Adoption and use of mobile technologies for learning among smallholder farmer communities in Uganda

摘要

Mobile learning (mLeaming) in formal education is getting wide spread but little is known about how to adopt mLeaming in non-formal contexts among smallholder farmer communities, who constitute the majority in most African states. These rely on agriculture, yet their livelihoods are affected by immense changes in seasons. Smallholder farmers' access to mobile phones can act as bridges in supporting learning for secure livelihoods. Using the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT), we have conducted multiple case studies of the Community Knowledge Worker project in Uganda. The intention was to analyse mobile learning adoption and use practices among farmers. Based on our findings, organisational scaffolding, social influence, peer support, immediate learning impacts, and increased output were key factors that aided learning and adoption of mobile technologies. Although adoption and use practices were facilitated by organisational scaffolding, the future of mLeaming use in resource limited environments is promising.