HONIARA (PINA) — The pioneering Solomon Islands People First Network and University of the South Pacific have launched a project using e-mail to deliver courses to students in remote areas.
Today, students are due to begin USP courses using PFnet facilities set up at Sasamungga Community High School, South Choiseul, a PFnet news release said.
The latest project, the news release said, is expected to lead to:
– better access to distance learning courses in rural areas,
– better delivery and supervision of the students by USP administrators and tutors,
– and the USP Center in Honiara developing course variations specially designed for delivery by e-mail.
The development is supported by $9,000 funding from the Pan-Asia Networking Grants Committee of the Asia Pacific Development Information Program.
PFnet was initiated by the Solomon Islands Development Administration and Participatory Planning Program. Its objectives include creating a rural mail network using radio technology, solar power and information management techniques. It has been supported by United Nations agencies.
The APDIP funding is to help:
– set up a computer facility and utilize one of the existing rural e-mail connections to pilot a distance learning facility in Sasamungga Community High School;
– and conduct research into the impacts of the PFnet e-mail station, which has been operating since last October.
A management team of four from the Rural Development Volunteers Association, PFnet, and USP Center recently launched the three months of research activity.
Two rural development volunteers were recruited to implement the project and conduct the research: Peter Pita and Patson Taniveke. Both are graduate students with computing experience.
Sasamungga Community High School has provided a room to host the distance learning center.
The principal, Joel Dereveke, and other teachers are also participants in the project and will supervise the sustainable management of the facility.
Backstopping the research activity and evaluation will be Tracy Berno, associate professor, coordinator tourism studies, School of Social and Economic Development at USP in Suva.
