Evaluating ICT for Education in Africa - Royal Holloway, University of ...

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4.3.4 The Eduvision approachThe intention of Eduvision was that their technology would act as an effectivemediator between the established rote based model and more interactive,participatory approaches to education. The functionality offered by the AkiliReader was intended to position the student in a role where they shape theirown flexible learning (Ellerman 2004) and develop creative and independentthinking skills (Carr 2005, White 1982) whilst remaining within theframework of the established curriculum based environment and recognisingthe vital role of teachers (Kirschner et al. 2006). This was assisted throughutilising local language content from Amharic textbooks (Stroud 2002,Mazrui 2000) as a foundation for additional exploratory content.Eduvision were only one partner within the multi-stakeholder initiative and itwas the pre-existing presence of the other partners in Ethiopia that led to thedecision from Eduvision to operate there. OLPC adopted a distinctly differentpedagogical approach, promoting constructivism, as reflected in the Sugarapplications on the XO laptops. These were tailored to activity-based tasksdesigned for a child to complete independently, theoretically without anyneed for teacher supervision (Cromer 1997). A detailed analysis of theimplications of the overall OLPC approach is reserved for Chapter 8. For amore detailed study regarding the overall efficacy of the OLPC initiative referto Kraemer et al. (2009), Leaning (2010) and Unwin (2010). For an analysisof the specific educational issues associated with introducing XO laptops intoclassrooms refer to contrasting reports from Hartel (2008), Kort and Reilly(2008), Hooker (2008) Nugroho and Lonsdale (2009) and Kipp (2009). Fora broader summary of various low-cost computing devices being introducedinto the education arena across the developing world see Pal et al. (2009) andZucker (2009).4.3.5 Eduvision aim and objectivesThe primary aim for Eduvision in conducting a monitoring and evaluationexercise was to assess both the feasibility and impact of introducing the AkiliReader software into Ethiopian primary schools on the XO laptop. However,130
in order to reflect the involvement of ECBP as the lead partner in thisprogramme, the remit of the monitoring and evaluation exercise wasexpanded to assess the wider feasibility and impact, including capacitydevelopment and the XO laptops alongside the Akili Reader software.The primary objectives of the Eduvision monitoring and evaluation were to: Assess the potential for the programme to influence rote-basedapproaches to learning and promote a more active and participatorylearning environment. Assess the impact of the programme on student attendance andmotivation. Assess the impact of the programme on teacher motivation andenjoyment. Assess the impact of the programme on parents and the widercommunity regarding their perceptions of education and technology.Additional objectives specific to Eduvision were to: Test and enhance the Akili Reader software in an educational contextwith little previous exposure to digital technology. Test and refine the process of converting Amharic textbooks onto theAkili Reader. Build strong partnerships with the relevant implementing bodies inEthiopia. Better understand the effectiveness of the Akili Reader for schools inEthiopia.4.3.6 Rationale for monitoring and evaluationEduvision focused on monitoring and process evaluation throughout productdevelopment and implementation and adopted a multi-method, systemsbasedapproach (Watson 2006). Emphasis was placed on the three guidingprinciples of understanding socio-cultural context, (Horstman 2004),minimising abuse of power (Eyben 2005) and maximising capacitydevelopment for all stakeholders throughout the process. The monitoring and131
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the research findings to emphasise
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3.4.5 Drawings ....................
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5.4.1 Plurality of methods ........
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8.3 Implications of aspiration ....
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List of figuresFigure 2.1: MDGs (UN
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List of appendicesAppendix A: Resul
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NOLNet Namibian Open Learning Netwo
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I began this PhD two weeks after mo
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number of ICT for education program
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innovative alternatives, and the ce
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2.2 Substance, rationale and approa
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progress towards the EFA goals has
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The critique posed to the market th
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etween these two extremes as a resu
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promoted to become „the character
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appropriate application in recognit
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can instigate both harm and good, i
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Such an undertaking is central to t
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- Availability of computer networks
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assisting towards this end. The imp
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eing rooted in specific socio-cultu
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evaluation: „An evaluation carrie
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Central within this is recognising
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2.6.2 Maturing of the disciplineEar
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that conceptualises ICT for develop
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2006). This also requires the adopt
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attempt to impose overarching solut
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currently the lowest available „p
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Garcia-Montes et al. 2006). This is
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However, despite such claims and th
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into knowledge and applied in life
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dependent upon an increased emphasi
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that ICT is having on education in
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3. Methodology3.1 IntroductionThe p
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2004) and instead focused on utilis
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evaluation of ICT and development p
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ICT for development programmes (Hee
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Page 133 and 134: Photo 4.4: Students in Ethiopia exp
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Page 137 and 138: Photo 4.6: Teacher training in Rema
Page 139 and 140: 4.3.10 Programme futureThe XO 5000
Page 141 and 142: 4.4.3 The importance of ICT for edu
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Page 159 and 160: Descriptionof methodFocus groupsLoc
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Page 163 and 164: 5.3.1 Baseline testingDiscussion at
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to identify significant themes that
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„Everything that the teachers wro
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(Shurmer-Smith 2002, Herbert 2000).
