Introducing Technology to Tanzania

The Mkombozi (Redeemer) Montessori Pre-Primary School

Mbagala-Chamazi, Tanzania, East AfricaJuly/August 2013

The Nangwanda Secondary SchoolNewala, Tanzania, East Africa February 2012/October 2012

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2012 Project OriginSister Francesca Onley, CSFN, PhD, had attended the 2009 WISE Summit in Qatar, where Sister saw a presentation given by Dr. Paul Kim, Chief Technology Officer and Assistant Dean of the Graduate School of Education, Stanford University, California and Founder of the Seeds of Empowerment, a non-governmental organization based in California on the TeacherMates, entitled “Pocket School: Exploring Mobile technology as a sustainable education option for underserved children.”

After hearing the presentation, Sister Francesca, as Chair (2002-2011) of the IAUP/UN Commission on Disarmament Education, Conflict Resolution and Peace and Executive Committee member, IAUP (International Association of University Presidents) felt that Dr. Kim’s innovative use of technology would be a good idea for the Commission’s new project.

Upon her return from Qatar, Sister Francesca contacted Dr. Paul Kim inquiring if he would be interested in collaborating in a project using the technology he spoke of at the WISE Summit. Dr. Kim was on board so the next step was to find a suitable host for such a project. Jennifer Andrews, an alumna of Holy Family University and graduate student at Holy Family University, had kept in contact with a former Peace Corps volunteer. This volunteer was Jennifer Harding, who had since founded Jiamini, a non-profit with the mission of providing orphaned and vulnerable children in southern Tanzania (Newala) with a quality local education and a safe living environment, empowering them to become self-reliant members of their communities.

The goal of this February 2012 project was to provide educational assistance and offer English language instruction through the use of TeacherMates and cell phones/smart phones for 140 Swahili native speaking children ranging in age from 14 to 19 years old, who attend the Nangwanda Secondary School in Newala, a Southern Tanzanian province of Mtwara.

The TeacherMates contained critical thinking assessment tools, Storymaker for literacy development and math games. The phones contained the SMILE (Stanford Mobile Inquiry-based Learning Environment) application for teaching, learning, and assessment to be used in multiple subjects; piano; guitar; English phonics; early literacy story books; video/photo camera; Blackboard learning management system; and NBC news reports. A 1001 Global peace storytelling workshop was also conducted.

2012 Project Goal and Host

Team LeadersSister Francesca Onley, CSFN, PhD, President, Holy Family University,

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Dr. Paul Kim, PhD, Chief Technology Officer and Assistant Dean of the Graduate School of Education, Stanford University, California and Founder of the

Seeds of Empowerment, a non-governmental organization based

in California

2012 Newala Project Partners

Jennifer Harding, Founder and Country

Director, Jiamini

2012 Newala Team MembersMr. Alexander Bonk, Director of Multimedia, Seeds of Empowerment

Ms. Elizabeth Buckner, doctoral student, Stanford University, California and Regional Director – Middle East, Seeds of Empowerment

Ms. Jennifer Harding, Founder and Country Director, Jiamini

Ms. Arafeh Karimi, Director of International Relations, Seeds of Empowerment

Dr. Paul Kim, PhD, Chief Technology Officer and Assistant Dean of the Graduate School of Education, Stanford University, California and Founder of the Seeds of Empowerment, a non-

governmental organization based in California

Ms. Neha Mehta, Senior Marketing Manager, International Marketing Team, Blackboard, Inc.

Mr. James Miller, Director – Task based Learning Project

Sister Francesca Onley, CSFN, PhD, President, Holy Family University

Mr. Nikodem Rybak, doctoral student, University of Warsaw, Poland

Team members, faculty, staff and students at the Nangwanda Secondary School.

Dr. Paul Kim during classroom instruction with the students of the Nangwanda Secondary School.

Sister Francesca during classroom instruction with the students of the Nangwanda Secondary School.

Introducing the TeacherMates to the Nangwanda Secondary School students.

Students at the Nangwanda Secondary School using smart phones.

Jennifer Harding, Jiamini Founder and Country Director, working with a small group of Nangwanda Secondary School students.

The team takes questions from the Nangwanda Secondary School students.

The team working with the Nangwanda Secondary School students.

The Nangwanda Secondary School students work in small groups with the devices.

Sister Francesca is pictured (right to left) with Mr. Issa Kassim, headmaster, and Mr. Hosea Mnyalape, faculty member, along with

students from the Nangwanda Secondary School.

A follow up visit to the Nangwanda Secondary School in October 2012 included meeting with the school’s key

faculty/administration and members of Jiamini.

The follow up visit to the Nangwanda Secondary School in October 2012 gave Dr. Kim an opportunity to trouble-shoot

any equipment concerns over the past eight months.

