Fisheries. We were able to put up the Farmers' Contact Center, which now serves as a frontline helpdesk of the Department of Agriculture for farm and business advisory services and a technical support for e-Learning.

As the e-Learning for Agriculture and Fisheries approaches its fifth year (launched Dec. 11, 2007), it's now easier to answer, or bust, myths/misconceptions of prospective users. I think the reason why there are myths is that fast-draw mentally: some people are quick to react negatively, or just erroneously, when something new and unexpected is brought to their attention. I have put together 5 of the most common myths/misconceptions that people had after the initial e-learning courses on agriculture and fisheries were opened for enrollment.

On September 9, 2011, I attended the joint meeting of the Region Eight Applied Communications Task Force (REACTF) and the Regional Management Information System-Core Group (RMIS-CG) of the Visayas Consortium for Agriculture and Resources Program. Part of the discussion was the upcoming silver anniversary and debut of the REACTF and RMIS-CG, respectively, in June 2012. Dr. Wolfreda T. Alesna who presided the meeting, shared how both groups started and how we become what we are at present.