ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors
would like to acknowledge Dr. Judy Greene, Director, Center for Teaching
Effectiveness, University of Delaware, Newark DE 19717 for her assistance
in the preparation of this manual. This project was supported, in
part, by an EPA Region III Environmental Education Grant, "Increasing effectiveness
of homeowner pesticide safety training using active learning technique."
HOW TO USE THIS MANUAL
This manual is written
for Master Gardeners. It is meant to be used in conjunction with
the Extension
County Agents & Specialists Train-the-Trainer Manual of the same
title. These manuals are designed to teach the educational technique
of active learning and use the lesson "Be Safe With Pesticides! Read
the Label" as an illustration. Bonwell and Eison
(1991) state that a person's attention span in the class room is about
10-15 minutes. It is important to change teaching styles accordingly.
This manual will show you how.
A.
DEFINITION
Active learning is best described by contrasting it to the traditional
technique of lecture. In a lecture, the instructor stands in front of the
class and "gives" information. Members of the audience may "take" the information
or they may not. Lectures are sometimes considered to be "passive learning."
However, educators know that learning can never be a passive activity.
Active learning is an educational technique that de-emphasizes transmitting
facts. Students learn by doing activities, thinking about the subject and
relating it to their everyday life.
What
does active learning look like?
* Members
of the audience are involved in more than passive listening.
* Members
of the audience are engaged in activities, such as reading, discussing,
and writing.
* Less
emphasis is placed on information transmission
* More
emphasis is placed on developing skills.
* More
emphasis is placed on exploration of attitudes and values.
* Individuals
receive immediate feedback from the speaker.
* Members
of the audience are involved in higher order thinking, such as analysis,
synthesis,
and evaluation
* Active
learning involves people in doing things and thinking about the things
they are doing!
B.
WHY DOESN'T EVERYONE USE ACTIVE LEARNING?
Active
learning is an exciting way to teach a class. But some speakers are reluctant
to try new techniques.
Perceived Barriers to using active learning:
Can't
cover as much material.
Studies show that 8
weeks after a traditional lecture, students retain only 25% of the material.
With active learning, however, individuals retain 50% of the material.
Yes, it is true that it takes more time to teach the same amount of material
using active learning as it does to teach that material through lecture.
But, if the speaker uses active learning and covers only 50% of the subject
content, students will retain 25% of the subject - the same amount as with
lecture. If the speaker covers even slightly more
than 50% of the subject, then more
than 25% of the subject will be retained.
Takes
preparation.
Each new lesson requires
preparation time whether it is traditional lecture or active learning.
Once a speaker tries active learning, the techniques become second nature.
Classes
too large.
There are successful
techniques for working with classes of hundreds. The class can be divided
into smaller groups with facilitators.
Lack
of materials and equipment for active learning.
Today there are many
resources available for the speaker who wants to use active learning. This
manual is an example!
People
resist non-lecture style and won't participate.
Experience does not
show this to be true, especially with the adult learner. People appreciate
being treated like intelligent partners in the learning process.
Loss
of control over class.
After group discussions,
there are ways to get the audience's attention. You may use buzzers &
timers or turn lights on/off.
C.
MAKING A CLASSROOM COMFORTABLE
Active learning is a very personal approach to teaching and quite different
from formal lecture. The speaker dialogues with the audience! It is important
to create a comfortable learning environment when using active learning.
How to create a "safe" classroom for active learning:
E. GETTING
READY TO USE ACTIVE LEARNING
Objective
Time
required:
Materials
Needed:
Complete the worksheet
ACTIVE
LEARNING: YOU CAN DO IT! to help you plan to use active
learning in the classroom. Then use the lesson plan "Be
safe with pesticides! Read the label."
1. To help the
homeowner learn how to use pesticides safely in the house, garden and
lawn by understanding the pesticide label.
2. to motivate
homeowners to adopt safety practices.
45 minutes
plus preparation time reviewing script.
