AWARENESS OF SAAOs ON ICT TOOLS FOR EXTENSION SERVICES IN RANGPUR DISTRICT

Abstract

The purposes of the study were to determine and describe some selected characteristics of SAAOs, to investigate SAAOs awareness on ICT tools for extension service, to explore the relationship between the selected characteristics of SAAOs with their awareness on ICT tools for extension service, and to identify constraints faced by SAAOs in using ICT for extension service. Data were collected from the SAAOs of four upazilas of Rangpur district during 01 to 30 September 2018. The sample size of the study was 77 and which was drawn from a population of 144 using random sampling technique. The awareness of SAAOs on ICT tools was the focus issue of this study. The scale consisted of 18 ICT tools awareness. The responses about the ICT tools used are taken on the basis of five degrees namely heard, seen, have, used and skill with the assigned score 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, respectively. Majority of the SAAOs (66.23 percent) are under medium level of awareness on ICT tools followed by 19.48 percent low level of awareness on ICT tools and only 14.29 percent high level of awareness on ICT tools respectively. According to the computed correlation coefficients (r) among the eight selected characteristics of the SAAOs four characteristics namely scientific orientation, innovativeness, planning orientation and knowledge on ICT tools showed positive relationship with their awareness on ICT tools. On other hand age and service experience showed negative relationship and the rest were fail to show any relationship with the focus issue. On the other hand the major problems in using ICT tools faced by SAAOs was ‘Lack of training in the use of ICT facilities (PCI =238.96)’ and the least problem faced by the SAAOs was “Irregular power supply (PCI = 153.26)’.