Circulating knowledge and technologies through knowledge product development
dering what the woman could ask for when she almost have everything in receiving a lot of money monthly. Financial need is just the first level of the human beings’ needs. But can the woman not to be blamed in cheating because her needs are not satisfied? Yes, she can be blamed. It is because her infidelity is out of context. She could have understand the situation realizing the nature of her husband’s job. She could have redirect her need by focusing on raising their child. She could have understand the sacrifices of her husband.
Level 4 is Self-esteem Needs. It is a degree of self-respect and respect from others. Self-respect includes the need for confidence, achievement, independence and freedom. Respect from others includes recognition, attention and appreciation. Level 5 is Self-fulfilled (Self-actualized). If the first four needs are being met, a new one will probably develop: the need for self-fulfillment. This is to become more what a person can be: to develop all aspects – physical, social, emotional and spiritual. We only see these needs when the first three levels are met. Usually, we do not get to these fourth and fifth levels because many of us do not meet the first three levels of needs. Being rich only satisfy the first basic needs so it does not guarantee that wealthy people are happy.
As human beings we desire to meet all these basic needs. It is a human nature anyway. The bad thing is when we do not know how to put these needs in context. For instance, a person who has in need of money and to satisfy his/her need of survival such as food he/she may resort to robbery which is unlawful. People who feel threatened may resort to murder. Or people in a relationship may cheat on their husbands and wives to feel the affection they long for. These are all out of context. We must satisfy and fulfill our needs in ways that do not harm or endanger the lives of others.
The only thing that can suppress or control all these needs is the mind. Contentment is a product of the mind. The mind affects the emotion that is why even if we don’t satisfy these needs, we can always say enough. Lust can be the product of a misguided need of affection but we can control this feeling when our mind understands the wrongness of infidelity or adultery. This is not depriving ourselves of our basic needs. It is only doing justice to our dignity as human beings.
People have different levels of basic needs. For Maslow, the satisfaction of all these needs results to happiness. This is true when we fulfill our needs using positive means. But if we try to realize these needs in a selfish manner, we will never have a taste of true happiness.
AS THE world joins the information soci ety, the knowledge economy has become a new investment for organizations. Benguet State University (BSU), as a century old academic institution known for agricultural technologies and knowledge innovations, has endeavored in knowledge product development through the Office of Extension Services (OES).
It is remembered that during its centennial celebration, BSU boasted its 100 technologies titled ‘R & D Harvest’. These are the technologies and products within the 100 years of work. However, there are still many knowledge and technologies that are still wanting to be documented for popularization and utilization.
And in the context of BSU’s experience of fast turn-over of human resources, there is the recognition that for the need to capture the knowledges of retiring and ‘about to retire staff.’ As knowledge holders of the university’s successful technologies, gained through research and experiments, the value addition gained in the process cannot be overloked. Through, Knowledge Product (KP) development, this wealth of knowledge and know-how is transferred from experts to novices.
Development Communication specialist Betty C. Listino, the KP consultant, quipped that “knowledge is today’s organizational base; employees are no longer seen as merely workers, rather they are seen as knowledge creators.”
OES- BSU thus engaged in KP known as the first phase of knowledge products launched last September 27, 2018. In its first wave, there were 11 knowledge products developed, the first time in the history of the University. These KPs consist of the following: Responsible Pet Ownership for First Time Dog Owners, Strawberry Production Through Tissue Culture, Farm Planning and Organic Agriculture Management Practices, Disaster Risk Reduction and Adaptation in Agriculture, Ethical Documentation of Traditional Knowledge and Practices: A Primer for Field Workers, Citrus Production and Management, Meal Planning and Healthy Food Preparation for the Homemaker, Extension Briefer and CTE Primer. These knowledge products target different beneficiaries such as extension workers, farmers, the general public, School on the Air Broadcasters, and agricultural technicians, among others.
BSU-OES Director Dr. Ruth S. Batani remarked that what makes KP unique is that it is a call for action by its intended users, enabling the application of knowledge gained ‘easy and handy.’ Through these KPs, BSU is upscaling researchand practice- informed innovation with varied audiences, that is, from farmers to home makers to fieldworkers, technicians and extensionists.
Through this, the BSU-OES hopes that the useful technologies and knowledge generated of the organization will be maximized by socially marketing these for the use of other institutions and agencies to accommodate more clients. The second phase is set to start next year.