1. Name cards or badges for you and members of the audience.
2. Overhead projector
if audience is large. Flip chart & tape if audience is small.
3. markers
4. 2 index cards or slips of paper for each attendee
5. pencils and/or pens
6. 2 jugs with make-believe pesticide label (skull and crossbones is enough)
7. Kitchen timer
Before
the Meeting:
1. Review
this lesson plan.
Procedure:
1. Members of the audience solve a problem together and learn how to make
decisions
using pesticides.
2. The
speaker describes the parts of the pesticide label and points out parts
of the label
that the audience neglected to use while making their decisions.
3. The
speaker describes the take home activity.
4. The
speaker administers the evaluation.
BE SAFE WITH PESTICIDES!
READ THE LABEL
Speaker's directions and script
Before the program begins
Pass out name badges
or name cards and markers. Encourage everyone to write their first
name large enough so that you can read
their names from the front of the room. Don't forget your
own badge or card.
Introduction
If you are speaking
as an invited speaker, your host should introduce you. Thank the
audience for inviting you to speak. If you are conducting a Master
gardener program, introduce yourself and thank the audience for attending.
Lead In (Speakers comments are in quotation
marks)
"How many of you have
applied pesticides at home?" Listen to the answers and point out
that even toilet bowl cleaner is a pesticide.
"Anything that kills or repels a pest
is a pesticide." Name some pests and their pesticides:
insects (insecticides), weeds (herbicides),
plant pathogens (fungicides), snails & slugs
(molluscides), trash fish in a sporting
lake (piscicides), birds (avicides), nematodes (nematicides).
(Do not say, "Herbicides and pesticides."
Herbicides ARE pesticides.)
Audience Warm-Up
Put members of the
audience into pairs. Ask them to, "Tell your partner what you grow in
your garden." Allow only 2-3 minutes,
then begin the lesson. Use a kitchen timer or turn the
lights on/off when time is up.
Outline the program on the flip chart
or overhead
"Today we will:
Have a problem solving
exercise
Review parts of the
pesticide label
Look at a take home
activity and do an
Evaluation of the program."
Problem solving exercise
"Here is a problem
for you to solve: You are working in your yard and you see that your
favorite azalea has bugs all over it.
You figure that you need to apply a pesticide. You grab
your car keys & jacket and head over
to the garden store. You pull up in the parking lot, go
inside. You note that the clerk is busy
and has a line waiting to talk to him. So you're on your
own. You stand in front of the shelves
of pesticides. You need to decide which pesticide to
buy. How do you do this? What questions
do you ask yourself to decide which pesticide to
buy? What do you need to know before
you can make a pesticide application? Write one
question on the index cards & pass
to front."
Read some of the index
cards, then list the questions on the overhead or flip chart. It is
easier to have a second person list the
questions while you sort the cards and read aloud
the ones you want listed.
Typical questions:
Will it kill the bug?
Can I use it on azalea?
Is it harmful to kids
& pets?
Will it hurt the environment?
Keep saying that the questions are very good. Support the efforts of the attendees.
Continue with the lesson.
Hold up one of the make-believe pesticide jugs: "So, we decide
which pesticide to buy, get back in the
car, and drive home. Now you are home with your
pesticide. You jump out of the car,
take the pesticide container over to the azalea. But hold
everything! Wait a minute! You need
to decide how to apply this pesticide. What questions
do you ask yourself to decide how to apply
this pesticide ? What do you need to know before
you can make a pesticide application?"
"Write your questions on the index cards & pass to front."
Read some of the index cards, then list on overhead or flip chart.
Typical questions:
Do I have the right
personal protective equipment (PPE)?
How much do I apply?
How do I mix it?
When do I apply it?
Where do I apply it?
How do I apply it?
When can I let kids
& pets back in the area?
Keep saying that the questions are very good. Support the efforts of the attendees.
Continue with the lesson.
Hold up one of the make-believe pesticide jugs: "Would it
surprise you if I said that you can find
all the answers to these questions on the pesticide
label?"
