Email link between University of Tasmania and
IKIP Malang
In 1994 a study project was conducted between the Department of
Education at the University of Hobart and in the Fakultus Pedidikan
Ilmu Pengetehaaun Sosial (FFIPS) at IKIP Malang by means of an email
link established between the two institutions. This project known as
the CLAISM project joined final year students in Indonesia and
Australia in collaborative study and writing about the citizenship
curricua in both countries.
There are several outcomes to the project. The first is the electronic publication of the students' writing on a World Wide Web site on the Internet, where it is available for interactive comment globally. The second is an agreement between Professor Nyoman Dekker of IKIP Malang and Dr Mary Fearnley-Sander, the academic advisors to the project in both countries, for a book version of the project writing, with joint editorship and commentary. Within Indonesia the project has brought National prestige to IKIP Malang as a pioneer of new technology for the enhancement of teacher preparation in the social sciences.
The link established by this project is the only classroom link that Indonesia has with any other country in the world. Indonesian institutions do not have direct access to the Internet. In fact the chief outcome of the project is the establishement of the link itself, which should allow for the development of communication projects not only between the two universities but also betwen local schoolsi n both countries.
The project initially was funded by a grant from the Australian Universities' Committee for the Advancement of University Teaching (CAUT). Having The first objective of developing collaborative links between the Faculty of Education staff at the University of Hobart and the staff of the FFIPS at IKIP Malang; and between staff from the Department of Economics at at the University of Tasmania and the MalangKuceccwara College of Economics in Malang has now been reached. The second objective of establishing links between school children in both countries is soon to be realised.
On May 26th Dr Mary Fearnly-Sander and Mr Peter Lelong will be travelling to the National Conference for Social Studies teachers in Malang. They will both be delivering addresses to the conference on their respective projects. The conference will be a showcase for the pioneering work conducted in the development of the newly established communication link between the two Universities and between Fahan School and a yet to be named school in Malang.
The Fahan School Electronic Mail link with students in Malang Girls in Year Four at Fahan School, in Sandy Bay, Hobart have been working to develop a collaborative project with Dr Mary Fearnely-Sander, the Asia Education Foundation, and the International Education and Action Research Network (I#EARN).
The Year Four girls in 1995 have spent the first term of this year seeking support for the provision of computer hardware that will be taken to Malang in time for the conference. Apple computers Australia Pty. Ltd provided some assistance with the purchase of a computer; The students in the Fahan Junior School raised money for the purchase of a modem; the Parents and Friends supplied equipment for the protection of computer hardware.
Dr Mary Fearnley-Sander and myself will take the computer hardware with us on our visit to Indonesia, where staff and students in Malang will be trained in the use of computers and in the value of electronic mail as an teaching tool in the classroom.
A collaborative curriculum project will be developed between Mr Lelong and his Indonesia counterpart in Malang so that the children in both schools will be able to work together on a number of classoom projects. For example in the area of Social Studies the students would contribute to the structure of a social profile of the two neighbouring countries. In mathematics children would measure location and time differences between the two countries. In the area of language, students in Year Four at Fahan would make use of the Indonesian programme broadcast provided by the Victorian School of Education on the Interactive Satellite Learning Network, using the satellite dish at Fahan School. Students in Indonesia would have the opportunity to develop their English skills through their direct communication via email with the girls at Fahan.
The AEF And I#EARN have both offered support to the project begun in 1994 by Dr Mary Fearnley-Sander. With the development of further links, more schools from around Australia will be able to communicate with students in Indonesia. A worthwhile and important outcome to a unique and enterprising collaboration between universities, schools, private organisations and Federally funded institutions.
May 11th 1996 Today is the beginning of the second stage of a project begun almost one year ago. That project has been to develop communications electronically between schools in Tasmania and Java.