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5.4 Lessons for effective operation
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and be provided with research assis
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problematic problem but it is the o
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elieving that methods that are base
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teachers maintaining many external
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weekend then they will be there and
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coffee and dancing together in a ro
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emphases can serve to reinforce eac
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eferring back to previous experienc
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Tilahun reflected on the reasons be
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The limited emphasis on quantifying
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5.5 Implications for capacity devel
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improve and build capacity. Similar
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These issues allude to the bigger p
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esponses to questions regarding par
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Month Activity Challenges Strengths
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communicate alternative withappropr
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EuroTalk are keen for thefindings t
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6.2 Why partnership?The contributor
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(Unwin 2005b). The notion of tri-se
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assess the efficacy of the partners
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6.3.1 Contrasting bottom linesPartn
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to engage with the development pote
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that could be distributed specifica
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sector was the most significant cha
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My suggestion that I might speak wi
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approach is found in assessing the
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the fieldwork. The effect of the ob
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(13/04/08). Although prevented from
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„We should have worked more close
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since the language being used faile
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demonstrated in an interview with E
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discussions and various unsuccessfu
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of partnership (Marriot and Goyder
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„‟When we think of monitoring s
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the impact on ECBP from spending ti
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„It has to do with the history of
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6.7.2 Potential to redefine practic
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monitoring and evaluation can provi
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Photo 7.2: Desks and benches in cla
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quantifying educational outputs. It
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of technology within education in A
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pedagogies, and new approaches to t
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eLearning in Africa. Training was h
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Second, alongside the enthusiasm ma
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in Ethiopia meant that the monitori
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„Akili has big potential - becaus
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„The main problem we are facing i
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colonial approach‟ (09/12/08) to
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The aim of providing free and unive
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Photo 7.4: Lessons in Malawi conduc
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Photo 7.5: Girls in Rema herding go
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teachers working in primary schools
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Teachers in Rema (22/04/08) gave a
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disaster. The contrasting potential
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2006). This is demonstrated by the
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Indeed, between these two extremes
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„I use the laptop a lot at home f
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Critical thinking constitutes a sig
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misconception regarding the nature
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Bloom’s Original Taxonomy(1956)An
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associated negative consequences to
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adherence to a flawed promotion of
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„We are not interested with the t
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failing to complete primary educati
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has received some attention (Naraya
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The traditional dominant narrative
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Children reported that they felt mo
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from Golgota eagerly affirmed this,
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and 2 compared to Standard 3 and 4.
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two case studies from Ethiopia. It
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as a good way to communicate with p
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increasingly apparent that Rema was
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evaluation and sustained an overly
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symbol of something good that Malaw
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aspiration could be viewed as poten
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journalist whose article was publis
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and powerful if we have OLPC here i
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If every child in Ethiopia who is e
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population live on less than $2 per
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However, as is now explored, the ve
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the right to profit from sale of al
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8.5.2 Private sector needs creation
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merely another context within which
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Commodity fetishism through aspirat
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The absurdity of the situation was
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„As we are a part of globalizatio
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of aspiration. Engaging effectively
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(Ellul 1964) does delegitimize uncr
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motivations for partnership. The im
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educational challenges and opportun
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choice of theoretical foundation, w
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It is therefore my hope that the me
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9.2.5 Ongoing potential for transfo
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undoubtedly become more so in the f
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esearch undertaken for this thesis.
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9.5 Education: a final wordThe thes
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BibliographyAAG, 2009. Statement of
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Batchelor, S., Evangelista, S., Hea
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Development Department Education Gr
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learning: a sourcebook for evaluato
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evaluation in education. Studies in
Page 391 and 392:
DFID, 2008. Private sector developm
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EFA, 2001. Dakar framework for acti
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Fadel, C. and Lemke, L. 2006. Techn
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G8, 2007. Growth and responsibility
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Greene, J., 2005. Mixed methods. In
Page 401 and 402:
Harrow, J., 2001. Capacity building
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Hine, C., 2005. Virtual methods and
Page 405 and 406:
Illich, I., 1969. Celebration of aw
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Oliver, G., (ed) 2005. Maitland+20:
Page 409 and 410:
Lasonen, J., Kemppainen, R., and Ra
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Mansell, R., 2005. The fragility of
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Mercer, C., 2006. Telecentres and t
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Mutume. G., 2006. Harnessing the in
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Olukoshi, A., 2006. African scholar
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Paul, R. and Elder, L. 2005. The mi
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Roy, S., 2005. Globalisation, ICT a
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Shadish, W, Cook, T. and Campbell D
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Sperling, G., 2008. A global educat
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Thomas, J, 1996. Introduction: a de
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UNESCO, 2006a. Teachers and educati
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Unwin, T., 2009a. Conclusions. In U
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Walker, J, 2005. Self-determination
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Winch, C., 2005. Autonomy as an edu
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Appendices437
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439
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441
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Interviewee Company Details of Resp
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UK LtdJohn Connell Cisco Brief resp
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Appendix C: Sample of Malawi indivi
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Tell me, when you see a school like
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Appendix D: Sample of Ethiopia stud
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classes‟.For final question promp
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Children InformationInformation fro
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Appendix F: Sample of Malawi focus
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Appendix G: Sample of Ethiopia teac
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esponsibility of being apilot schoo
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laptop make to the livesof the chil
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How have you found thisdiscussion?O
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demonstrate, the eight questions an
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the technology solution and initiat
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made that rule. At the weekend I pl
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When you are writing the diary plea
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Do you think the laptops and Akili
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done?..............................
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...................................
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Appendix M: Baseline test in Malawi
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HIV?a. Yesb. No5. Are there medicin
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It is important that the test is co
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Teachers can teach students how to
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Maths1. What is the LCM of 5, 10 an
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HealthPlease explain how you can co
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- Please explain why you think thes
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495
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In wanting to do the best evaluatio
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Baselines (inc. retrospective const
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Appendix Q: Report from eLA worksho
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Incorporating more qualitative meth
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Breakout workshop 3 - DonorsProblem
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It is difficult to ensure the objec
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appease donors and secure future fu
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to demonstrate thatsomething works
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Insights regarding effective evalua
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Appendix S: Data table from Malawi
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A 10% increase in correct answers r
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with headgain overall perspective o
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