SASAMUNGA DISTANCE LEARNING RESEARCH PROJECT

FIRST TECHNICAL REPORT
4th March 2002 - 4th June 2002

Partner Organization to Rural Development Division
Ministry of Provincial Government and Rural Development (MPG&RD)
L5, Anthony Saru Building
P.O.BOX G35, Honiara, Solomon Islands
Tel; (677) 26358; Fax (677) 26458
Email: sidapp@pipolfastaem.gov.sb, Web Site: http://www.peoplefirst.net.sb

I           Title Table

II         Table of Content

1.0       Synthesis

This project aims to utilize an existing rural Internet connection through the rural-development and peace ICT initiative PFnet, to pilot a distance learning facility in one of Solomon Islands' rural Community High Schools in partnership with the University of South Pacific (USP) Centre of Honiara.

The People First Network, or PFnet, was conceived and initiated by the UNDP/UNOPS project Solomon Islands Development Administration and Participatory Planning Programme (SIDAPP) in the Ministry of Provincial Government and Rural Development. It has already established a web site development portal, a successful Internet Café, conducted research and field testing of a robust, proven and sustainable technology that permits remote locations on islands across thousands of square kilometres to have access to Internet emails using a simple computer, short-wave radio, and solar power.

Consequently, in October 2001, the PFnet Internet gateway base station was established and the countrys first rural community email facility was opened at Sasamungga, Choiseul. This first station is well suited to develop pilot applications of the ICTs in various sectors, including education. It is later intended to expand this network to over 25 PFnet-managed and many more self-funding stations and therefore the pre-existence of good models will be invaluable.

This project will entail the design and application of a distance-learning programme especially designed to integrate with the PFnet facilities. It will create a computing centre at the community school close to the email station utilising existing solar power. Local capacity will be built to sustain the facility working in cooperation with the PFnet programme. The project will also study the impacts of the email station on the wider community, focusing on vulnerable groups particularly women and young people. In doing so, this project will provide invaluable baseline data for further expansion of PFnet to all rural areas of the country, and provide an excellent example of an application serving the needs of one information stakeholder group (i.e. education users and providers).

2.0       Research Problem

One of the gravest obstacles to development in the Solomon Islands now is the difficulty in communicating between trusted family members and professional peers. It is precisely in deprived and remote areas that basic telecommunication has the most value and impact. For such locations, telecom­munic­ation is the only and vital link with the outside world, either to ensure health security, access to education, or essential contacts with family and professional peers. It is also a major block to investors, tourism and enterprise growth.

However, such telecommunications are very scarce outside of Honiara. The teledensity of 0.3 per 100 rural inhabitants is the lowest in the region and even those lines are concentrated only in a few provincial centres.

Since 1998, the social unrest has badly affected the country. The ethnic tension between Guadalcanal and Malaita, which has left approximately 100 people dead, decimated the economy and displaced thousands, has also badly eroded national solidarity. Three out of nine provinces have expressed their wish to break away as separate countries. Lack of trusted information, misinformation and the absence of reliable communication links have only served to heighten the misunderstanding and tension between communities.

To address this problem at the very grassroots level, the People First Network is an email service that facilitates communication and information flows to and from the remote provinces of the Solomon Islands. It was launched in February 2001 with the opening of an Internet Café in Honiara, which has been a resounding success and is already functioning in a self-sustainable way. This was followed in October 2001 with the establishment of the country's first community-run rural email facility [Annex 1] at the remote village of Sasamungga in Choiseul Province and which will also serve as a model for future expansion.

PFnet uses an email system based on a robust, proven and sustainable technology that permits remote locations on islands across thousands of square kilometres to have access to Internet emails using a simple computer, short-wave radio, and solar power. It aims to:

-           Facilitate point-to-point communications to/from the remote provinces of the Solomon Islands;

-           Facilitate rural development and peace-related information flows among all social groups;

-           Facilitate the exchange of information between communities and development partners, NGOs, government offices, the media, businesses and other stakeholders.

PFnet is established as a not-for-profit organisation through the Ministry of Provincial Government and Rural Devel­opment. It had received funding and technical support from the Solomon Islands Devel­op­ment Administration and Participatory Plan­ning Programme (SIDAPP), a project of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS). It had also received start-up funding capital from the governments of Britain, Japan and the Republic of China through their missions in Solomon Islands.

