Exploring Hybrid Teaching Methods for Hispanic Agricultural Workers

Abstract

Growing demand for appropriate training opportunities for Oregon’s increasingly scarce agricultural workers continues to outpace extension’s available time and resources. New, more efficient, and innovative ways of reaching this audience must be explored to better fill the need and demand. Hybrid teaching, which refers to course delivery through a blend of traditional, face-to-face teaching, along with online instruction outside of the classroom, is being implemented in some English-language extension programs. A hybrid pesticide training course was designed and delivered in Spanish over the course of 4 weeks to nursery and landscape workers in Oregon to assess their reception of hybrid teaching. The delivery method was very well received and the students showed interest in taking more courses offered in a hybrid format. Initial and final practice exams included in the course were used to assess student performance and showed significant improvement from the students who completed the course. One student became certified and licensed to apply pesticides in the Oregon.