Brown Interview Report
Country Case Study: Tonga Interview Report
Lachelle Brown
UMUC: EDTC 645
Fall 2014
Dr. Tamara Blesh
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Brown Interview Report
Name of Country:
Tonga
Interviewer Name:
Lachelle Brown
Introduction
The purpose of this report is to gather information to analyze and evaluate the policies
toward technology integration in a K-12 school outside of the United States and explain how
their technology integration may influence the approaches policy makers here in the United
States are using. Tonga primary education is free for students between the ages of 6-14 and
consists of six years at the primary level, three years at the junior secondary level, and three
years at the senior secondary level.
My attempt to contact many professional ministries within the Tonga community was not
successful though I did receive a response from an individual that had done some work in Tonga
and had written a scholarly article. While this did not give as much specific information as I
would have liked to have had, I was able to obtain some use of technology integration for
education in Tonga schools.
Interview Questions
1. First, tell me a little about yourself. (Background education, grade level you teach, years
of teaching experience and so forth)
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Rationale: The reason for a bio from possible interviewees would be to gather an
understanding of who they are, what may have been a motivator to become a teacher and
how have the experience been teaching in a underdeveloped country and if they’ve had
any experience teaching in the United States. It also gives an overview of the retention
rate, qualifications of teachers and a look at educational background before coming a
teacher.
2. Describe your philosophy on teaching.
Rationale: This question gives more insight into the academic disciplines that the
interviewees have on teaching based on their knowledge, reasons and the reality of what
teaching is and how it can help students with effective teaching.
3. In what ways do you encourage creativity in the classroom and how would you integrate
technology to engage students and enrich learning?
Rationale: This question will address how the interviewee feels about the integration of
technology in the classroom. It also will highlight what technology is being used and how
the instructor are using it to make learning more engaging for students. Due to the fact
that technology differentiate from school to school and across the global nation and how
the resources available are being incorporated.
4. What are some of the most important things you’ve learned when teaching students?
Rationale: This question will identify some feelings of the teachers in the schools and
also help with professional development when training teachers how to incorporate
lessons and make lessons engaging and effective to students. It focuses on the pros and
cons they may face when teaching. This gives the teachers an opportunity to express any
concerns or describe what’s important when teaching.
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5. How can you promote life-long learning in your classroom?
Rationale: This question gives long term outcomes of how teachers can use lessons in
the classroom that can be lessons they’ll take with them and continue to learn and build
from.
Strategy Used
To solicit the information needed to complete an effective interview about the
educational system in Tonga I resorted to emailing ministries in Tongan communities,
philosophers, and authors of scholarly articles whom have worked in the Tonga schools that may
have pertinent information to answer the questions I’ve listed. I’ve even contacted the embassy
here in the United States and received a response that I would get some response within 48
hours. To date no one has contacted me in regards to my request and therefore I’m limited in my
findings but I have looked at some scholarly articles and located some important information
from the Informational Journal of Science and Research. I’ve also joined the Global Education
Conference Network for updated information.
Person Interviewed
I was able to receive a response back from Russell Taylor who is a scholarly article writer
that sent me his Curriculum Vitae. He provided me with the following information about
himself:
“I firmly believe that if there is a way out of the global mess that we (the human race) have
created for ourselves it will be through you and I making informed choices and education and
ICTs will play a vital role in finding those solutions. My work revolves around finding
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sustainable solutions to enabling access to information, building capacity and enabling
populations to make those choices. As you will see my work began in Tonga and is moving into
other undeveloped nations.”
Name: Russell Taylor
Brief Biography
His educational background details a Bachelor of Science Degree- Zoology, writing
thesis for Master of Science (Honours) Degree- Ecology and PhD (yet to be conferred)Development Studies thesis titled European Union Development Funding and Policy:
Information is a key ingredient to the Sustainable Self Determination of Pacific Island Nation.
