Reimagining Agricultural Education: The Rise of Digital Learning Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic

Authors

  • Gyan Shukla Research Scholar, Dept of Extension Education, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
  • Prashish Singh Research Scholar, Dept of Extension Education, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
  • Sudhanand Prasad Lal Assistant Professor, PG Department of Extension Education, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Bihar (India)

Keywords:

Agriculture, COVID – 19, Digital Solutions, Education, Extension, Google Meet, Zoom.

Abstract

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, education faced unprecedented upheaval, driving a significant shift to digital learning tools. Analysis of e-conference platforms in 2020-21 revealed that-Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Cisco Webex, Spontania, Jio Meet, and eRegNow.com-revealed clear preferences among users. Zoom and Google Meet emerged as dominant choices, with 34.62% and 26.92% usage, respectively. Notably, Google Forms dominated e-conferences for application submissions, capturing 92.31% usage, surpassing alternatives like SurveyMonkey (3.85%) and Microsoft Forms (3.85%). Comparative assessments highlighted varied platform features, from participant limits to attention tracking capabilities. Concerns regarding attendee attention and privacy surfaced, with Cisco Webex offering attention-tracking features while others lacked this capability. Moreover, extended use of video conferencing led to body dysmorphic disorders, an unforeseen consequence affecting users due to prolonged virtual interactions. These findings underscore the transformative impact of digital tools on agricultural education, shedding light on opportunities, challenges, and unforeseen implications reshaping educational paradigms amidst the pandemic

Author Biographies

  • Gyan Shukla, Research Scholar, Dept of Extension Education, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

    Gyan Shukla, is a PhD research schoar in Dept of Extension Education, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India. Did his B.Sc.(Hons.) Agriculture from Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agricultural and Technology, Kanpur, Uttar Prades and M.Sc.(Ag) in Dept of Extension Education, from Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Samastipur, Bihar. Has qualified ASRB NET and UGC NET; and published nine research papers in NAAS rated journals and two popular articles as author and co-author.

  • Prashish Singh, Research Scholar, Dept of Extension Education, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
    Prashish Singh, has B.Sc.(Hons.) Agriculture from Banda University of Agricultural and Technology, Banda UP and  M.Sc.(Ag) from Dept of Extension Education, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi.. Presently, is pursuing PhD at Dept of Extension Education, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi.Has qualified ASRB NET and published 7 research papers in NAAS rated journals and 8 popular articles as authors & co-authors and 3 book chapters
  • Sudhanand Prasad Lal, Assistant Professor, PG Department of Extension Education, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Bihar (India)
    Sudhanand Prasad Lal is an Assistant Professor cum Scientist at RPCAU, Pusa. He received the Director’s Gold Medal for his PhD at ICAR-NDRI, Karnal. A recipient of multiple fellowships, he has 86 research articles, 39 book chapters, 52 popular articles, and 8 books. He holds two patents and has been cited by DRDO, IIT-Delhi, and FAO. He also serves as a Subject Matter Expert of Tata Consultancy Services and manages projects under the Reliance Foundation. He has h-index of 11, i-10 index of 14 & 422 citations

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Published

2025-06-04

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 2 (2025): Agricultural Informatics

Section

Articles

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