One of SIDAPPs final recommendations made to UNDP and Solomon Islands Government during the closing tripartite review meeting held in Honiara on 19^th November 2001 was for the National Government to give the [PFnet] top priority during the two-year reconstruction period as means to achieve national unity by facilitating the flow of development information and services to most of the countrys villages. In the recommendations, PFnet has been included as a vital component of the proposed National Integrated Rural and Provincial Development Programme (NIRPDP) that would ensure equitable development amongst the countries provinces and regions.

Both Government and UNDP have approved the NIRPDP, and the project is expected to commence in January 2003.

3.0       Research Findings

This report covers the first two-months activities of the Distance Learning Research Project undertaken in Sasamunga, Choisuel Province in Solomon Islands after the first transfer of funds was received by RDVA from Asia Media Information Center (AMIC). The scope of the report focus on the implementation of the preparatory activities indicated in the workplan. Hence, at this stage, the report cannot identify any initial findings of the research activities, the mid term report however may cover the project proper.

The other part of this interim report covers financial expenses of the first payment made to RDVA on the 02^nd April 2002 by AMIC.

Since the implementation of the project is only at its preparatory stage, the report will identify activities in the work plan that RDVA as the implementing organization has successfully completed.  These are listed bellow.

3.1       Planned activities

Planned activities for the first three months of project implementation include the following:

·         Identification of RDVs to conduct the research

On Thursday 30^th May 2002, the Management team appointed two distance-learning researchers to be stationed at Sasamunga for three months. They are:

Mr. Peter Pitia, a Bachelor of Science Degree Graduate from the University of Waikato, New Zealand and Mr. Patson Taniveke, a Bachelor of Science Degree Graduate from Papua New Guinea, University of Technology (UNITECH).

·         Determination of room space in Sasamuga School for computer training

In early May 2002, necessary hardware materials purchased in Honiara were shipped to Sasamunga.  Construction of the training room is expected to be completed by 4^th June 2002.

·         Identification of Extension Students in Sasamuga.

More then 10 distance-learning students who are sponsored by the constituency Parliament Member have been selected to for this research project.

·         Research instrument of the impact of the email designed.

Research materials including interview forms completed (annex a).

·         Work plan for researchers designed

Workplan for the two researchers to follow in conducting the research in Sasamunga for three months has been completed (annex b).

·         Stationery & materials

Necessary stationary needed to conduct the training of trainers, training of staff, students and community have been purchased. They included photocopy papers, manila folders, pens, ink cartridges etc.

·         Equipment procured for distance learning center

All capital equipments which include 2 x Toshiba 440 Ex-lease Laptop computers, 2 x external keyboards and mice, and a Canon BJ1000 Printer with 4 x BC03 cartridges have been purchased and necessary computer programmes installed.

·        Activity stage

The RDVA is still at the preparatory stage for the research. List of planned activities the RDVA has achieved however is presented bellow and which are also presented in the detail timetable in annex d.

-           Purchase of hardware materials and construction of distance leaning training room at Sasamunga Community High School
-           Purchase of 20 x Low-energy compact floro light bulbs and replacement of strip floros in teachers houses
-           Purchase of 4 return air tickets (Hon/Taro/Hon) for Management Team and Two distance learning project researchers
-           Purchase of office consumables
-           Completion of research materials and interview forms
-           Conducted training for Trainers of the two researchers
-           Identification of distance learning students and their enrolment for USP semester courses completed

Based on what has been achieved so far, RDVA is hopeful that the entire project will achieve its objectives identified in the MOGC.

4          Fulfillment of Objectives

The project is still in its preparatory stage but based on what has been completed so far, the core activities of the project are possible to achieve. 

5          Project design and implementation

AMIC assistance has enabled RDVA to undertake this two months preparatory phase prior to the core activities of the distance learning research project.  Funds provided were used to purchase the following equipments: 2 x Toshiba 440 Ex-lease Laptop computers and necessary programmes, 2 external keyboards and mice, a Canon BJ1000 Printer, 4 x BC03 cartridges, hardware materials and construction of distance leaning training room at Sasamunga Community High School, 20 x Low-energy compact floro light bulbs and replacement of strip floros in teachers houses, 4 return air tickets (Hon/Taro/Hon) for Management Team and Two distance learning project researchers, office consumables, the completion of research materials and interview forms, and conducted training of Trainers for the two researchers.