His employment stems back from 1972 to the present in areas of lecturer, fund strategist,
contract builder and Senior Estuarine Ecologist. With research done in molecular biology,
marine invertebrate distribution and aquatic invasive species in Tonga.
Russell Taylor is co-founder of EcoCare Pacific Trust which will roll out the Solar Photovoltaic
(PV) and Information Communication Technology (ICT) Pilot Programme for Tongan Schools.
Findings and reflections
Russell Taylor efforts to mainstream and gear technology integration in Tonga schools
project is to install solar power systems in five high schools on the main island that will enable
them to have computers or Information Communication technologies (ICTs) that will become
more accessible to students. In this effort the later goal is to have accessibility in all 21 different
islands and be accessible in all 36 high schools with the solar panels to utilize ICTs capabilities.
The project is funded by New Zealand Ministries of Foreign Affair and Trade and cost $350,000.
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The cost of power is so high in this country that it makes the availability of ICTs in schools slim
to none. This project will install solar panels and students will have access to computers because
Information Communication Technologies will not be requiring the high electricity cost incurred
for usage of the solar panels for technology integration into the schools. An important step for
this project are so that the schools are able to learn and get the sustainable technologies into the
classrooms for the students. Lessons will be taught to students on the usage of technology. From
reading the response on Tonga from Russell Taylor perspective I’ve gathered that people living
in impoverished nations having the access to Information Communication Technologies can play
a vital role in enabling access to computers and technology in the classroom.
Within the response that I did receive it was not as helpful as needed to complete this
case study although it gave the projects that Russell Taylor was presently engaged with to
integrate technology being accessible in Tonga schools and furthering it to underprivileged
countries that do not have the capabilities of information communication. Other ways that my
means of communication to reach someone globally would be to have a better means of
contacting outside the United States. I’m not too familiar with other countries and do not have
much insight on how other countries are run, educational background, history and so forth. The
measures that I did take to find useful information and contact ministries for Tonga were indeed
a good way just not as helpful in getting them to respond. Going forward I would be more
proactive to reach out to others via telephone because there were numbers for out of country but
it would be costly to call these places. Most of the contacts had numbers listed and no other
means of communicating with them.
Among other findings in Tonga school the barriers with ICT integration was limited due
to limited access to ICT( due to lack of resources), inadequate maintenance, the lack of training
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for teachers knowledge of ICT integration in education, curriculum and assessment. Therefore,
the teachers within the Tongan schools currently have or will have the basic skills needed to
integrate the technology in the classroom through the usage of computers and other related ICTs
once the schools have been given the infrastructure for effective integration. Those that have the
availability of technology it has been a success and students are furthering their education either
going to college or distance learning.
How it changed my initial perceptions
Although Tonga may have limited resources they are able to have technology integrated
into the classrooms in some locations and therefore their primary method of delivery is through a
range of different media: satellite-based videoconferencing and audio conferencing, audio/video
tapes, CD-ROMs and DVDs, and e-learning using the Moodle platform. The ultimate goal is to
move towards having a fully online delivery of technology integration for students. The cost per
student is high ranging in the area of $1.200 per student to attend the Catholic schools providing
the technology integration for technical schooling and training. The connection is government
owned by Tonga Communications Corp (TCC) which provides local and international telecom
services, including internet access, fixed-line connections and mobile phone services. Since
2007, Wi-Fi services have been available throughout the main island of Tonga. With the high
cost of this bandwidth the solar panels installation from the project Russell Taylor and his team
is doing will help incorporate more technology in more schools. The role of having technology
integrated into the classrooms has vastly improved over the years and is providing classroom
instruction in computer technology and has been becoming widespread acclaim.