"Let's set our lists
of questions aside for a minute and look at the handout, 'The ABC's of
a
Pesticide Label." Put the flip chart
to the side or turn off the light on the overhead projector.
Pass out the handout.
Give the members of
the audience time to look at their handout while you say, "Everything
you need to know to be safe with pesticides
is on the label. Read the label 5 times:
Before you buy the
product
before you store it
before you mix &
load
before you apply, and
again
before you dispose
of the empty container."
"This handout lists every part of the label. I'm going to emphasize certain sections:"
Parts of the Label
C. Formulation
"The formulation tells
you what the pesticide looks like when it pours out of the jug. You
must match the formulation with your application
equipment. If the formulation is a granule,
you need to use a drop spreader. If the
formulation is a liquid, you need a pump-up sprayer,
hose end sprayer or other liquid sprayer.
Some of your pesticides will be 'ready to use' so
you won't need equipment."
"You must also match
the formulation with the pest problem. If you have a leaf-eating
insect, a granular formulation won't help.
The granules won't stick to the leaves. You need
to use a liquid or a dust that will stick
to the leaves. If you are treating broadleaf weeds in
the lawn, you can use a granular formulation."
D. Type of pesticide: insecticide,
herbicide, fungicide, nematacide, rodenticide, avicide.
"You must also match
the type of pesticide to the pest. Using an herbicide for our bug on
azalea won't do much good."
H. EPA numbers.
"These numbers tell
you that the product is legal. Before a company can begin to sell a
pesticide they must submit results of
laboratory experiments to EPA. Once EPA has
reviewed the documents, they register
(not approve) the pesticide and give it a number. If
you do not see an EPA number on a product
that makes pesticidal claims (kills or repels
pests), that product is illegal."
I. Signal word
"There are 3 signal
words. These words tell you how toxic the product is to you the
applicator, not to the pest:
Danger, the most toxic
Warning, less toxicity
Caution, lowest toxicity."
"Here is a problem for
you: You're trying to decide which pesticide to buy. You pick out 2
pesticides. Both say they will do
the job. One has a signal word 'Caution.' (Hold up one of
the make-believe pesticide jugs) The other
is 'Danger.' (Hold up the other make-believe
pesticide jug) Which one should you use?"
Take a Thumbs up/Thumbs down" vote & then
explain why use you should use the pesticide
with a caution signal word.
Route of entry and
Specific action statements
"This statement helps
you pick PPE. There are 4 routes of entry: dermal, eyes, respiratory,
ingestion. What are the sites of greatest
absorption? (Answers: Groin, face, forehead.)
If the label says, 'fatal if swallowed,'
what would you do? (Answers: don't eat, smoke or drink
while handling. Use a face shield)
If the label says, 'don't breath vapors
and mists,' what would you do? (Answers: use a
respirator, stay upwind)
If the label says, 'don't get on skin,'
what would you do? (Answers: Use chemically resistant
gloves, fore arm protectors, aprons, tyvek
suits)
If the label says, 'keep out of eyes,'
what would you do? (Answers: wear goggles or face shield)."
J. PPE
"PPE means Personal
Protective Equipment. Look for this section on the label, but also use
the signal word, route of entry and specific
action statements to help you choose PPE. The
minimum PPE is long-sleeved shirt and
long-legged pants."
"When mix/loading, the
forearms get 13% of contamination from pesticide exposure. The
hands get 85%. This adds up to 98%
of exposure that could be completely avoided by
wearing rubber gloves and forearm protection."
"The very minimum PPE
is long legged pants, long sleeved shirt, non absorbent hat, gloves
and footwear."
"What happens if you
wear a baseball cap or leather work boots?" (Answer: They will
absorb pesticides and continue to contaminate
you every time you wear that item.)
K. User safety recommendations
"Sometimes even the
right PPE is not enough. Don't wipe your forehead, eat, smoke, drink
while applying pesticides. Wash hands
before toileting."