RDVA has not been able to implement the project according to the implementation schedule provided in the document due to two main reasons:

First, it was not possible to identify distance-learning students in Sasamunga as early as possible due to a domestic conflict that occurred in that province which resulted in the death of one person and several others arrested by police. Also, by the time the first payment was received by the RDVA, the first semester for Extension students has already started and we need time to prepare for the research to be undertaken. On this bases, the management team decided to postpone the start-date of the project to coincide with the commencement of second semester distance learning programme in July 2002.

Secondly, the PFnet technical advisor who is also the Technical Advisor for the distance-learning project Mr. David Leeming has been very busy setting up two additional rural email stations in two remote provinces of Makira Ulawa and Temotu.

The University of the South Pacific, the partner organization to RDVA in the project, has made available necessary research materials that will be used on the project  (annex b.1 & b.2). The research materials will be the main instruments used to collect data and responses on the students and the community in Sasamunga.

Two researchers already identified will be stationed at Sasamunga over a three months period to carry out the research activity.  Specifically they will be expected to perform the following duties;

• Provide IT training for USP distance learning students
• Provide technical support to students using laptop computers
• Facilitate the use of email by students to complete their courses
• Log the use of the email by students and innovate to maximise benefits
• Conduct interviews (3 series 1. baseline 2. customer exit 3. wrap-up)
• Assess the performance of the email system in distance learning
• Report and make recommendations to USP and RDVA

6          Project Output and dissemination

Initial output of the expected output of the project will be made available during the mid-term report during which part of the research would have been completed and data collected assessed and analyzed.

At this stage, necessary documents that will be used to train the trainers, train distance learning students and exit interview forms for the general public in Sasamunga as well activity plans for the researchers have been completed (annex d.1, d.2, e, f).

7          Capacity building

Two researchers have been trained to carry out the training for the distance learning students in Sasamunga. They will also be able to train communities in Sasamunga on basic computing, how to use a laptop, how to send email messages including other skills training contained in the training programme (annex f)

In total, the project will have trained two researchers, 19 distance learning students,

15 staff at Sasamunga Community High school and more then 100 primary and secondary students.

8          Project management

The Project Coordinator will be Alan Agassi, Chairman, Rural Development Volunteers Association. He will oversee the overall implementation of the project.

Research Coordinator will be Glynn Galo, Director, USP Centre, Honiara who will provide technical and management support to the Researchers.

PFnet Coordinator will be David Leeming, Technical Advisor to PFnet. He will  provide technical support, training and facilitate the use of the ICTs and provide input into the research and evaluative components.

Two RDVs will conduct the research. The RDVs will support the distance learning students, conduct research and evaluate and write the interim and final reports with the other coordinators.

The Sasamungga Community High School (and Primary School) will host the Distance Learning Centre and the Principal and Teachers will participate in the project and the sustainable management of the facility thereafter.

Distance learning students in the catchment area will be invited to take part in the pilot PFnet application.

Professor Tracy Berno, Associate Professor and Coordinator of Tourism Studies of the School of Social and Economic Development at the University of the South Pacific, Suva, will provide technical backstopping to the project.

9          Impact

First RDVA is hopeful to contribute positively towards bridging the digital divide amongst rural dwellers in Sasamunga.  Secondly, the research programme will have positive impact on distance learning students who will have easy and quick access to their tutors and lecturers and better able to submit their assignments on time.

Staff and students at Sasamunga Community High and Primary school will have access to computers which will help them learn basic computing skills. Staff can prepare assignments and/or test papers using computers. 

Already, the community has been using the rural email to send messages to their friends, relatives and business partners and by conducting awareness in the community, additional users will be mobilized to use the email facility.

10        Overall assessment

Overall, the preparatory phase has been conducted according to planned activities and based on its positive outcome, it is anticipated that the implementation of the project in Sasamunga will be successful. The fact that the Parliament Member for the Constituency have assisted the project by providing scholarships to distance learning students indicated full acceptance of the project by all the people in the area, the decision makers, political and religious leaders and tribal and village leaders.

11        Recommendations

-         RDVA to immediately implement the research project as per timetable in (annex e)

-         Project coordinator to ensure necessary preparatory work is completed before traveling to Sasamunga

-         Training of two researchers identified be conducted as planned

-         Contact the center from time to time to ensure they are fully informed of the progress of the project implementation as specified in the MGC.

(Annex d.1)

INTERVIEW COVERSHEET

BASELINE DATA

Instructions to participants: You are invited to participate in an interview about the new PFNet distance learning project. The interview should take about 15-20 minutes. Everything you say will remain confidential to the researchers and project leaders. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.

All participants should answer questions 1 - 7. Interviewers should feel free to ask additional questions as appropriate/required. These questions, and answers, should be noted in question 8.

