Technology Stewardship Research Articles

TECHNOLOGY STEWARDSHIP OF SCHOOL HEADS AND DIGITAL COMPETENCY OF PUBLIC SECONDARY TEACHERS OF PANABO CITY DIVISION

The study explored the relationship of technology stewardship of school heads and digital competency of teachers in public secondary schools of Panabo City Division. Also, it investigated the association of the involved variables and the domains of technology stewardship of school heads that significantly influence the digital competency of teachers. With the use of probability sampling, 150 secondary teachers in the public schools were selected as the respondents. Utilizing the descriptive-correlational survey method, the data collated were analyzed through the use of Mean, Product-Moment correlation and Regression Analysis. Results revealed that there was an extensive technology stewardship of school heads and an extensive digital competency of teachers. Furthermore, there was a significant relationship between the two variables. Moreover, all domains of technology stewardship of school heads were found to have significantly influenced on the digital competency of teachers. Based on the findings, it was further suggested that higher officials in the Department of Education may identify means on how to help the school heads in strengthening their technology stewardship to ensure that teachers digital competency is empowered. KEYWORDS: Technology stewardship, digital competency, descriptive correlation, Panabo City Division, Philippines

Participatory and community-based approach in combating agri-food misinformation: A Scoping Review

The spread of ill information with or without the intention of deceiving or causing harm has negatively impacted agricultural development both in social and digital spaces. This has led to a lack of trust in adopting new technologies and practices, which has hindered the process of facilitating agricultural development. Although the study of agri-food misinformation is still in its early stages, this paper draws on a scoping review of existing literature and lessons learned from other fields, such as political science and public health, which have extensive experience in combating misinformation in social settings. The article explores how Farmer Field Schools (FFS), a popular participatory and community-based approach, can incorporate media literacy education and how a local agricultural information hub, platform approach and a relatively new approach called technology stewardship in agricultural extension can help those working in the agri-food industry combat misinformation.

History of Herbicide-Resistant Traits in Cotton in the U.S. and the Importance of Integrated Weed Management for Technology Stewardship.

This paper reviews the history of herbicide-resistant (HR) traits in U.S. cotton since the beginning, highlighting the shortcomings of each trait over time that has led to the development of their successor and emphasizing the importance of integrated weed management (IWM) going forward to ensure their long-term sustainability. Introduction of glyphosate-resistant cropping systems has allowed for expansion of no-till systems more reliant on herbicides, favored less diverse crop rotations, and heavily relied on a single herbicide mode of action (MOA). With repeated applications of glyphosate over the years, biotypes of glyphosate-resistant (GR) A. palmeri and other weeds became economically damaging pests in cotton production systems throughout the U.S. Moreover, the reported cases of weeds resistant to different MOA across various parts of the United States has increased. The dicamba- (XtendFlex®) and 2,4-D-resistant (Enlist®) cotton traits (with stacks of glyphosate and glufosinate resistance) were introduced and have been highly adopted in the U.S. to manage HR weeds. Given the current rate of novel herbicide MOA discovery and increase in new HR weed cases, the future of sustainable weed management relies on an integrated approach that includes non-herbicidal methods with herbicides to ensure long-term success.

Fostering effective use of ICT in agricultural extension: participant responses to an inaugural technology stewardship training program in Trinidad

ABSTRACT Purpose: This study sought to investigate agricultural extension practitioners’ response to an in-service training program offered by the University of the West Indies intended to foster effective use of ICTs (information and communication technologies) through a technology stewardship approach. Design/Methodology/Approach: This study reports on participants responses to an in-service training course on technology stewardship. Data were collected using a pre-course survey, formal course evaluation, classroom observation, and semi-structured interviews with participants. Kirkpatrick's four-level evaluation model was used to structure analysis of the results. Findings: Findings from this study show high levels of receptivity to the technology stewardship training course, that learning objectives of the course are achievable when offered as an in-service training program, and that most participants indicated an intent to apply their learning in a post-course activity. Results from the study raise a number of considerations for future course design and institutional policy in order to better support technology stewardship in practice. Practical implications: Technology stewardship training shows promise as a leadership-oriented approach for expanding the effective use of ICTs among communities of practice for agricultural extension in the Caribbean and elsewhere. Theoretical implications: This study applies key principles of social learning theory from a communities of practice approach with theoretical implications for the design of in-service training related to ICT adoption and use for agricultural extension education and policy. Originality/value: This study reports on the first known application of the technology stewardship model from the communities of practice literature to agricultural extension in the Caribbean.

