Dairy Women’s Network’s next round of free workshops will focus on making farmers’ smartphones useful business tools, but without the bells and whistles, says facilitator Marlene Williamson.

Williamson, who is a DWN member and self-employed computing facilitator, said farmers needed to know the capabilities of their phones and the value that could be added to their businesses, but didn’t need to get carried away with ‘the rest’.

This is the nature of the workshops that she and Agritec educator Dr Debbie Care will be running in seven locations in the North and South Islands called ‘Get Smart’.

“My passion is for technology that is actually useful in people’s lives,” she said.

“Technology literally advances every day and there is so much that could be learnt, but these sessions will focus solely on the practical because that is what will help farmers advance their businesses.”

Williamson, who teaches computing to adults, said the DWN smartphone dairy modules will teach attendees exactly what their phones can do and how they can be used to improve their farming business practices.

She said several DWN regional convenors have recently identified a need for the education in their areas.

Williamson said she and Dr Care would be covering iPhone, Android and Windows phones to ensure the modules applied to as many farmers as possible, and that they would also be taking into account the “non-connectivity often experienced in the country”.

The women are running the workshops in seven locations throughout New Zealand:

• Putaruru – 29 April
• Te Puke – 8 May
• Otorohanga – 11 May
• Ashburton – 20 May
• Hokitika – 21 May
• Invercargill – 26 May

The modules are open to both DWN members and non-members. For more information or to register, visit www.dwn.co.nz

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