title: Technology Teachers' Perceptions of the Roles and Uses of ICT in Solomon Islands' Schools

authors: Pita, Solomon Vaji

subjects: ICT

abstract: Although the impact of ICT in teaching and learning is increasing, whether it will deliver its potential depends to a large extent on how teachers access and use ICT within the teaching and learning process (Balanskat  Blamire, 2007). Furthermore, teachers' understanding of how ICT contributes to teaching and learning can be invaluable to the decisions they make about the use of ICT tools to enhance or transform their teaching.
Therefore, this study investigates the perceptions of technology teachers on the use of ICT tools in Solomon Islands schools. It also explores technology teachers' views about the level of ICT resources in the schools. The study used semi-structured interview; a qualitative method of data collection that involved eight technology teachers selected from four schools in Honiara. I choose to do qualitative research because it helped to explain technology teachers' perceptions and beliefs of the use of ICT tools in Solomon Islands schools. The flexibility within the research process allows for an in-dept look at the issues pertaining to the views of the participants.
The study identifies a range of issues regarding teachers' perceptions and beliefs about the integration of ICT tools in the Solomon Islands schools. These included teachers' views on the issues of access and use of ICT tools in schools, teachers' beliefs about the benefits and roles of ICT tools, teachers' views on the infrastructures and resources in the schools, the need for ICT professional development (PD) for teachers and a national policy to guide and control the use of ICT tools in schools. The study also found that many teachers in the Solomon Islands also lack the basic knowledge and skills in using ICT tools.
Based on these findings, this study offers the following recommendations that can be used to improve and support the integration of ICT tools in the Solomon Islands schools. These included supporting teachers in developing their knowledge and skills in using ICT tools, providing a continuous professional development for teachers in ICT, the need to create a policy in education to guide the use of ICT tools in education and supporting schools to build their ICT resources and infrastructure. These will help teachers to effectively integrate ICT tools into teaching and learning.

text: Technology Teachers' Perceptions of the Roles and Uses of ICT in Solomon Islands' Schools Although the impact of ICT in teaching and learning is increasing, whether it will deliver its potential depends to a large extent on how teachers access and use ICT within the teaching and learning process (Balanskat  Blamire, 2007). Furthermore, teachers' understanding of how ICT contributes to teaching and learning can be invaluable to the decisions they make about the use of ICT tools to enhance or transform their teaching.
Therefore, this study investigates the perceptions of technology teachers on the use of ICT tools in Solomon Islands schools. It also explores technology teachers' views about the level of ICT resources in the schools. The study used semi-structured interview; a qualitative method of data collection that involved eight technology teachers selected from four schools in Honiara. I choose to do qualitative research because it helped to explain technology teachers' perceptions and beliefs of the use of ICT tools in Solomon Islands schools. The flexibility within the research process allows for an in-dept look at the issues pertaining to the views of the participants.
The study identifies a range of issues regarding teachers' perceptions and beliefs about the integration of ICT tools in the Solomon Islands schools. These included teachers' views on the issues of access and use of ICT tools in schools, teachers' beliefs about the benefits and roles of ICT tools, teachers' views on the infrastructures and resources in the schools, the need for ICT professional development (PD) for teachers and a national policy to guide and control the use of ICT tools in schools. The study also found that many teachers in the Solomon Islands also lack the basic knowledge and skills in using ICT tools.
Based on these findings, this study offers the following recommendations that can be used to improve and support the integration of ICT tools in the Solomon Islands schools. These included supporting teachers in developing their knowledge and skills in using ICT tools, providing a continuous professional development for teachers in ICT, the need to create a policy in education to guide the use of ICT tools in education and supporting schools to build their ICT resources and infrastructure. These will help teachers to effectively integrate ICT tools into teaching and learning.

year: 2010

title: Malaysia and South-South cooperation: the determining factors and implications

authors: Hamid, Ahmad Faiz

abstract: This study focuses on Malaysia’s involvement in South-South cooperation from 1986 to 1996. South-South cooperation is defined as the strategy used by developing countries to promote economic independence, to increase self-reliance, and to improve bargaining power with the developed nations. Malaysia, particularly its Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, has been actively involved in South-South cooperation for more than a decade. The study attempts to identify and analyse the determining factors and the implications of Malaysia’s involvement in South-South cooperation. The significance of this study lies in the fact that there has not been any thorough study on Malaysia’s involvement in South-South cooperation. 

