ROAD MAP FOR STRENGTHENING ICT UTILIZATION BY THE FACULTY MEMBERS IN STATE AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITIES

P.V. SATHYA GOPAL¹*, K. SHIREESHA², N.P. ESWARA REDDY^3
1S.V. Agricultural College, Tirupati, Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University, Guntur, 522034, Andhra Pradesh
²S.V. Agricultural College, Tirupati, Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University, Guntur, 522034, Andhra Pradesh
³S.V. Agricultural College, Tirupati, Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University, Guntur, 522034, Andhra Pradesh
* Corresponding Author : satyagopal15@gmail.com

Received : 14-02-2018     Accepted : 07-03-2018     Published : 15-03-2018
Volume : 10     Issue : 5       Pages : 5315 - 5318
Int J Agr Sci 10.5 (2018):5315-5318

Keywords : Information and Communication Technology, Utilization, constraints, suggestions, strategy, road ma, strengthening ICT utilization, State Agricultural Universities
Conflict of Interest : None declared
Acknowledgements/Funding : Author are thankful to Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi for financial support. Author also thankful to Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University, Guntur, 522034, Andhra Pradesh
Author Contribution : All author equally contributed

Teaching is the most challenging profession among all other occupations. A teacher should not only be a lifelong learner but also a trend setter in reaching the students through appropriate teaching strategies. A teacher should be dynamic and always search for innovations in his teaching abilities for effective outreach of majority of students in a class. Starting from the age-old chalk and talk to the present e-learning, several Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools were designed by the educationists to upgrade the education system. All such tools have shown tremendous effect in the teaching-learning process not only in terms of speedy delivery of the message but also improved the quality of message. The use of information and communication technology (ICT) such as Internet applications, CD-ROMs, video technology and various computer attachments and software programs have caused many changes in society. To explore such gaps and to bring a modest approach to the faculty members to learn and efficiently utilize the ICT in their teaching endeavor, the present study was taken up under ICAR extramural research project during the year 2016-17 with the objectives of assessing the constraints in ICT utilization by the faculty members in State Agricultural Universities, document the suggestions as given by them for effective utilization of ICT and to suggest a road map for strengthening the ICT utilization in Agricultural education. The study revealed that the major constraints in ICT utilization by the faculty members were Lack of expertise and skills in using ICT, lack of ICT facility at individual level in the department, poor/ limited internet spee, Poor annual maintenance of the ICT equipment, lack of ICT technicians and professionals in the vicinity etc. in parallel, the major suggestions like periodical training programmes on application of ICTs, creating awareness on importance of different ICT tools and programmes, Uninterrupted high speed internet with high quality broad band facility, Providing ICT tools like laptop, LCD projector etc., to each faculty member, engaging an ICT professional / technician on permanent basis etc., were given by the faculty members. Accordingly, the strategy has been proposed as a road map for strengthening ICT utilization in State Agricultural Universities.

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