Journal of FARM SCIENCES, Vol 29, No 5 (2016)

Font Size:  Small  Medium  Large

Opinion of rural women about learning home science technologies through M-learning module

D. A. NITHYA SHREE, REKHA RAYANAGOUDAR, VEENA CHANDAVARI

Abstract


Majority of Indian rural population today possess mobiles, hence it is easy to teach women using mobiles.m-learning module is any technology or lesson in audio/video format recorded on SD card and listened/viewed throughmobiles. In the present experimental study m-learning module on balanced nutrition for rural women was developed. Themodule comprises of two lessons on food groups and balanced diet in video format. This module was copied on SD cards anddistributed to 60 selected rural women possessing mobile phones in their family in Narendra village of Dharwad district in theyear 2014. Before distributing the SD cards the respondents were explained how to make use of it and were given one monthtime to view the module. At the end of one month opinion of the respondents about m-learning module was collected throughpersonal interview with the help of structured interview schedule. Majority of the respondents were in the age group of25-35 years, belonged to forward caste with nuclear families, small land holdings and low income. With regard to time ofwatching 43.07 per cent watched individually during free time, 30.76 with family members while doing household work and26.15 per cent in groups during free time. After watching the module the immediate changes made by the respondents wereincreased the quantity of vegetables and fruits consumption (49.23 %), started eating sprouted grains (46.15 %), startedhaving food in time (41.53 %), pregnant and lactating women started having sufficient food (10.76 %) and started drinkingmore water every day (40.00 %). Majority (65.00 %) of the respondents opined that they liked learning through m-learningmodule, benefitted from mobile lessons (54.00 %) and were willing to learn through such lessons in future (54.00 %). Thus thestudy clearly indicates that m-learning modules can be developed to diffuse home science technologies to rural women.

Full Text: PDF