Improving Effectiveness of Rural Information and Communication Technology Offices: The Case of Qazvin Province in Iran

2021 ◽  
pp. 101852912110274
Author(s):  
Somayeh Rajabi ◽  
Farhad Lashgarara ◽  
Ataharul Chowdhury ◽  
Habib Rashvand ◽  
Hadi Sadegh Daghighi
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technology ◽  
Communication Technology ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Training Programme ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Rural People ◽  
Cooperative Agents ◽  
Middle Range ◽  
Information And Communication

The information and communication technology (ICT) offices in rural areas of Iran have been developed as government provided counters under a national project in the past decades. The rural ICT offices were expected to benefit the rural people in various socio-economic dimensions such as health, social connectivity, crop diversity, agricultural productivity, occupational capability and the lifestyle in general. However, these middle range offices in Iran did not perform as expected, and thus they require an urgent restructuring to boost up their performances and to enhance their acceptability. This study investigates the effectiveness of the ICT systems and services in place in the Qazvin province of Iran with the purpose of identifying the major requirements needed to fix up the system. The focus of this study was around 10,000 people organised through rural ICT agents and their users in the rural area of Qazvin. The survey involves 138 rural ICT offices operated by 103 cooperative agents. Of them, 16 rural ICT offices were selected randomly, and 165 rural users connected with the selected offices were interviewed by the research team. Collected data have been analysed with structural equation modeling. The study shows that education, policy and management requirements deserve the highest attention, and therefore the best ways to improve the effectiveness of rural ICT offices. This study suggests that the effectiveness of rural ICT offices can be improved significantly through providing in-service education for ICT experts, arranging regular training programme for ICT office agents and using mass media to educate villagers on various aspects of ICTs.

scholarly journals THE EFFECTS OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY ENGAGEMENT FACTORS ON SCIENCE PERFORMANCE BETWEEN SINGAPORE AND TURKEY USING MULTI-GROUP STRUCTURAL EQUATION MODELING

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 639-650
Author(s):  
Batuhan Özkan ◽  
Fatma Noyan Tekeli
Keyword(s):  
Measurement Invariance ◽  
Information And Communication Technology ◽  
Communication Technology ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Student’S Performance ◽  
Engagement Factors ◽  
Science Performance ◽  
Engagement Scale

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) engagement, as a multidimensional construct, plays an increasingly important role in education. The main purpose of this research was to explore the effects of ICT engagement factors on science performance across Singapore and Turkey conditional to the sufficient degree of measurement invariance of ICT engagement scale. The multi-group confirmatory factor analysis results demonstrated strong factorial invariance of ICT engagement scale across Singapore and Turkey, so we were able to use ICT engagement scale to meaningful and valid comparisons between these countries. After obtaining measurement invariance, a multi-group structural equation modeling was used for the comparison of the effects of ICT engagement factors on student’s performance of science between these two countries. While interest in ICT, perceived ICT competence and perceived autonomy in using ICT have significant positive direct effect on science performance in both countries, the direct effect of social relatedness in using ICT on science performance is negative in both Singapore and Turkey. Also, when compared with Singapore, the effects of all ICT engagement constructs on student’s performance are higher in Turkey. Keywords: ICT engagement, measurement invariance, multi-group SEM, science performance, PISA 2018

scholarly journals Modeling and Predicting Outcomes of eHealth Usage by European Physicians: Multidimensional Approach from a Survey of 9196 General Practitioners (Preprint)

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joan Torrent-Sellens ◽  
Ángel Díaz-Chao ◽  
Ivan Soler-Ramos ◽  
Francesc Saigí-Rubió
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technology ◽  
General Practitioners ◽  
Communication Technology ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Care Model ◽  
High Propensity ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
New Evidence

