The Inquiry-Driven VCoP Model to Promote Digital Agriculturalists’ Learning Competencies in the Agriculture 4.0 Era

Abstract

This research was conducted to develop the Inquiry-Driven Virtual Communities of Practice model (The ID VCoP model) in order to enhance the learning competencies of Thai digital agriculturists in preparation for the agriculture 4.0 era. The objectives of this study were to 1) develop the ID VCoP model to promote digital agriculturalists’ learning competencies, and 2) evaluate the suitability of the ID VCoP model. The research procedure consisted of two phases. The first phase involved the development of the model: 1) studying, analyzing, and synthesizing existing documents and previous research findings; 2) organzing the ID VCoP model; and 3) establishing the ID VCoP model. The second phase involved model validation and evaluation. This study’s expert panel was divided into two expert groups: 1) qualitative research by the focus group method, consisting of seven experts recruited through purposive sampling; and 2) quantitative research by the expert judgment method, consisting of five experts recruited through purposive sampling. Five components with 19 subcomponents comprise the model’s structure. The model contributes to VCoP members’ digital agriculturalists’ learning competencies. Experts agreed that the model as a whole was suitable at a very high level.