These best practices are the result of a collaborative process between ten New American farmer training programs. Over a three year period, these programs implemented new teaching resources and methods. These practices represent effective and relevant teaching practices for farmer training with farmers with educationally and linguistically diverse backgrounds

This facilitator’s guide is intended to help the facilitator(s) lead a four-hour workshop for trainers or future trainers on experiential teaching techniques. Each participant receives the ‘participant’ version of this booklet, and participants and trainers move through the guides together throughout the training. This teaching resource was developed by International Rescue Committee in partnership with the Institute for Social and Economic Development (ISED Solutions). Refugee farmer training programs across the country provided feedback on this lesson, which is now integrated throughout the guide.

This training of trainer’s workshop is designed for refugee farmer incubator interpreters and/or staff who work together to deliver trainings and technical assistance. It is also useful for outside service providers and partners (e.g. extension educators) who provide trainings with refugee farmers using interpreters. The two role-play activities can be used regularly when working with interpreters throughout the season. This teaching resource was developed by the Institute for Social and Economic Development (ISED Solutions)in collaboration with 18 refugee projects from around the country. Refugee farmer training programs across the country provided feedback on this lesson, which is now integrated throughout the guide.

Building new relationships for collaboration, funding or staffing often requires explaining what your program is and how it works. The refugee Ag. 101 packet aims to equip you with enough resources and ideas that you can adapt to your program and share with others.

This handbook is for staff providing training and technical assistance (T&TA) in immigrant and refugee farmer-training programs. This foundational and practical handbook provides basic explanations of certain teaching theories, as well as tips for applying them in the design and delivery of T&TA. This handbook was developed by Dani M. Scherer M. Ed. with the Institute for Social and Economic Development (ISED Solutions). Twelve refugee farmer training programs across the country provided feedback on the content of this guide.

A presentation from the 2015 NIFTI National Field School by Dani Scherer from ISED Solutions. 

Delivering training and technical assistance with literacy-level English-language-learning refugee farmers is a learned skill set and requires a retraining of many of the educational methods and modes many of us fall back on. This workshop will revolve around a simple workshop planning tool which will allow us to explore what it means to teach in a way that is responsive, appropriately leveled and culturally relevant. Touching on adult learning theory, language and literacy categorization, and sequencing of activities, you will create learning objectives and assessment activities that allow you to incorporate farmer knowledge, see evidence of learning, and select for the appropriate amount of content. While some of the information in this workshop is designed for those working with literacy-level English language learning refugees, the theories, instructional shifts and design tools presented are simply good practice and professional development for all educators working in beginning farmer training programs.