Factors Influencing the Use of and Attitude of Using Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in Agricultural Extension, A Study in the Isfahan Province of Iran

Subject Areas : Environmental policy and management

Zahra Haji Hashemi ^{1 *} , Gholamreza Pezeshki Rad ² , Mohammad Chizari ³

1 - Ph.D Student, Bu Ali Sina University
2 - Associate Professor of Agricultural Extension and Education, Department of Tarbiat Modares University, Peykanshahr, Tehran, Iran
3 - Professor of Agricultural Extension and Education, Department of Tarbiat Modares University, Peykanshahr, Tehran, Iran

Received: 2013-12-15 Accepted : 2014-01-26 Published : 2014-03-01

Keywords: Iran, Attitude, Agricultural extension, Information and communication technology (ICT), extension workers,

Abstract :

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) are increasingly influencing human beings and are changing our attitudes towards these technologies. The purpose of this article is to understand the factors influencing the use of ICTs in agricultural extension through a descriptive research method. The populations were 320 individuals of agricultural Extension Workers (EWs) of Isfahan province that 200 people selected as a research sample. The reliability of self-completion questionnaire according to pilot test and calculating Cronbach’s alpha for four part of the instrument was 82.6-87.8. The results revealed that the EWs have a positive attitude toward using ICT. They mostly viewed it as a useful tool for extension, which can potentially save money and time and extension. On the ranking of principal areas of applying ICTs by EWs “typing letters/report”, “prepare and protect file on process basic agricultural and rural information”, had most usage. The main result of the study revealed that the EWs approximately use ICT quite a bit. Also, the EWs with high school diploma degree used ICT less than the EWs with MSc degree and the EWs with 5 years and less experience had higher ICT application than the EWs with 15-16 year experience.

References:

1- Adekunle, P. A., Omoba, R. O. & Tella, A. (2007).Attitudes of librarians in selected Nigerian universitiestoward the use of ICT. Library Philosophy and Practice,December. Retrieved May 10 2009, fromhttp://www.webpages.uidaho.edu/~mbolin/tella3.pdf

2- Ajzen, I. & Fishbein, M. (1980). Understandingattitudes and predicting social behavior. EnglewoodCliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.

3- Al-Motrif, A. F. (2000). The effect of college studentsââ‚‌â„¢educational level and gender on their use ofInternet as an instructional tool, a research tool, acommunication tool, an entertainment tool, DigitalDissertations. The Ohio State University.

4- Albirini, A. (2004). An exploration of the factorsassociated with the attitudes of high school EFLteachers in Syria toward information and communicationtechnology, doctoral dissertation. The OhioState University.

5- Albirini, A. (2006). Teachers' attitudes toward informationand communication technologies: the caseof Syrian EFL teachers. Computers and Education,47(4), 373-398. [DOI via Crossref]

6- Amalu, U. (1998). Agricultural research and extensiondelivery systems in Sub- Saharan Africa.Calabar: University of Calabar Press.

7- Annor, F., Kwarteng, J., Agunga, R. & Zinnah, M.M. (2006). Challenges and prospects of infusing informationcommunication technologies (ICT) in Extensionfor Agricultural and Rural Development inGhana. Paper presented at the Proceedings of the 22thAnnual Conference of the Association for InternationalAgricultural and Extension Education(AIAEE), Clearwater Beach, Florida.

8- Bullock, D. (2004). Moving from theory to practice:an examination of the factors that pre serviceteachers encounter as they attempt to gain experienceteaching with technology during field placementexperiences. Journal of Technology andTeacher Education, 12(2), 211ââ‚‌"237.

9- Buzzetto-More, N. A. (2008). Student perceptionsof various E-Learning components. Internationaldisciplinary Journal of E- Learning and LearningObjects, 4, 113-134.

10- Cooper, B. Brna, P. (2002). Hidden curriculum,hidden feelings; emotions, relationships and learningwith ICT and the whole child. Paper presented atBERA 2002, UK.

11- Coulson, S. (2000). A provisional study of thestrategic management of three public library authoritiesworking towards ââ‚‌ËœNew Library: The People'sNetwork, Southborough, MSc thesis, SouthboroughUniversity, USA.

12- Davis, O.J.B. (1998). Early childhood teacherattitudes toward the instructional use of computers,doctoral dissertation, ProQuest Digital Dissertations.University of Houston.