The wording of the questions is only a suggestion. Interviewers can adapt the wording as appropriate and/or explain the questions to participants.

1.                  What is the highest educational qualification you have achieved?
2.                  Where did you go to school and/or university?
3.                  Have you ever studied by distance before?
4.         Would you like to continue your studies?
4a.       Why or why not? (This question is to identify barriers or impediments to continuing education.)
4b.       If YES, what would you like to do?
5.            Have you used a computer before?
            If NO: (These questions are to help identify barriers to the use of technology, particularly for groups such as women,             young people, less well-educated etc.)
5a.       What is the MAIN reason you do not use computers?
5b.       What are the other reasons you do not use computers?
5c.       What would be helpful in supporting your using computers? (Now go to question 6).

If YES:

5a.       How much experience have you had with computers? (Try to get as much detail as possible so an evaluation can be made about the participant's computing knowledge and skills.)
5b.       What have you mainly used computers for (for example, word processing, games etc.)?
5c.       Have you used e-mail before?
5c(i).    If NO: What do you know about e-mail? (now go to Question 6)
5c(ii).   If YES: How much experience have you had with using e-mail (for example can you send an e-mail with an attachment)?
5c(iii).   What do you mainly use e-mail for?
5c(iv).  Have you used Sasamungga e-mail station?
5c(v).   If NO, why have you not used it? (now go to Question 6)
5c(vi).  If YES, how often have you used it?
5c(vii).  If YES, what your MAIN use for the e-mail?
5c(viii).  What is your SECOND main use for the e-mail?
5c(ix).   What do you think are the main benefits that the e-mail station has brought (e.g., how has it helped you)?
            Please encourage participants to give SPECIFIC examples of how it has helped them (i.e., benefits in terms of money,             time, opportunities etc.).
6.         Would you like to participate in training to learn (more) computer skills?
6b.       If YES, what sort of things would you like to learn?
7.                  What do you know about the PFNet?
8.         Any additional questions identified as part of the interview process.

INTERVIEW COVERSHEET

PROJECT OUTCOMES [3]

Instructions to participants: You are invited to participate in an interview about the new PFNet distance learning project. The interview should take about 15 minutes. Everything you say will remain confidential to the researchers and project leaders. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.

All participants should answer questions 1 - 5. Interviewers should feel free to ask additional questions as appropriate/required. These questions, and answers, should be noted in question 6.

The wording of the questions is only a suggestion. Interviewers can adapt the wording as appropriate and/or explain the questions to participants.

1.         Would you like to undertake studies by distance education?
1a.       Why or why not?
1b.       If YES, what would you like to do?
2.         Have you used a computer before? (If NO: Go to question 3.)
If YES:
2a.       How much experience have you had with computers?
2b.       What have you mainly used computers for (for example, word processing, games etc.)?
2c.       Have you used e-mail before?
2c(i).    If NO: What do you know about e-mail?
2c(ii).   If YES: How much experience have you had with using e-mail (for example can you send an e-mail with an attachment)?
2c(iii).   What do you mainly use e-mail for?
2c(iv).  Have you used Sasamungga e-mail station?
2c(v).   If NO, why have you not used it? (now go to Question 6)
2c(vi).  If YES, how often have you used it?
2c(vii).  If YES, what your MAIN use for the e-mail?
2c(viii).What is your SECOND main use for the e-mail?
2c(ix). What do you think are the main benefits that the e-mail station has brought (e.g., how has it helped you)?
          Please encourage participants to give SPECIFIC examples of how it has helped them (i.e., benefits in terms of money,           time, opportunities etc.).
3.         If NO: (These questions are to help identify barriers to the use of technology, particularly for groups such as women, young people, less well-educated etc.)
3a.       What is the MAIN reason you do not use computers?
3b.       What are the other reasons you do not use computers?
3c.       What would be helpful in supporting your using computers? (Now go to question 6).
4.                  Have you done any computer training? (get details of training if they have done some)
5.         What sort of an impact do you think PFNet has had on the community?
5.         Any additional questions identified as part of the interview process.

As the data is not going to be used in a comparative capacity (such as the interview schedules above), there is a higher degree of flexibility if you wish to include additional or different questions.

1.       What are the bestects of studying through distance using PFNet?
2.       What are the worstects of studying through distance using PFNet?
3.       How would you describe your overall experience so far using PFNet for distance education?
4.       Do you plan to study again by distance using the PFNet? Why or why not?
5.       What do recommend can be done to improve distance education through the use of PFNet?

