Digital Media to Contribute to the Development and Dissemination of Renewable Energy Systems
Abstract
Awareness raising and education regarding the use and application of renewable energy systems is a key issue in many development projects. The goal of this practice-based research was to explore the potentialities of locally developed instructional videos on tablet PCs to create awareness about renewable energy systems and to train mostly illiterate communities in extremely secluded areas to operate and maintain these systems. To do so, a case study was carried out in the Nepalese Himalayan Mountains. The observational mixed-method evaluation indicates (a) that, upon initial instruction, local people were able to handle videos on tablets PCs well. In addition, (b) after studying the tablet-based videos, small groups of workers were able to carry out concrete manual and analytical tasks regarding the development and operation of renewable energy systems; the findings also suggest that villagers’ understanding of more complex tasks was enhanced significantly by showing videos a second time; and (c), the facilitated screening of instructional videos with a battery-charged handheld projector in public areas allowed the whole community to participate, watch, and engage in awareness raising and learning processes. The pilot study supports the tentative conclusion that videos, which are produced locally and shared via mobile technologies, can serve as viable means in raising awareness and creating learning opportunities regarding the use of sustainable energy systems in extremely remote communities with a predominantly illiterate population. Further research is needed to corroborate the findings of this exploratory and small-scale pilot study.