image

Content

image

Type : Other Article

Perceived Effectiveness of Agricultural Certificate Courses through Distance Learning Medium

K.S. Purnima, T. Srinivas and A. Lalitha

Abstract

The center for Open and Distance learning established in Acharya N.G.Ranga Agricultural University in the year 2018 is emerging as a cost effective and learner oriented medium for imparting Knowledge, skills and attitude to large number of aspirants throughout the globe. Recently, many institutions and Universities have adopted this medium of education and along with extensive use of technical media (ICTs) for developing high quality instructional material,institutions are making it possible to extend education to large number of people across the globe. The study aimed to learn the potential of Certificate Courses through distance mode in extending Agricultural education in needful areas. 200 participants of certificate courses- Organic Farming and Terrace Gardening in telugu offered by ANGRAU in 2018 , each of 3 months duration were randomly selectedand the effectiveness of the courses was measured based on 8 parameters such as Course content , Contact sessions , Resource person expertise , Duration of course , Communication pattern, Exposure visits/Practical’s, New learning gained and Course objectives achieved.Profile of the respondents who have undergone the certificate course programme was studied. The data was collected from respondents using structured Interview schedules and check lists. Effectiveness index was computed by summating the scores on all parameters of the course in distance mode. The results revealed that 67.50 per cent of officers scored the courses to be highly effective followed by 23.50 per cent of them as Effective and a meagre 9.00 per cent expressed the courses to be less effective. A simple correlation analysis of the respondents’ profile with their perceived effectiveness revealed that Education, Innovativeness and higher aspirations showed high positive significant relationship with the effectiveness.

Keyword: Distance learning; Contact sessions; Certificate courses

Full Text