BACKGROUND The literature has noted the need to use more advanced methods and models to evaluate physicians’ outcomes in the shared health care model that electronic health (eHealth) proposes. OBJECTIVE The goal of our study was to design and evaluate a predictive multidimensional model of the outcomes of eHealth usage by European physicians. METHODS We used 2012-2013 survey data from a sample of 9196 European physicians (general practitioners). We proposed and tested two composite indicators of eHealth usage outcomes (internal practices and practices with patients) through 2-stage structural equation modeling. Logistic regression (odds ratios, ORs) to model the predictors of eHealth usage outcomes indicators were also calculated. RESULTS European general practitioners who were female (internal practices OR 1.15, 95% CI 1.10-1.20; practices with patients OR 1.19, 95% CI 1.14-1.24) and younger—aged <35 years (internal practices OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.02-1.26; practices with patients OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.13-1.54) and aged 36-45 years (internal practices OR 1.16, 95% CI 1.06-1.28; practices with patients OR 1.21, 95% CI 1.10-1.33)—had a greater propensity toward favorable eHealth usage outcomes in internal practices and practices with patients. European general practitioners who positively valued information and communication technology (ICT) impact on their personal working processes (internal practices OR 5.30, 95% CI 4.73-5.93; practices with patients OR 4.83, 95% CI 4.32-5.40), teamwork processes (internal practices OR 4.19, 95% CI 3.78-4.65; practices with patients OR 3.38, 95% CI 3.05-3.74), and the doctor-patient relationship (internal practices OR 3.97, 95% CI 3.60-4.37; practices with patients OR 6.02, 95% CI 5.43-6.67) had a high propensity toward favorable effects of eHealth usage on internal practices and practices with patients. More favorable eHealth outcomes were also observed for self-employed European general practitioners (internal practices OR 1.33, 95% CI 1.22-1.45; practices with patients OR 1.10, 95% CI 1.03-1.28). Finally, general practitioners who reported that the number of patients treated in the last 2 years had remained constant (internal practices OR 1.08, 95% CI 1.01-1.17) or increased (practices with patients OR 1.12, 95% CI 1.03-1.22) had a higher propensity toward favorable eHealth usage outcomes. CONCLUSIONS We provide new evidence of predictors (sociodemographic issues, attitudes toward ICT impacts, and working conditions) that explain favorable eHealth usage outcomes. The results highlight the need to develop more specific policies for eHealth usage to address different realities.

scholarly journals ICT in Rural Development : Application and Challenges - A Review

2021 ◽  
pp. 464-472
Author(s):  
Aditi Rajesh Nimodiya ◽  
Shruti Sunil Ajankar
Keyword(s):  
Rural Area ◽  
Information And Communication Technology ◽  
Communication Technology ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Rural People ◽  
Rural Sector ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Tremendous Impact ◽  
Development Application

ICT stands for Information and Communication Technology. ICT plays a vital role in developing the rural area in various sector, it has helped to develop the rural sector in tremendous way. It is used in rural area for the growth of various field like education, agriculture, medical treatment and many other. However due to lack of growth and awareness about ICT among the rural people the process of development is very less, still it has a tremendous impact in the growth of rural area. The rural people need to know the importance of ICT for the faster improvement of rural sector this will also help ICT to work more efficiently. This paper mainly focused the different application of ICT in various sector to improve the condition of rural area and the challenges faced by ICT to develop rural areas.

scholarly journals Strategi Peningkatan Pembelajaran Berbasis Teknologi Informasi

2013 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 72
Author(s):  
Endang Supriyati
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation Modeling ◽  
Information And Communication Technology ◽  
Communication Technology ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Student Centered ◽  
Student Centered Learning ◽  
Video Tutorial ◽  
Information And Communication

Abstrak Metode pembelajaran berpusat pada siswa (Student-Centered Learning) memberikan ruang gerak lebih bagi mahasiswa untuk dapat berpartisipasi aktif dalam aktivitas perkuliahan di Perguruan Tinggi sesuai dengan kompetensi yang ingin dicapai. Untuk mendukung penerapan Student-Centered Learning ini dapat dilakukan dengan memanfaatkan Information and Communication Technology (ICT) dalam berbagai macam strategi pembelajaran. Pada makalah ini disajikan penelitian peningkatan pembelajaran dengan indikator Materi Via Blog/Wordpress, Grup Diskusi di facebook, Video Tutorial, Download Jurnal Online, dan Download ebook. Dengan analisys SEM (Structural equation modeling) diperoleh ada hubungan yang nyata antara Grup Diskusi di facebook (V2) dengan Peningkatan Pemahaman, demikian hubungan nyata antara Download ebook (V5) dengan Peningkatan Pemahaman (PP). Sedangkan Video Tutorial (V3) dan Download Jurnal Online(V4) tidak terlalu perpengaruh atau tidak ada hubungan nyata dengan Peningkatan Pemahaman (PP). Sedangkan hubungan variabel mencari Materi via Blog/Wordpress dengan Peningkatan Pemahaman sangat kuat dengan nilai estimasi 1. Kata kunci : Student-Centered Learning, Structural equation modeling,

scholarly journals Digital Communication: Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Usage for Education Sustainability

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 5052 ◽  
Author(s):  
Waleed Mugahed Al-Rahmi ◽  
Ahmed Ibrahim Alzahrani ◽  
Noraffandy Yahaya ◽  
Nasser Alalwan ◽  
Yusri Bin Kamin
Keyword(s):  
Technology Acceptance ◽  
Information And Communication Technology ◽  
Communication Technology ◽  
Technology Use ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
Perceived Usefulness ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Extended Model ◽  
Information And Communication

