Motivational Factors of Learners for Enrolling in Organic Farming Certificate Course through Open and Distance Learning (ODL)
B. Shobikashree *
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, India.
P. Balasubramaniam
Directorate of Open and Distance Learning (DODL), Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, India.
S. Lakshmi
Directorate of Open and Distance Learning (DODL), Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, India.
R. Krishnan
Nammazhavar Organic Farming Research Centre, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore, India.
R. Gangai Selvi
Department of Physical Science and IT, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This study aims at exploring the motivational factors that propelled the learners to join the Open and Distance Learning certificate course. The motivational factors that are influencing the enrolment of learners in the course were: Teaching – Learning process in the ODL study centre, Academic factors of the ODL certificate course, Attractive factors of the ODL study centre and other influencing factors on the motivation of learners to enrol in ODL certificate course. Using a quantitative research approach, a structured survey questionnaire was employed to intercept the motivational factors of the learners using data collected from certified learners of the Organic farming course provided in the TNAU ODL directorate. Results from the application of Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) of 131 valid learners implied Teaching-Learning process, Academic factors, Attractive factors and other influencing factors have significantly motivated the learners to enrol ODL certificate course. Hence, these factors that may affect enrolment of learners and should be taken as the factors that every distance study centre should pay attention to when implementing the certificate programmes.
Keywords: Certificate programme, distance learning, enrolment factor and organic farming