Enhancing ICT Adoption and Use through Change Leadership: Technology Stewardship Training for Caribbean Agricultural Communities of Practice

Beginning in 2012, the University of Alberta in partnership with others has been undertaking participatory action research in Sri Lanka and, since 2017, in the Caribbean to foster inclusive innovation through a Joint Education and Training Initiative (JETI). The JETI is developing and testing a set of open educational resources on “technology stewardship” for resource-constrained organizations and communities in developing countries. The approach is a unique combination of social learning centred on communities of practice with action research methods intended to foster self-determination through improved “informational capabilities” as the primary outcome of development. In this article, we describe the learning objectives, design, observations, and initial outcomes of a pilot technology stewardship training course offered at the University of the West Indies in March 2018. Future plans and considerations for expanding technology stewardship training are discussed in the summary.

Fostering technology stewardship approach to promote knowledge sharing among farming communities in Sri Lanka

Agricultural knowledge plays a pivotal role in the process of transforming the livelihoods of farmers relied on subsistence agriculture. However, development of credible approaches to “share” the indigenous and scientific knowledge in possession of farmers in order to enhance their competitive edge in agriculture has become a challenge at present. This paper explores the applicability of theconcept of ‘Technology Stewardship’ in order to promote sustainable knowledge sharing amongst the agricultural farming communities in Sri Lanka. A community consultative process adopted with the officials (“Sponsors”) and a series of structured questionnaire-based face-to-face interviews and keyinformant surveys carried out with a cross section of smallholder agriculture farmers (n=183) in the Batticaloa and Kurunegala districts facilitated gathering of baseline data/information, and in turn, to select and train six Technology Stewards (TEs). A number of field experiments (“Campaigns”) were conducted then with smallholder farmers (n=260) “with” and “without” the assistance of those TEs during April 2014 to July 2015. The ‘FrontlineSMS’ (a low-cost, user-friendly, free and open source text messaging software) and Freedom Fone (low cost Interactive Voice Responses software) were applied to evaluate the effectiveness of knowledge sharing through the TEs work with these communities. It was found that the use of “Texting” and “Voice” facilities in day-to-day agricultural communication has been increased by 22% and 8%, respectively, when the process has been assisted by the TEs. This implies that TEs can effectively be utilized, with capacity development through intensive training modules, to reduce the transaction costs associated with sharing of information with farmers, starting from the lowest socio-economic category in such communities.

Enhancing smallholder farmers' awareness of GM maize technology, management practices and compliance to stewardship requirements in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa: the role of public extension and advisory services

Genetically modified (GM) maize technology adoption is subject to compliance with stewardship requirements that promote the long-term effectiveness of the technology against target pests and weeds. Awareness of the value of these requirements can enhance farmer compliance and promote the adoption of improved management practices. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to interview 210 smallholder GM maize farmers in the Eastern Cape to assess farmers’ awareness and compliance to GM maize technology stewardship requirements. Field surveys were also conducted to identify the practices adopted for the cultivation of GM maize. Results indicated that farmers lacked access to information about GM maize and had a low level of awareness of GM maize stewardship requirements. Additionally, while the use of Bt maize resulted in fewer farmers reporting pest incidence, notably that of the maize stem borer, Busseola fusca (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on their farms, for some reason, there was an increase in the proportion of farmers that sprayed and relied solely on insecticides for controlling pests on Bt maize. A high proportion of farmers (71.4%) also relied solely on herbicide sprays for controlling weeds in their herbicide tolerant maize fields. Field surveys also indicated non-compliance to the requirement for the planting of refuge areas adjacent to Bt maize. Training of extension service personnel on stewardship requirements for GM maize is urgently needed to improve its management and prevent loss of the benefits provided by GM maize technology.Keywords: Extension, GM maize, information dissemination, smallholder farmer, stem borers

