Development and Evaluation of a Web Module among Professionals

Abstract

India ranks first in milk production, contributing 24.64 per cent of global milk production. The development of web modules is a cost-effective and rapid method for disseminating information to multi-stakeholders. The present study was conducted in four districts of Karnataka with the objective of developing and evaluating a web module on dairying among professionals. The website was developed in English and Kannada to disseminate demand-driven information. Eight phases were followed for developing the web module, including analysis, design, development, testing, implementation, evaluation, scaling up, and report preparation and submission. A random sampling method was used to select 10 university scientists, 10 veterinary officers and 5 KMF officials from each district, resulting in a final sample size of 100 respondents from four districts of Karnataka. Information needs were assessed before developing the web module, and the same respondents evaluated the developed module. The evaluation considered utility, information, technical and user attributes components, and respondents recorded their level of satisfaction for each component and related sub-component. Among veterinary officers, the information component ranked first (WMS 2.94, Rank I). Among university scientists, the utility component ranked first (WMS 2.90, Rank I). Among KMF officials, the user attributes component ranked first (WMS 2.93, Rank I). The findings indicate that web-based information and communication technologies can support stakeholders by providing timely, need-based information. The website may serve as a first-hand, cost-effective information source on scientific dairy farming practices for students, dairy farmers and stakeholders, while helping livestock owners and extension personnel save time, money and effort.