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Conclusions
Tongan schools have many obstacles to overcome to be as equipped in technology
integration as the United States school systems. The ICT integration in education has a lot of
potential to enhance learning but within underdeveloped countries such as Tonga resources are
limited and what Russell Taylor and his counterparts are doing will help aide in the ICT being
accessible in schools. This case study was able to give me the challenges that Tongan schools
face with becoming more accessible to technology integration, what resources are available, and
projects are in place to help fund the installation of solar panels to make technology and
computers available more Tongan classrooms. With the help of foundations coming together to
install the solar panels they are bound to have classrooms that are able to have the resources
needed for global collaboration with other countries and have technology integrated into
classrooms in the 21 different islands. This was a rather long assignment trying to reach possible
interviewees but yet I learned more about another country versus the United States and how
easily resources may come to some of us and how others struggle with technology that ready
available in so many American homes yet schools have not even reached that tech savvy level
yet.
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References
M. Searson, T. Laferrie and R Nikolow, “Barriers to successful implementation of technology
integration in educational settings.” International Sumi on ICT in Education, 2011.
R. Taylor (personal communication, October 16, 2014)
Taylor, Russell. (2012). Powered systems for Tongan schools. Retrieved from
http://www.comsdev.canterbury.ac.nz/rss/news/?articleId=395
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Attachments
I received the following responses: (I’ve copied and pasted the actual emails because I
was not able to print from home and scan so I could have the document. Also, each email
consisted of the five questions but I did not copy and paste them below to avoid such long
attachments)
Close Print
Informational Interview
From: lachelle brown (lachellebrown75@hotmail.com)
Sent: Thu 10/16/14 11:25 AM
To: kbrien1@unb.ca (kbrien1@unb.ca)
University of Maryland University College
3501 University Blvd E
Adelphi, Maryland 20783
United States
Lachellebrown75@hotmail.com
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Brown Interview Report
October 16, 2014
To Ken Brian, Ed. D President:
My name is Lachelle Brown and I am a student at the University of Maryland University College, in my final two semesters of
the Masters of Education program for Information Technology. My area of interest is to become a teacher someday once I
complete my Master’s degree.
If possible I would like to ask a series of interview questions with 2 staff members that can assist me with the educational
system in Tonga and technology integration in the classrooms. This information is needed to complete research in my EDTC645
Integration Technology Global class.
This should not take too much time to complete and I would appreciate the opportunity to correspond briefly with staff
members to discuss some background information on the school systems. Any further insights you or a colleague would have is
greatly appreciated.
If there are any emails addresses that can be forwarded to me to reference and send my questions too would be helpful. I look
forward to hearing from someone; remember this is just for informational purposes to complete a school research paper on
global education. Thanks so much for your time.
Sincerely,
Lachelle Brown
EDTC 645 Integration of Technology: Global Perspectives
Interview Questions
1.
First, tell me a little about yourself. (Background education, grade level you teach, years of teaching experience and so forth)
2.
Describe your philosophy on teaching.
3.
In what ways do you encourage creativity in the classroom and how would you integrate technology to engage students and
enrich your lessons?
4.
What are some of the most important things you’ve learned when teaching students?
5.
How can you promote life-long learning in your classroom?
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Brown Interview Report
Close Print
Informational Interview
From: lachelle brown (lachellebrown75@hotmail.com)
Sent: Thu 10/16/14 11:15 AM
To: jo.howse@cceam.org (jo.howse@cceam.org)
University of Maryland University College
3501 University Blvd E
Adelphi, Maryland 20783
United States
Lachellebrown75@hotmail.com
October 16, 2014
To Jo Howse:
My name is Lachelle Brown and I am a student at the University of Maryland University College, in my final two semesters of
the Masters of Education program for Information Technology. My area of interest is to become a teacher someday once I
complete my Master’s degree.
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Brown Interview Report
If possible I would like to ask a series of interview questions with 2 staff members that can assist me with the educational
system in Tonga and technology integration in the classrooms. This information is needed to complete research in my EDTC645
Integration Technology Global class.
This should not take too much time to complete and I would appreciate the opportunity to correspond briefly with staff
members to discuss some background information on the school systems. Any further insights you or a colleague would have is
greatly appreciated.
