Challenges and Opportunities for Distance Education in Tanzania IDS Shadowing Experience

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Challenges and Opportunities for Distance
Education in TanzaniaIDS Shadowing Experience

• WHO?
• Profs. Mary Vogl Mohammed Hirchi
• Department of Foreign Languages Literatures,
  CSU
  
• with 3 faculty members from the University of
  Idaho
  

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American visitors at the Open University

• Mohammed Hirchi, CSU
• Mike Whiteman, Director of International
  Programs, UI
  
• Jim Toomey, Program Manager, Center for Business
  Dvpt Research, UI
  
• Harvey Hughett, Director, Information Technology,
  UI
  
• Donatus Komba, Deputy Vice Chancellor
• D.Y. Kinshaga, Director, Institute of Continuing
  Education

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IDS Shadowing Experience OUT Tanzania

• WHAT?
• Trip funded by Dept. of Education grant for
  International Development Studies at CSU
  
• Participated in a shadowing experience to
  observe a project in action
  
• USIA-funded university affiliations program
  
  
• between the University of Idaho
• the Open University of Tanzania

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IDS Shadowing ExperienceOpen University,
Tanzania

• WHERE?
• Tanzania, East Africa
• WHEN?
• January 1-18, 2001
• WHY?
• - to observe an ongoing project
• - our interests
• African Studies
• Mohammed business, distance education
• Mary IDS, West Africa Internships

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TANZANIA BACKGROUND INFO

• ECONOMY
• One of the poorest countries in the world.
• Agriculture
• accounts for half of GDP
• provides 85 of exports
• employs 90 of the work force
• World Bank, IMF bilateral donors have provided
  funds to rehabilitate T's deteriorated economic
  infrastructure.
  
• Banking reforms have helped increase private
  sector growth investment.
  
• Short-term economic progress also depends on
  curbing corruption.
  
• source http//www.cia.gov/cia/publications/f
  actbook/geos/tz.html
  

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• COMMUNICATIONS
• Tanzanias population 35 million
• Radios 8.8 million (1997)
• Television broadcast stations 3 (1999)
• Televisions 103,000 (1997)
• Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 7 (1999)
• LITERACY
• Definition age 15 and over can read write
  Kiswahili (Swahili), English, or Arabic
  
• Total population 67.8
• Male 79.4
• Female 56.8 (1995 est.)
• source http//www.cia.gov/cia/publications/f
  actbook/geos/tz.html
  
• I

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OUT logo
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OUT Outreach Sites Visited

• Of the 21 regional centers,
• we visited 5
• 1. Dar es Salaam
• 2. Morogoro
• Dodoma
• Iringa
• 5. Mbeya

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Some OUT faculty staff, main campus, Dar es
Salaam

• Dr. Kinshaga
• ?
• ?
• Mike Whiteman
• Jim Toomey
• Harvey Hughett
• ?
• Satoki Mahenge, Director, Institute of
  Educational Technology
  
• Mary Vogl

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OUT Center in Dodoma
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OUT Mbeya Regional Centre
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IDS Shadowing Experience OUT Tanzania

• WHAT ELSE?
• sharing of technology
• (Technology Transfer)
• equipment
• training
• whats available for distance education

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OUTs current use of technology

• PRINTED STUDY MATERIAL
• delivered through postal courier services,
  public carriers and personal delivery by
  university staff
  
• FACE-TO-FACE CONTACT
• students visit head office or regional centers
  teachers visit students
  
• TELEPHONE, FAX
• for communication among professors,
  administrators, Head Office Outreach Centers
  
• AUDIO CASSETTES
• for study material, especially for blind
  students
  
• RADIO
• for announcements, publicity

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Little-used technologies

• TELEVISION
• too expensive
• EDUCATIONAL VIDEO CASSETTES
• expensive,
• not produced locally,
• VCRs not readily available

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Computer use at OUT

• African Virtual University (AVU) facilities
• funded by World Bank, installed at Head
  Office
  
• include email system, transmitter, Learning
  Center
  
• Uplinking equipment from UNESCO
• computers in 6 regional centers
• Connectivity to email and Internet
• not yet established (financial issues,
  servers, etc.)
  
• Some computers available at Head Office
• Staff computer training programs have begun

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Computer training in Dar es Salaam
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Internet Cafés
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(No Transcript)
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Gift of computers to OUT Mike Whiteman,
University of IdahoGeoffrey Mmari, OUT Vice
Chancellor
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Donations from Safari Club Iomegafacilitated
by Harvey Hughett, U. Idaho
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OUTs new home in Dar es Salaam
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Groundbreaking Ceremony for OUTs new home in Dar
es Salaam
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Some technology gurus

• Dr. Kinshaga
• Director, Institute of Continuing Education,
  OUT
  
• Harvey Hughett
• Director, Information Technology, U. Idaho
• Charles Senkondo
• Business Manager AVU Learning Center
  Coordinator, OUT

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Some family members of Dr. Mahenge
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Tanzania is famous for its wildlife
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beware of the lions
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or pay the consequences!
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Farewell receptionNew Africa hotel

• Geoffrey Mmari, OUT Vice Chancellor
• N. Reuben, OUT
• Jim Toomey, UI
• Ms. H. Simpassa, Foreign Languages, OUT
• Donatus Komba, OUT Deputy Vice Chancellor
• Mary Vogl, CSU

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Lasting benefits from this shadowing experience

• University affiliations programs
• Experience in Africa
• Continued cooperation
• Technology transfer
• International Development Studies
• Distance education