Extension education plays a significant role in the transmission, creation, and application of the designed knowledge so as to bring about a positive and a better change in the lives of the people. Extension educator responsibilities are important in educating people about home science, agriculture, dairy science, veterinary science, public health, etc.
Extension educators are professionals who teach the targeted audience and are responsible for delivering the assigned educational programs. Extension educators help in reaching and educating the communities beyond the campus by assisting the people in applying the acquired knowledge to their daily routine activities. If you are aiming to make a career as an extension educator, here is a detailed description of the key responsibilities that you will need to handle as an extension educator:
He is also involved in recruiting, training, and managing a system involving volunteers to assist in the development and evaluation of the educational program. He also tries to seek external fundings in order to enhance the program and help in the achievement of the organization's goals. He may be involved in designing of the course curriculum and develop a budget for that educational program.
The extension educators assist the staff members in gathering and processing the information in a timely manner. They help people in learning ways to help themselves and ensuring a better life for themselves. They study the impact of the efforts taken and prepare a report related to the accomplishments and also submit other related reports. They need to take on different roles like that of a teacher, friend, guide, philosopher, etc. In addition to these responsibilities, they also perform other related duties. Thus, this career option is immensely satisfying as well as challenging.
To be a successful extension educator, you must have a passion for teaching with excellent leadership qualities. You should constantly keep yourself updated with the current trends and knowledge related to education and should be creative to develop innovative methods and techniques to ensure effective learning. You should be able to communicate clearly and should be able to work with a diverse range of people with excellent interpersonal communication skills. You should be comfortable working in a team environment.
A bachelor's degree or a master's degree from an accredited university will be preferred. Those with experience in a similar profile would definitely have more chances for getting selected for that particular job.
The work hours are standard. They work for five days a week and their duty hours do not extend beyond thirty five to forty hours per week. Sometimes they may need to work overtime in case they need to make some presentations or attend some meetings.
The average income of an extension educator varies in the range of $38,000 to $41,000. It depends on a number of other factors like skills and experience of that particular candidate.
With the advent of new technologies, ever changing economic conditions, changing trends in culture, and environmental conditions, the scope and demand for extension educators is bound to rise as they seek and provide the latest updated knowledge to their clientele.
Thus, to ensure success, it is essential that you handle the extension educator responsibilities effectively and efficiently.