Additional Android phones were provided to the Nangwanda Secondary School during the follow up visit in October 2012.

During his follow-up trip to the Nangwanda Secondary School in October 2012, Dr. Paul Kim (pictured right)

presented a Storytelling competition award and gave 60 copies of

1001 Story books to the school.

2013 Project OriginBased on the success of the first project, Sister Francesca and Dr. Paul Kim, felt that this innovative use of technology would be a wonderful resource to use to pursue another similar project. Sister Francesca located a suitable host for such an undertaking through her working relationship with the Sisters of the Holy Redeemer. The Sisters of the Holy Redeemer have been in Tanzania since 1958 providing for the healthcare and educational needs of the people. The Sisters continue to minister to those needs in the name of the Redeemer. The Mkombozi (Redeemer) Montessori Pre-Primary School is led by Sister Berntraud Schreck, CSR, School Administrator and Mr. Novatus Mmochi, Assistant School Administrator. The local contact is Sister Anne Marie Haas, CSR, Provincial Superior, American Province.  The combined teams worked well together to pool their resources and expertise to provide for training of teachers, hands-on sessions for students, equipment preparation and multiple research endeavors.

2013 Project Goal and HostThe goal of this July/August 2013 project was to provide educational assistance and enhance English language learning through the use of Android tablets for 200 Swahili native and English speaking children ranging in age from 3 to 8 years old, who attend the Mkombozi (Redeemer) Montessori Pre-Primary School in Mbagala Chamazi, Tanzania.

The team worked with all of the teachers to instruct them on teaching critical thinking and questioning skills with the SMILE (Stanford Mobile Inquiry-based Learning Environment) application. The teachers and the team were then charged with sharing these skills and strategies with the rest of the students. The Android devices contained the SMILE application for teaching, learning, and assessment to be used in multiple subjects; English phonics; math and numeracy; creative arts and early literacy story books; and video/photo camera.

2013 Chamazi Project Partners

Sister Anne Marie Haas, CSR Provincial Superior,

American Province, Sisters of the Holy Redeemer

2013 Chamazi Team Members

Dr. Lisa Griffin, PhD, Chief Program Development and Research Officer, Seeds of Empowerment

Dr. Kimberly Heuschkel, EdD, Assistant Professor, School of Education, Holy Family University

Ms. Pamela Levin, Instructional Technology Associate, Stanford University and Principal Project Lead, Field Operations and Technology, Seeds of Empowerment

Sister Francesca Onley, CSFN, PhD, President, Holy Family University

Ms. Rosemary Parmigiani, Instructor, School of Education, Holy Family University

Ms. Suzanne Sim, Volunteer, Seeds of Empowerment

Ms. Neha Taleja, Executive Director, Seeds of Empowerment

The Mkombozi Montessori Pre-Primary School shows their excitement for the arrival of the team.

Students of the Mkombozi Montessori Pre-Primary School using an Android tablet.

The Mkombozi Montessori Pre-Primary School students gathered for morning exercises and songs.

Team members, faculty, staff and students at the Mkombozi Montessori Pre-Primary School.

Introducing the Android tablets to the Mkombozi Montessori Pre-Primary School faculty and staff.

Team members, faculty, staff and students at the Mkombozi Montessori Pre-Primary School.

The Mkombozi Montessori Pre-Primary School students play the drums during morning songs.

The Mkombozi Montessori Pre-Primary School first grade students work in pairs to use the Android tablets to practice literacy and mathematics skills by writing their letters and

numbers.

Dr. Kimberly Heuschkel, EdD, Assistant Professor, School of Education, Holy Family University

Traveling to Tanzania to work at the Mkombozi Montessori Pre-

Primary School was a transformational experience. The enthusiasm of the teachers and the students made us feel at

home immediately – our conversations quickly went from

“here and now” to “when we return next year…”

Their commitment to education was unparalleled and allowed our team to use the Android

tablets and software applications to exchange ideas

and enhance our communication across cultures.

Ms. Rosemary Parmigiani, EdD Candidate, Instructor, School of Education, Holy Family University

Pictured left to right:Ms. Pamela Levin, Instructional Technology Associate, Stanford University and Principal Project Lead, Field

Operations and Technology, Seeds of Empowerment; Dr. Lisa Griffin, PhD, Chief Program Development and Research Officer, Seeds of Empowerment;

Ms. Neha Taleja, Executive Director, Seeds of Empowerment.

Pictured left to right:Mr. Baydon Amran, Teacher and Assistant Head Administrator;

Sister Berntraud Schreck, CSR, School Manager; Mr. Novatus Mmochi, Head School Administrator

Sister Francesca presenting a certificate of achievement to teachers at Mkombozi Pre-Primary School for successfully completing the SMILE and technology training program.

Funders

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