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Technology and Managemnt Educational Center for Socially Disadvantage Farmers and Ranchers of Puerto Rico

Alexandra Gregory

Summary

A computer is a necessary tool for any business especially for management purposes. Computers are used as a communication tool, seek information (especially market prices, government programs, among others), record keeping, advertise, among other uses. One of the main objectives of the Technology and Management Educational Center for Socially Disadvantage Farmers and Ranchers of Puerto Rico is to enhance computer skills among socially disadvantage farmers. The Center has trained various groups of women in computer skills. Participants are from various locations of the Island, and differ in income levels and commodities produced. Workshops include the following: basic computer skills, internet use, create e-mail accounts, Introduction to Word, creation of a business card and promotional material, Introduction to Spreadsheet Use, and in some groups social networks. A pre-test on basic computer knowledge, applications for their business and knowledge in computer programs (spreadsheets, word) was performed and an exit test was also done at the end of the course. Results showed that knowledge of the participants increase significantly with a at least 12 hours of computer training and that they were using or will use this knowledge to keep their farm records which will allow them to manage better their time, take better decisions, thus increasing their income levels. In addition, each professor and each workshop is evaluated and comments are also recorded. Results from the evaluations showed that participants are very satisfied with these workshops but they will like to have more workshops of this nature.

Details

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