13- Falaki, M. (2005). A study to recognize mainareas, driving forces and obstacles of applying informationtechnology (IT) in Agricultural extensionsystem, MSc thesis. University of Tehran, Iran.

14- Fallah Haghighi, N. (2006). Analysis of factorsaffecting the extent of IT application in agriculturalextension in Gilan Province of Iran, MSc thesis.University of Tehran, Iran.

15- Hakkarainen, K., Ilomaki, L., Lipponen, L.,Muukkonen, H., Rahikainen, M. and Tuominen, T.(2000). Students' skills and practices of using ICT:results of a national assessment in Finland. Computersand Education, 24, 103-117. [DOI via Crossref]

16- Huang, S. (2003). The attitudes toward adoptinginformation technology by vocational and technologicalteachers in southern Taiwan (China), doctoraldissertation, Pro Quest Digital Dissertations. IdahoState University.

17- Isleem, M. (2003). Relationships of selected factorsand the level of computer use for Instructionalpurposes by technology education teachers in Ohiopublic schools: a statewide survey, doctoral dissertation.The Ohio State University.

18- Kersaint, G., Horton, B., Stohl, H. & Garofalo,J. (2003). Technology beliefs and practices of mathematicseducation faculty. Journal of Technologyand Teacher Education, 11(4), 549-577.

19- Kubiatko, M. & Haláková, Z. (2009). Slovakhigh school students' attitudes to ICT using in biologylesson. Computers in Human Behavior, 25(3),743-748. [DOI via Crossref]

20- Lai, K. W., Pratt, K. & Trewern, A. (2001).Learning with technology: evaluation of the Otegosecondary schools technology project. Dunedin: TheCommunity Trust of Otego.

21- Leeuwis, C. & Van den Ban, A.W. (2004). Communicationfor rural innovation: Rethinking agriculturalExtension (Third Edition Ed.). Oxford:Blackwell Science. [DOI via Crossref]

22- Malcolm, E. & Godwyll, F. (2009). Diffusion ofinformation communication technology in selectedGhanaian Schools. Retrieved may 12, 2010, from:http://www.ti-up.org/uploads/public/documents/Key% 20 Documents/ Diffusion%20 of %20 ICT%20in%20selected%20Ghanaian%20schools.pdf

23- Maningas, R.V. & Mancebo, S.T. (2002). Utilizationof IT- based Services and communicationTechnology Media by End- Users of AgriculturalResearch and Extension Network in the Philippines.Paper presented at the AFITA/WCCA joint Congresson IT Agriculture.

24- Martin, B. L., Daisy, L. & Hillison, J. (2001).Computer anxiety level of virginia extension Personnel.Journal of Extension, 39(1).

25- McKinnon, D. H., Nolan, C. J. P. & Sinclair, K.E. (2000). A longitudinal study of student attitudestoward computers: Resolving an attitude decay paradox.Journal of Research on Computing in Education,32(3), 325ââ‚‌"335.

26- Meera, N., Jhamtani, A. & Rao, D. (2004). Informationand Communication Technology in AgriculturalDevelopment: A Comparative Analysis ofThree Projects from India. Agricultural Research &Extension Network, ODI Network Paper NO.135January 2004.

27- Miller, G. & Miller, W. (2000). A telecommunicationsnetwork for distance learning: If it's Built,Will Agricultural Teacher Use it? Journal of AgriculturalEducation, 41(1), 79-87.

28- Mohammadi, D. (2002). Investigating factors affectinginformation seeking behavior And informationdissemination of extension staff in ZanjanProvince, MSc Thesis. University of Tehran, Iran.

29- Movahed, H. & Iravani, H. (2002). A model forinternet use by graduate students of selected agriculturalfaculties in Iran. Iranian Journal of AgriculturalSciences, 33(4), 717-726.

30- Movahed Mohammadi, H. (2002). Role of Internetinformation network and Web in the educationaland research activities of postgraduate students of selectedagricultural colleges in Iran, Doctoral dissertation.University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

31- Omotayo, O. M. (2005). ICT and agricultural extension.Emerging issues in transferring agriculturaltechnology in developing countries. In S. F. Adedoyin(Ed.), Agricultural Extension in Nigeria.Ilorin: Agricultural Extension Society of Nigeria.