Today, developments in information and communication technology (ICT) have a significant influence on education sustainability. In this study, the factors influencing students’ intentions towards using ICT in education sustainability, as well as their satisfaction from its use, were examined. This study aims to investigate student intentions to use information and communication technology, as well as their satisfaction with such use. Therefore, this study employed an extended model of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) as the research framework, and adopted quantitative data collection and analysis methods by surveying 502 university students who were chosen through stratified random sampling. Using structural equation modeling (SEM), student responses were sorted into eight study constructs and analyzed to explain their intentions towards technology use and satisfaction. A significant relationship was found between computer self-efficacy (CSE), subjective norms (SN), and perceived enjoyment (PE), which were significant determinants of perceived ease of use (PEU) and perceived usefulness (PU). PEU, PU, and attitudes towards computer use (ACU) influenced students’ intentions to use (SIU) ICT and students’ satisfaction (SS). The constructs succeeded in explaining usage intentions towards ICT among students and their satisfaction from this usage.

scholarly journals Factors Affecting Indonesian Preservice Teachers’ Use of ICT During Teaching Practices Through Theory of Planned Behavior

SAGE Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 215824402110275
Author(s):  
Farrah Dina Yusop ◽  
Akhmad Habibi ◽  
Rafiza Abdul Razak
Keyword(s):  
Preservice Teachers ◽  
Theory Of Planned Behavior ◽  
Planned Behavior ◽  
Information And Communication Technology ◽  
Communication Technology ◽  
Teaching Practices ◽  
Partial Least Square ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Valid Model ◽  
Information And Communication

The goals of the research were to inform whether the theory of planned behavior (TPB) is a valid model to explain Indonesian preservice teachers’ (PSTs) use of information and communication technology (UICT) during teaching practices, to report best factor affecting PSTs’ UICT during teaching practices, and to elaborate differences regarding UICT during teaching practices in terms of demographic information, gender, major, university, and information and communication technology (ICT)-based courses. The sample of this study was 1,133 PSTs from three Indonesian universities who completed a 24-item printed questionnaire of four constructs: behavioral beliefs (BB), normative beliefs (NB), control beliefs (CB), and UICT. Using partial least square–structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM), the results informed that the TPB is a valid model to help explain Indonesian PSTs’ UICT during teaching practices. All constructs (BB, NB, and CB) significantly predict UICT during teaching practices where NB is reported to be the strongest predictor (β = .354). There are no significant differences in terms of genders and ICT-based courses; however, significant differences are indicated in terms of majors and universities.

Impact of Information and Communication Technology on Livestock Production

2018 ◽  
pp. 270-277
Author(s):  
O. Anie Sylvester
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technology ◽  
Communication Technology ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Computer Literacy ◽  
Personal Characteristics ◽  
Livestock Production ◽  
Rural Farmers ◽  
Observation Methods ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
The Impact

This chapter examines the impact of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) on livestock production by rural farmers in Nigeria. Questionnaire, interview, and personal observation methods were employed to elicit information on the impact of ICT on livestock production on rural areas of Nigeria. The study reveals the significance of personal characteristics of the respondents. The findings also reveal that rural farmers need to be encouraged by providing them with relevant ICT gadgets in order to enhance effective access to information on veterinary and extension services to improve productivity. It is therefore concluded that the establishment of internet facilities in rural communities should be the priority of the State and Federal Governments in order to encourage computer literacy.

scholarly journals From Digital Divide to Social Inclusion: A Tale of Mobile Platform Empowerment in Rural Areas

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 2424 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisha Ye ◽  
Huiqin Yang
Keyword(s):  
Digital Divide ◽  
Information And Communication Technology ◽  
Communication Technology ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Social Inclusion ◽  
Rural China ◽  
Mobile Platform ◽  
The World ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Practical Implications

The digital divide in rural areas is an important social issue, especially in developing countries. Although Internet and broadband penetration have increased in the world generally, there are many obstacles for rural China to get access to ICT (Information and Communication Technology) and its services. The mobile platform is regarded as a novel and effective tool to reduce the digital divide. Based on a case of one mobile platform, namely WeCountry in Chinese rural areas, this study illustrates how a mobile platform bridges the digital divide and helps rural areas achieve social inclusion. Results show that: (1) the mobile platform mainly acts on the digital capability divide elimination, and it has to guide and increase users’ usage capability; (2) the mobile platform can empower villagers in structural, psychological, and resource dimensions, achieving political inclusion, social participation inclusion, and economic inclusion; (3) platform providers and government are key organizations during the divide elimination process. This paper concludes with theoretical and practical implications.

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