This study attempts to address four critical issues. What are the factors that influenced Malaysia’s interactions with developing countries and the implications of the relationship to both parties? What are the impacts of Mahathir’s leadership on Malaysia’s involvement in South-South cooperation? What are the factors that influenced Mahathir’s involvement in articulating the North-South issues and what are the implications of his actions? Finally, what are the prospects and problems of Malaysia’s economic relations with developing countries, particularly with Indochina states and South Pacific countries?

In the context of determining factors, although many factors have contributed to Malaysia’s involvement, nation’s national interests, external factors and leadership variables are argued to be more significant. The study also argues that Malaysia’s high profile in voicing the North-South issues and its private sector involvement in the South has created resentment from several parties, especially from the NGOs, the Western media, the regional powers and local business groups. Finally, the study detected that South-South cooperation is an effective means for Malaysia to enhance its own economic interests.

For the case of Malaysia’s relations with the Indochina states and the South Pacific countries, the study found that Malaysia's economic interests has been a crucial determinant of the depth of the relationship. In terms of economic interests, Indochina states are more promising to the relationship than the South Pacific region. It is hoped this study will be a significant contribution to the study of Malaysian foreign policy, particularly on Malaysia’s relations with Third World countries.

text: Malaysia and South-South cooperation: the determining factors and implications This study focuses on Malaysia’s involvement in South-South cooperation from 1986 to 1996. South-South cooperation is defined as the strategy used by developing countries to promote economic independence, to increase self-reliance, and to improve bargaining power with the developed nations. Malaysia, particularly its Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, has been actively involved in South-South cooperation for more than a decade. The study attempts to identify and analyse the determining factors and the implications of Malaysia’s involvement in South-South cooperation. The significance of this study lies in the fact that there has not been any thorough study on Malaysia’s involvement in South-South cooperation. 

This study attempts to address four critical issues. What are the factors that influenced Malaysia’s interactions with developing countries and the implications of the relationship to both parties? What are the impacts of Mahathir’s leadership on Malaysia’s involvement in South-South cooperation? What are the factors that influenced Mahathir’s involvement in articulating the North-South issues and what are the implications of his actions? Finally, what are the prospects and problems of Malaysia’s economic relations with developing countries, particularly with Indochina states and South Pacific countries?

In the context of determining factors, although many factors have contributed to Malaysia’s involvement, nation’s national interests, external factors and leadership variables are argued to be more significant. The study also argues that Malaysia’s high profile in voicing the North-South issues and its private sector involvement in the South has created resentment from several parties, especially from the NGOs, the Western media, the regional powers and local business groups. Finally, the study detected that South-South cooperation is an effective means for Malaysia to enhance its own economic interests.

For the case of Malaysia’s relations with the Indochina states and the South Pacific countries, the study found that Malaysia's economic interests has been a crucial determinant of the depth of the relationship. In terms of economic interests, Indochina states are more promising to the relationship than the South Pacific region. It is hoped this study will be a significant contribution to the study of Malaysian foreign policy, particularly on Malaysia’s relations with Third World countries.

year: 1999

title: Action for improvement in our own contexts

authors: Bruce Ferguson, Pip

subjects: education

abstract: Discusses: The pedagogy of Paulo Freire – importance of emancipatory, not ‘banking’, education. Who needs emancipatory education in NZ, and why? Consideration of issues affecting Māori success in the New Zealand education system.

text: Action for improvement in our own contexts Discusses: The pedagogy of Paulo Freire – importance of emancipatory, not ‘banking’, education. Who needs emancipatory education in NZ, and why? Consideration of issues affecting Māori success in the New Zealand education system.

year: 2012