Making practical knowledge available for farmers who want to innovate their business
The agricultural sector is changing rapidly. Farmers are faced with new revenue models, sustainability, energy issues and changing expectations from the market and society. At the same time, new knowledge must primarily be practically applicable on their own land.
The Farmers Academy has been established to make that knowledge accessible to farmers and agricultural entrepreneurs. The platform combines online learning with practical days, experts, coaching and a community, so that participants can directly connect knowledge to their own business.
Maxcademy took on the project management and the full production of a large part of the original digital training offering: from the first creative learning concepts and learning objectives to scripts, video, animation, interactive learning content and supporting materials.
From a new platform idea to a coherent digital training offering
Business and learning objectives
For each course, it was first determined which problem the course needed to solve and which concrete steps a farmer should be able to take afterwards.
Designed from the farmer's perspective
The learning experience was tailored to agricultural entrepreneurs with a lot of practical experience, but not necessarily much experience with online learning.
From knowledge to action
The courses are structured so that participants not only understand what is possible, but can also create their own plan for the farming business.
From Agroforestry to Energy: practically explaining complex earning models
Two of the first comprehensive courses focused on Agroforestry and Energy. Both subjects require specialist knowledge, but especially the translation to choices that a farmer can make on their own farm.
In the Agroforestry course, for example, participants learn which systems are possible, how trees and shrubs can add value, what costs and revenues might be, and which steps are necessary to arrive at their own design and implementation plan.
The Energy course covers topics such as measuring and saving, solar, wind and biomass, energy storage, energy management, feed-in, energy cooperatives, financing, regulations and grid congestion. The current course is structured in multiple modules and learning blocks that can also be followed separately.
View the trailer for the Agroforestry course
The trailer gives an impression of how content, experts, practice and visual storytelling come together in the course. The video is also publicly shared by De Boeren Academie on the current course page.
Not only developing subject knowledge but also entrepreneurial skills
A new revenue model only works if an entrepreneur can also financially substantiate, position and market it. Therefore, De Boeren Academie developed not only substantive courses but also skills training.
Maxcademy worked on learning content related to financial entrepreneurship and the Business Model Canvas, and on two training courses in Marketing & Communication. In these, farmers first learn the basics of marketing, communication and social media and then work towards their own marketing and communication plan.
The training combines explanations with practical tools such as templates, workbooks, examples and assignments. This makes the content immediately usable for the own business.
From expert knowledge to scripts, video, animation and interactive learning content
The source knowledge came from subject matter experts from the agricultural practice. Maxcademy was consciously not the Subject Matter Expert. We worked closely with specialists in areas including agroforestry, energy, finance and marketing. Our Learning Designers delved into the subject matter for each course to the level at which a participant needed to understand it. This allowed us to ask the right questions, recognise connections, identify missing explanations and translate expertise into a logical learning experience. The subject matter expert remained responsible for the content accuracy; Maxcademy for the didactic translation and production.
The production included among other things:
- project management and coordination of experts, feedback and production;
- creative concepts and Learning Design per course;
- developing learning objectives and target group-oriented learning structure;
- scripts for modules and expert videos;
- storyboards and animation;
- video and voice-over production;
- subtitling and visual assets;
- interactive online learning content;
- workbooks, templates and other practical tools.
This kept the content in the hands of the subject matter experts, while the learning experience as a whole was built consistently, understandably and practically. Maxcademy also monitored planning, coordination, revision rounds and the coherence between the various production steps.
A digital foundation for a practical agricultural training platform
The collaboration resulted in several substantive training courses and skills training with which De Boeren Academie can support farmers online in the sustainable development of their business.
The developed learning content covers among other things:
- Agroforestry;
- sustainable energy on the farm;
- financial and business skills;
- marketing and communication;
- the creation and implementation of concrete plans for their own business.
For Maxcademy, De Boeren Academie shows how a knowledge platform can be supported from the ground up: not only by building separate e-learning modules, but by organizing and developing project management, collaboration with Subject Matter Experts, learning concept, target group, content, multimedia and practical application as a whole.
Frequently asked questions
Maxcademy worked on multiple training programmes and skill training, including Agroforestry, Energy, financial skills and Marketing & Communication.
Yes. At De Boeren Academie, Maxcademy took on both project management and Learning Design and production. We worked with subject matter experts and translated their knowledge into scripts, multimedia, interactive content and practical tools for multiple training programmes.
The Subject Matter Expert provides and validates the subject knowledge. Maxcademy delves into the subject matter to the required learner level and then translates that knowledge into learning objectives, a logical structure, comprehensible scripts, multimedia, interaction and practical assignments.
Yes. The current training model combines online learning blocks with, among other things, experts, coaching, communities and practical or field days, depending on the training.
Our role
Learning Design
From business goal and target audience to learning objectives, modules and practical learning journeys.
Content creation
Structuring and translating specialist expertise into scripts, explanations and assignments for farmers.
Multimedia production
Producing video, voice-over, storyboard and animation to clearly convey expert knowledge.
Project management
Coordinating experts, planning, feedback rounds and the full production of multiple training courses.
Workbooks & templates
Developing tools that enable participants to apply the theory to their own business.
Learning Development
From approved content to complete digital learning blocks and training courses.
Also building a complete digital training offering around expert knowledge?
Maxcademy helps knowledge organisations to translate specialist expertise into scalable training courses that people can follow independently and apply in practice.
From Learning Design and scripts to video, animation, workbooks and complete e-learning development.
