농촌사회교육의 새로운 방향

The new challenges of agricultural extension on computer-based instruction in Korea

This study aims to explore computer-based instruction (CBI) for farmers in rural Korea. There has been increasing the use of computer on-line systems on extension education in rural Korea. Rural Development Administration (RDA) have constructed the web-based system for extension education since 2003. The data were collected by literature review, survey, and secondary data on RDA statistics. The results of this study were as follows. First, at 2003, the number of farmers enrolled for this program are 251. Among them, 126 farmers attended and finished the programs which are composed of four corps: cucumber, pepper, and tomato and its related farming management. At 2004, the number of farmers enrolled are 503 for the programs which are mushroom, strawberry, watermelon, and others. Second, the CBI is to integrate a web-based system with video conference system to be much interaction between lecturers and farmers. The contents of this course have been consist of thirty chapters per each crops by web for three months and have had special lectures and discussions by realtime video conference system every months for extension education. Third, the CBI could effectively work on making with off-line communication more than simply on-line. Fourth, the CBI needs to add conference phone calls, two-way video conferencing, internet chatting rooms, and discussion groups, because the CBI make decrease face to face communication between extension educators and farmers.