L. First Aid
"You need to know first
aid procedures before you have an accident. Keep a copy of the
label on a clip board in the storage/
mixing/ loading area."
M. Environmental hazards
"Pesticides may be
hazardous to water, pollinating insects, birds, other wildlife. Make sure
you plan ahead & scout the area."
N. Directions for use.
"You will use this
section a lot. It explains when -- what time of year, what time of day
-- and
how you will make the application."
P. Storage and Disposal:
"Always store pesticides
in a locked, cool, dry, well ventilated, facility. The best facility has
a sealed concrete floor and stainless
steel shelves."
"For disposal of unwanted
pesticides, the label will probably tell you to wrap the container
in newspaper and deposit in the trash.
Your county may have a pesticide collection program.
Check with your county extension agent,
state environmental protection agency, or state
department of agriculture for details."
"For disposal of empty containers, triple rinse and take to your recycle site or sanitary land fill."
R. Mixing directions:
"This section tells
you how to mix - what solvents to use & how much."
S.Approved uses:
"This is a very important
section. Site - you can apply a pesticide only to a site listed on the
label. Here is a quick quiz:
You have a problem with
downy mildew in your roses. Here is Zappo. (Hold up one of the
make believe pesticide jugs) It says it
kills downy mildew pretty well. It lists mums, azalea,
and ferns on the label. Can you use on
roses?"
Take a "Thumbs up/Thumbs down" vote & then explain that the site, roses, must be on the label.
"Pest - if the product
is effective against your particular pest, it will be listed on the label.
You will also find rates and application
equipment here."
Y & Z Chemical/ physical hazards:
"Make sure there are
no sparks or fire hazards. Make sure the pesticide does not get too hot
or too cold."
Back to the flip chart
After reviewing "The
ABC's of a Pesticide Label," return to the flip chart or overhead
projector list. Ask the audience to help
you code each item on the list using "The ABC's
of a Pesticide Label." For example, if
the first question on the list is "Will it kill the bug?",
code this question "S" for Approved Uses.
If the second question is "Can I use it on
azalea?", code that question "S" also.
If another question is "Do I have the right personal
protective equipment (PPE)?", code that
question "J". The question "How much do I
apply?", would be coded "N".
Now review the coded
list. Make another list of letters that the audience did not use. They
often forget C - formulation. Remind them
to check the forgotten parts of the label the next
time they buy and use a pesticide.
Wrap up
Wrap up your presentation
with, "We've learned a lot about the different parts of the
pesticide label today and how we can use
the label to help us make decisions and
practice safety. Now I will pass out the
take home handout and the evaluation that were
on our agenda."
Take home activity
Review the take home
activity, "Making
Pesticide Applicator Decisions from the Label."
Evaluation
See the University
of Delaware web page:
http://www.udel.edu/pesticide/publications/safeprac.htm
for directions on conducting the
evaluation. Go to Method II: Pesticide
Applicator Training Evaluation Form. Print the
evaluation form "Put
Safety into Practice!" as a 3-part no-carbon-required (NCR) form.
Pass out the evaluation form. Ask the
audience to write 3 pesticide safety practices
that they want to start using at home.
Each person should keep the bottom copy of their
3-part NCR and give you the top two copies.
Tell them that you will send the form back
to them after they have used pesticides
for a few months. Tell them that you will ask
them to check those practices that they
have used at least once and those that they have
adopted as routine since training.
*********************************************************************************
(1) Extension
Pesticide Coordinator, Department of Entomology and Applied Ecology, University
of Delaware, Newark DE 19717-1303; (2) Extension
Educator, New Castle County Cooperative Extension, 910 South Chapel St.,
Newark DE 19716
References:
Bonwell, C.C. and J.A. Eison. 1991.
Active Learning. Creating Excitement in the Classroom. ASHE-ERIC Higher
Education Report No. 1.
Return to Top of Page
Go to Delaware
Pesticide Information Home Page
Contact us: swhitney@udel.edu
jomercer@udel.edu