Contract Lecturing in Horticultural Science Post-Secondary Education

Contract lecturers fill a valuable role in post-secondary education. Suitable experts can be employed to teach in specialist areas, without institutions having to create extra full time positions. This paper considers how specific horticultural science subjects may be suited to contract lecturing. It identifies challenges and examines the impact of these on pedagogical techniques, the student learning environment and on the lecturer. The dissemination of specific information to cater for a range of learning styles is discussed. Difficulties with communication in distance learning, resulting from the contract lecturer's partial absence from campus are identified. Techniques to overcome these are examined.