Clinical and Pharmaco-economical Impact of Rapid Diagnostic Technology and Antimicrobial Stewardship for Patients With Gram-Positive and Gram-Negative Bloodstream Infections

Clinical and Pharmaco-economical Impact of Rapid Diagnostic Technology and Antimicrobial Stewardship for Patients With Gram-Positive and Gram-Negative Bloodstream Infections

Stewarding the Subtle Politics of Technical Objects: Perspectives on the Immediacy of Evangelical Worship Practice

In the worlds of technology trade events and training conferences in the United States, evangelical volunteers learn to steward audio, video, and lighting devices for the creation of immersive worship ecologies. This article explores how technology stewards learn to understand their relationship to technology. It asks: what does attending to the lively capacities of animated technologies used for worship reveal about the role of technology stewardship? It is argued that technicians, through the training events explored, learn to understand their role as technology steward through attempts to render technology invisible, transparent.

Nuclear Technology and Norm Stewardship: US Nonproliferation Policies Revisited

There is a lively debate in constructivism today regarding the constitutive and regulatory power of international norms. First-generation studies assume that when states support norms they have fully “internalized” normative ideals. However, the scholarship tends to privilege structure over agency and may not account well for changes in state policies that impact normative architectures. This study extends recent work on agentic constructivism and international law to develop a typology of “norm stewardship” and model of norm change. It conducts a plausibility probe of the new stewardship model by comparing case studies of US policies on exports of sensitive uranium enrichment and reprocessing (ENR) technologies. Case evidence suggests that variations in norm internalization and dissonant norm strains impact multilateral initiatives on nonproliferation. This study concludes with a discussion of wider implications of norm stewardship for theories of international cooperation.

Digital Habitats – stewarding technology for communities

Version:1.0 StartHTML:0000000167 EndHTML:0000001617 StartFragment:0000000457 EndFragment:0000001601 Digital Habitats: stewarding technology for communities by Wenger, White and Smith, has been out for two years and it has had numerous positive reviews. The book is well written, indeed, and it is extremely clear and enjoyable to read. The book focuses on the area where the interplay between technology and communities intersects, which the authors identify as “digital habitats”. In practical terms, a digital habitat is “the portion of a community that is enabled by a configuration of technologies” (p38). A digital habitat, like its biological counterpart, is a dynamic entity, which needs to adapt to environmental changes. It is thus important to determine its technological landscape and the space for maneuvering in it. The authors introduce the concept of “technology stewardship” to refer to the emerging practice of helping a community “choose, configure, and use technologies to best suit its needs” (p 24). These activities are carried out by certain members of the community, the “technology stewards”, who take a leadership role.

Resisting the blame game: visualizing the high cost of dying and accepting the duty of technology stewardship for all patient populations. A review

This article explores the concepts of therapy withholding and withdrawal as expressions of technology stewardship. With the world's geriatric population growing sharply, and advances in medical technology announced almost weekly, the time is ripe for the application of technology stewardship to patients of all ages, rather than arbitrary allocation limits for older persons. In life and in death, health care costs are expensive, and while society often views older people as too expensive to take care of alive, their death can be even more costly. For patients of all ages, death under the influence of technology is more expensive than life, yet it is geriatric intensive care medicine that grabs society's economic attention. While possibly not the financial bargain that arbitrary allocation limits have been proposed to be, technology stewardship fosters beneficence and autonomy as human values instead of mere variables subservient to economics.