If there are any emails addresses that can be forwarded to me to reference and send my questions too would be helpful. I look
forward to hearing from someone; remember this is just for informational purposes to complete a school research paper on
global education. Thanks so much for your time.
Sincerely,
Lachelle Brown
Close Print
Informational Interview
From: lachelle brown (lachellebrown75@hotmail.com)
Sent: Thu 10/16/14 11:14 AM
To: ccardno@unitec.ac.nz (ccardno@unitec.ac.nz)
University of Maryland University College
3501 University Blvd E
Adelphi, Maryland 20783
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Brown Interview Report
United States
Lachellebrown75@hotmail.com
October 16, 2014
To Carol Cardno:
My name is Lachelle Brown and I am a student at the University of Maryland University College, in my final two semesters of
the Masters of Education program for Information Technology. My area of interest is to become a teacher someday once I
complete my Master’s degree.
If possible I would like to ask a series of interview questions with 2 staff members that can assist me with the educational
system in Tonga and technology integration in the classrooms. This information is needed to complete research in my EDTC645
Integration Technology Global class.
This should not take too much time to complete and I would appreciate the opportunity to correspond briefly with staff
members to discuss some background information on the school systems. Any further insights you or a colleague would have is
greatly appreciated.
If there are any emails addresses that can be forwarded to me to reference and send my questions too would be helpful. I look
forward to hearing from someone; remember this is just for informational purposes to complete a school research paper on
global education. Thanks so much for your time.
Sincerely,
Lachelle Brown
Close Print
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Brown Interview Report
Informational Interview
From: lachelle brown (lachellebrown75@hotmail.com)
Sent: Thu 10/16/14 11:11 AM
To: russell.taylor@canterbury.ac.nz (russell.taylor@canterbury.ac.nz)
University of Maryland University College
3501 University Blvd E
Adelphi, Maryland 20783
United States
Lachellebrown75@hotmail.com
October 16, 2014
To Russell Taylor:
My name is Lachelle Brown and I am a student at the University of Maryland University College, in my final two semesters of
the Masters of Education program for Information Technology. My area of interest is to become a teacher someday once I
complete my Master’s degree.
If possible I would like to ask a series of interview questions with 2 staff members that can assist me with the educational
system in Tonga and technology integration in the classrooms. This information is needed to complete research in my EDTC645
Integration Technology Global class.
This should not take too much time to complete and I would appreciate the opportunity to correspond briefly with staff
members to discuss some background information on the school systems. Any further insights you or a colleague would have is
greatly appreciated.
If there are any emails addresses that can be forwarded to me to reference and send my questions too would be helpful. I look
forward to hearing from someone; remember this is just for informational purposes to complete a school research paper on
global education. Thanks so much for your time.
Sincerely,
Lachelle Brown
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Brown Interview Report
Close Print
Information Interview
From: lachelle brown (lachellebrown75@hotmail.com)
Sent: Thu 10/16/14 10:42 AM
To: ana.koloto@usp.ac.fj (ana.koloto@usp.ac.fj)
University of Maryland University College
3501 University Blvd E
Adelphi, Maryland 20783
United States
Lachellebrown75@hotmail.com
October 10, 2014
To Whom It May Concern:
My name is Lachelle Brown and I am a student at the University of Maryland University College, in my final two semesters of
the Masters of Education program for Information Technology. My area of interest is to become a teacher someday once I
complete my Master’s degree.
If possible I would like to ask a series of interview questions with 2 staff members that can assist me with the educational
system in Tonga and technology integration in the classrooms. This information is needed to complete research in my EDTC645
Integration Technology Global class.
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Brown Interview Report
This should not take too much time to complete and I would appreciate the opportunity to correspond briefly with staff
members to discuss some background information on the school systems. Any further insights you or a colleague would have is
greatly appreciated.
If there are any emails addresses that can be forwarded to me to reference and send my questions too would be helpful. I look
forward to hearing from someone; remember this is just for informational purposes to complete a school research paper on
global education. Thanks so much for your time.
Sincerely,
Lachelle Brown
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