1.       What are the bestects of using PFNet for distance education?
2.       What are the worstects of using PFNet for distance education?
3.       How would you describe your overall experience so far with the use of PFNet for distance education?
4.       What is your impression of the students' experience of using PFNet
5.       What do recommend can be done to improve distance education through the use of PFNet?

1.       From your observation of and experience with PFNet, what do you think are the bestects?
2.       What do you think are the worstects?
3.       Have you observed students or staff having any particular problems with the use of PFNet?
4.       What sort of impacts do you believe PFNet is having on the community?
5.       Do you have any suggestions as to how distance education through PFNet can be improved?

Data on rural PFNet e-mail station as per the current usage statistics (http://www.peoplefirst.net.sb/General/PFnet_Stats.htm)
It would be good under the heading of "Main subject of e-mail sent by customers" if the education category could be further broken down to indicate sub-headings such as:

·          tutor/lecturer query
·          contact with other students in the course
·          course related e-mails (e.g., e-mailing an organsiation for information for an assignment etc.)
·          submission of assignments

Additionally, information on contact-response time when students make a query of a lecturer/tutor/USP and turn-around-time for marking of assignments should be collected. Does USP Centre have this data for previous years? If not, a comparison can be made between current students using PFNet and those submitting through the mailbag.

For each workshop/training session delivered, quantitative data should be collected on:

·          number of participants
·          demographic profiles of participants (age, sex, level of education, employment etc.)
·          workshop/training evaluation (It is in the project assessment schedule that any training should also be evaluated. Do you have an existing evaluation for training workshops, or does one need to be written? If so, did you want me to assist with this?)

Quantitative data should be collected on the following:

·          number and demographic profile of students enrolled in USP distance education courses (pre-project as well as after implementation of project)
·          courses enrolled for
·          number of assignments word processed & number of assignments non-word processed (it would be helpful to do this by student as well, as some may mix methods)
·          number of assignments submitted through PFNet & number of assignments posted via USP mail bag (it would be helpful to do this by student as well, as some may mix methods)
·          turn-around-time for marking of assignments by method of submission (PFNet or posted)
·          performance indicators (attrition rates, grades, enrollment for subsequent courses) (it would be good to analyse these by course enrolled for; method of submission of assignments; age; gender etc.)

A general course evaluation questionnaire is also scheduled to be administered. This is different than the one in the back of the Extension course books. It should focus on the students' experience of PFNet. I'd suggest that it should be administered within the last fortnight of the semester, before the exam period. I can design this if you wish, but I will need your help in giving me some indication, based on your contact with the students, of what in particular you think should be considered. 

Dear PFNet User,

5. What is your highest level of education completed?:

6. What countries did you send your e-mail(s) to?:

7. What were the reasons for your e-mail(s)?

8. If you were sending an e-mail for educational reasons, what were the main purposes? (Tick as many as apply)

Approximately how long did you spend doing your e-mail?

What time of day did you send your e-mail(s)?

Did you experience any difficulties while doing your e-mails? If so, please explain:

Is there anything else you wish to comment on about your e-mails today?

Thank you for your participation.

(Annex e)

TIMETABLE FOR

SASAMUGA DISTANCE LEARNING RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

30^th May-14 September 2002

Please Note: This is just a tentative timetable. You need to add some more information and fine-tune it.

TRAINING DESIGN

DISTANCE LEARNING RESEARCH ON THE IMPACT OF RURAL EMAIL COMMUNICATION SYSTEM
TRAINING OF TRAINERS

Sasamunga
Choisuel Province
3^rd June to 7^th June 2002

NOTES FOR THE PARTICIPANTS

This training kit contains:

a)         The design and schedule for the Distance Learning Research Workshop Scheduled for the 30^th May to 7^th June 2002 at Rural Development Division (RDD), 5^th Floor Anthony Saru Building, Honiara.

b)         Various reference materials required.

The content and the training process will be assessed.  We will solicit your feedbacks and observations to improve the training of trainers workshop design and content.

Thank you,

Sasamunga Distance Learning Project Team

TRAINING DESIGN

DISTANCE LEARNING RESEARCH ON THE IMPACT OF RURAL EMAIL COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

TRAINING OF TRAINERS

Sasamunga

TRAINING SCHEDULE

Day 1

TRAINING SCHEDULE

Day 2

Day 3

TRAINING SCHEDULE

Day 4

Day 5