Criteria for Deciding the Breadth and Depth of Topics in a Time-Constrained One-Semester Agroforestry Course

Abstract

Many universities, especially in Sub-Sahara Afri ca, cannot afford to offer more than one agroforestry course due to limited funds, skille d personnel, and/or physi cal facilities. They have to make tough decisions on the breadth and depth of topics to be covered in a time- constrained one-semester agroforestry course. In this paper we present the theoretical base and an example of the applicat ion of an AGROforestry COurse DEcision Model (AGROCODEM) as an aide in de ciding whether a time-constrai ned one-semeste r cou rse has adequate breadth and depth. AGROCODEM consists of six factors: knowledge, attitudes, skills, aspirations, inspirations, and intentions with each fa ctor havi ng seven elements that serve as decision-making criteria. A n agrofor estry course has adequat e breadth and depth if, and only if, it has pote ntial to cause positiv e agroforestry knowledge, attitude, skill, aspiration, inspiration, and intention ( PAKASAII ) changes in the learner. The AGROCODEM decision model is intended to prov ide educators with new ideas and serve as a decision criterion for topics and details to be covered under each topic and hopefully it will help to impr ove sy llab i for tim e-constrained one-semester agrofo restry courses being offered in colleges and universities in Sub-Sahara Africa and other regions of the world.