32- Pouratashi, M. & Rezvanfar, A. (2009). Analysisof factors influencing application of ICT by agriculturalgraduate students. Journal of the American Societyfor Information Science and Technology, 61(1),81-87. [DOI via Crossref]

33- Rasouli Azar, S. (2005). Investigation of the Extendof Information Technology Usage And Assessmentof its Capabilities in Agricultural System of Iran,MSc thesis Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.

34- Richardson, D. (2003). Agricultural extensiontransforming ICTs? Championing universal accessICT Observatory 2003: ICTs ââ‚‌" transforming agriculturalextension? Paper presented at the WICC/ CTAââ‚‌â„¢sICT Observatory, September 2003, Wageningen: CTA.

35- Rogers, E. M. (2003). Diffusion of innovations(Fifth Ed.). New York: The Free Press.

36- Saadi, H., Movahedi, R. & Nagel, U. J. (2006).Surveying Wheat Farmers Access and Confidenceto Sources of Information and CommunicationChannels (ICT) about controlling Eurygaster Integratesin Hamedan Province of Iran. Paper presentedat the Proceedings of the 22nd Annual Conferenceof the Association for International Agricultural andExtension Education (AIAEE), Clearwater Beach,Florida.

37- Sadik, A. (2005). Factors influencing teachersââ‚‌â„¢attitudes towards personal use and schools use ofcomputers: New evidence from a developing nation.Evaluation Review, 2(1), 1-29.

38- Samak, Z. A. (2006). An exploration of jordanianenglish language teachers ââ‚‌ËœAttitudes, Skills, andAccesses Indicator of Information and CommunicationTechnology Integration in Jordan, Doctoral dissertation.The Florida State University.

39- Sandercock, G. & Shaw, G. (2000). Learners' performanceand evaluation of attitude towards webcourse tools in the delivery of an applied sports sciencemodule. Journal of Asynchronous Learning, 3(2), 1-10.

40- Sanders, D. & Morrison-Shetlar, A. (2002). Studentattitudes toward web-enhanced instruction inan introductory biology course. Journal of Researchon Computing in Education, 33(3), 251-262.

41- Small, G. S. (2001). Making the training work.Public Library Journal, 16(4), 8 -136.

42- Smith, B., Caputi, P. P. & Rawstorne, P. (2000).Differentiating computer experience and attitudes towardcomputers: An empirical investigation. Computersin Human Behavior, 16(1), 59ââ‚‌"81. [DOI via Crossref]

43- Sooknanan, P. (2002). Attitudes and perceptionsof teachers toward computers: the implication of aneducational innovation in Trinidad and Tobago, doctoraldissertation. Bowling Green University.

44- Soule, L.C. (2008). The fusion model of instructionaldesign: A Proposed Model for Faculty DevelopmentPrograms in Technology Integration, doctoraldissertation. Nicholls State University, USA.

45- Spacey, R., Goulding, A. & Murray, I. (2003).ICT and change in UK public libraries: Does trainingmatter? Library Management, 24, 61-69. [DOI via Crossref]

46- Spice land, J. D. & Hawkins, P. C. (2002). Theimpact on learning of an asynchronous Active learningcourse format. Journal of Asynchronous LearningNetworks, 6(1), 68-75.

47- Swann, D. (2003). ECDL for educators: ICTskills training in context. Computer and Education,103, 16-17.

48- Winter, S.J., Chudoba, K. & Gutek, B.A. (1998).Attitudes toward computers: When do they predictcomputer use? Information and Management, 34(5),275-284. [DOI via Crossref]

49- Yaghoubi, J., Malek Mohammadi, I., Iravani, H.,Attaran, M. & Gheidi, A. (2008). Virtual Students'Perceptions of E-Learning in Iran. The Turkish OnlineJournal of Educational Technology, 7(3).

50- Woodhouse, S. & Baigent, H. (2002). People'snetwork. Library Association Record 104:1, pp. 18.

51- Yaghoubi, J. & Shamsayi, E. (2004). AssessingEffective Factors in Using Internet by Faculty Membersof Agricultural College of Zanjan University,Iran. Paper presented at the Proceedings of the 20ndAnnual Conference of the Association for InternationalAgricultural and Extension Education(AIAEE), Dublin, Ireland.

52- Zamani, N. (2004). An investigation of factorsaffecting information seeking behavior of extensionmanagers and specialists, MSc thesis. TarbiatModares University, Tehran, Iran.