Identify two advantages of using text messaging to communicate.

Identify two items that contribute to the cost of accessing the internet.

Outline the difference between the internet and the World Wide Web.

Analyse the effectiveness of using face-to-face (F2F) training compared to distance learning to train farmers to use Agritexte.

The government of Cameroon is watching the results of the Agritexte initiative. It is considering two options:

• extending the functionality of Agritexte into a web-based information system
• investing in education and training on the use of the existing Agritexte SMS system.  

Evaluate these two options.

Answers may include:

• Easy to use
• Not dependent on internet access
• Cheap
• Can be done from very old hardware
• Messages get sent when there is reception even if they are written when there is no reception
• Quick communication
• Messages get stored in the device
• Allows the communication with people that are a long distance away

Award [1] for identifying each advantage of using text messaging up to a maximum of [2].

Answers may include:

• Subscription to ISP / cost of data bundles
• Cost of hardware
• Line rental
• Cost of electricity
• The cost of education to learn how to use equipment

Do not accept costs related to the limited infrastructure.

Award [1] for identifying each item that contributes to the cost of internet access up to maximum of [2].

Answers may include:

• The internet is a global network of interconnected computers / a network of networks.
• The World Wide Web is software / a service that runs on the hardware of the internet and provides access to content / a collection of pages that can be accessed through hyperlinks / a way of accessing and sharing the information that is held on the internet in web pages.
• The World Wide Web uses the http protocol. This is only one of the many protocols used by the internet.

The response must make reference to both the internet and the World Wide Web. Do not award marks if only one is mentioned.

Award [1] for identifying each difference up to maximum of [2].

Answers may include:

Advantages of F2F training:

• The workshop leader/teacher can adapt their teaching to the needs of the students.
• Specific questions can be addressed in the moment.
• The teacher can observe participants using the technology first-hand to assess their progress.
• It is easier for farmers to concentrate if they have a block of time away from farm duties.
• Access to the internet is not required.

Disadvantages of F2F training:

• It is costly to send a person to run the training or to send farmers to a workshop.
• Classes might be large, so students will not get much personal tutoring from the teacher.
• If a student misses something, the teacher says they might get lost and have misunderstandings.
• If a student is unable to attend a session, they will miss out on that information and training.
• There could be personality clashes between the teacher and their students.
• It could be difficult to fit training around farmers’ work schedules.

Advantages of distance learning:

• It can be accessed 24/7 – farmers can still run their farms.
• Learning can be self-paced.
• Teaching material can be viewed as many times as students need in order to be able to understand it.
• It is easier to spread the training over several weeks, allowing farmers to try the technology in between classes.
• It would be cheaper than running workshops.

Disadvantages of distance learning:

• Some technology would be required by farmers to access the training materials.
• Farmers will need to be trained to use the training technology.
• If students don’t understand something in the training materials, it is harder for them to ask for further explanation.
• There would be significant set-up costs.
• Access to the internet is necessary. An unstable connection to the internet may affect the quality of the learning, as it may cause frustration among the farmers.

Answers may include:

Extending the functionality of Agritexte:

• Many more services can be offered (systems).
• This would be an investment in the future, giving farmers the potential to access developing/new technologies (systems).
• The current system can still continue to operate as it has been doing, and the new functionality will only add to the system (systems).
• The extension into a web-based information system could inspire citizens to educate themselves (skills).
• The extension into a web-based information system could inspire citizens to explore other things that they can do on the web (skills).
• Farmers’ lack of IT knowledge is already a problem, so they may have difficulty using the web-based system, and training will be required (access).

Investing in education and training:

• Training would allow more people to access the information that currently exists (skills).
• Training would extend people’s skill sets and they could use those skills to improve their lives (skills).
• It would be a very visible investment from the government (values).
• Education would improve the community connections (skills, systems).
• The money would be spent training farmers to use a technology with limited functionality (skills).
• Lack of internet availability might limit farmers’ ability to access the system (systems).
• Development and maintenance of the system would incur costs (systems).

In part (c) of this question it is expected there will be a balance between the terminology related to digital systems and the terminology related to social and ethical impacts.  

Keywords: education, training, agriculture, infrastructure, text, web, skills, change, systems, values, ethics

Refer to SL/HL paper 1, part c markbands when awarding marks. These can be found under the "Your tests" tab > supplemental materials > Digital society markbands and guidance document.