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

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process of monitoring and this is discussed in detail at the close of thischapter. Process is therefore not only useful in helping reach the end productbut also has intrinsic value in and of itself, meaning that monitoring mayultimately be of more significance than evaluation in achieving educationobjectives (Earl et al. 2001, Chapman et al. 2004). As noted in my researchdiary (16/04/08):„We need to promote a change in culture within monitoringand evaluation. Value is seen primarily in terms of endproduct,demonstrable measurable outputs, and the processconceived primarily as a means by which to get there. Thusthe process only has value when it helps get to the productmore quickly. Emphasising a systems-based approach thatengages with the process leads to a combination ofconventional evaluation with self-monitoring and valuingboth process and product.‟This is determinant upon reassessing the culture of results-based and outputdriven evaluation and instead drawing also on the previously mentionedsystems-based approach (Watson 2006).Engaging with multiple perspectives was a constant challenge whenoperating under strict time and budget constraints (Bamberger et al. 2006).However, as noted by Unwin and Day (2005 p.121) it was apparent that whenpeople „have been involved in the process, they are much more likely to bepositive about its proposed action plan‟. This observation is of criticalimportance within the sphere of educational assessment, as teachers andother stakeholders are prone to view change as a threatening process (Unwin2005). This emphasis also resulted in richer dialogue, as recorded in myresearch diary following group interviews with children in Mwatibu(06/03/08):„It worked really well to start the group interviews withchildren by mentioning “last time we were with you all, youspoke about...” This is a definite strength, drawing on and202
eferring back to previous experiences and comments to helpthem assess and discuss and become more responsive.‟There is therefore benefit in ensuring that each stakeholder has ownership ofthe process taking place (Unwin and Day 2005, Taachi et al. 2009a).Alongside this, if such monitoring and evaluation is built in as an essentialcomponent within programme development then it becomes a tool forcapacity development through mutual learning (Lennie et al. 2008).This recognises the necessity for focusing on training of staff and humancapacity development through the process of monitoring and evaluation(Batchelor et al. 2003), requiring an acknowledgement that manyparticipants are likely to have „little experience of such work, and it is crucialthat simple but effective schemes are developed to enable them to contributeto, and benefit from, such activities‟ (Unwin 2005 p.84). This is in contrast tothe orthodox „heavy burdens of reporting‟ (Commission for Africa 2005p.147) approach that may detract from the participant‟s ability to do the verything that they are being evaluated concerning (Watson 2006).5.4.5 Sustained probingThe importance of sustained probing within effective monitoring andevaluation became apparent when questioning stakeholders regarding theevaluation of the evaluation process. Within this context it was regularlyapparent that teachers and other participants had only a limited grasp of theobjective of the study, despite our efforts to inform them about it. This isunsurprising considering the abstract nature of evaluating the process ofprogramme evaluation. The most significant challenge encountered was inhelping the teachers reflect critically on what had happened as a result of theevaluation rather than simply providing default answers concerning thepositive impact of the programme. This was demonstrated at Ntentera whenthe teachers were asked to reflect on the methods used. The initial response(07/03/08) was exemplified by one teacher, opting to focus on theprogramme itself:203
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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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organisations, explanation of the p
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3.3.1 EuroTalk LtdEuroTalk (http://
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further two weeks in Ethiopia in De
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I was invited by InWEnt to particip
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planning and implementation they co
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the one on the adjacent line. This
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drawings was as a precursor to anci
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Photo 3.3: Students completing the
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prior to implementation of the prog
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provided regular opportunity for se
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for education in Africa from a list
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conversations with respondents, as
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partially based on the flawed notio
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in the research then all those unab
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motivational and aspirational techn
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In the light of the complex challen
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It cannot be guaranteed that resear
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Embrace the heterogeneity of commun
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The majority of the research encoun
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which each received 20 devices for
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Figure 4.1: ICT for development pol
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Photo 4.1: Students exploring the I
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and engaged with children, teachers
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the programme with all of them havi
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widespread lack of textbooks and in
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esources but also that it serves to
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in order to reflect the involvement
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Photo 4.4: Students in Ethiopia exp
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on the donation of solar panels fro
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Photo 4.6: Teacher training in Rema
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4.3.10 Programme futureThe XO 5000
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4.4.3 The importance of ICT for edu
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theme focussed on the lack of budge
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esponses, three dominant themes eme
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The experience of interacting with
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„In the institutions we have work
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Page 159 and 160: Descriptionof methodFocus groupsLoc
Page 161 and 162: Classroomobservations24 in Malawi a
Page 163 and 164: 5.3.1 Baseline testingDiscussion at
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Page 187 and 188: 5.4 Lessons for effective operation
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Page 209 and 210: 5.5 Implications for capacity devel
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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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