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, until very recently, did 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 between local schools in
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 Malang Kuceccwara College of
Economics in Malang has now been reached. The second objective of
establishing links between school children in both countries was
planned over a number of months. This link between schools in both
countries is now in progress. On May 26th 1995, Dr Mary
Fearnly-Sander and Mr Peter Lelong travelled to the National
Conference for Social Studies teachers in Malang. They both
delivered addresses to the conference on their respective
projects. The conference was to 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 schools in Malang
The Fahan School Electronic Mail link with
students in Malang
Girls in Year Four at Fahan School, in Sandy Bay, Hobart with
their teacher Mr Peter Lelong 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 with their teacher spent
the first term of 1995 seeking support for the provision of
computer hardware that would in time be be taken to Malang in time
for the conference. Apple computers Australia Pty. Ltd provided
some assistance with the purchase of hardware; 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 a
computer, printer and associated internet software
Mr Lelong and Dr Mary Fearnley-Sander took the
computer hardware with them on their visit to Indonesia, where
staff and students in Malang were trained in the use of computers
and in the value of electronic mail as an teaching tool in the
classroom.
A collaborative curriculum project has now been
developed between Mr Lelong and his Indonesia counterpart, Ibu
Wahyuni, in Malang so that the children in both schools are now
able to work together on a number of classoom projects. For
example in the area of Social Studies the students have already
contributed questions and answers that have assisted all of the
students establish an understanding of cultural, location and time
differences between the two countries. In the area of language,
students in Year Four at Fahan have made use of the Indonesian
programme broadcast by the Victorian School of Education on the
Interactive Satellite Learning Network, using the satellite dish
at Fahan School. Students in Indonesia have had 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 hopefully 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.
Dr Mary Fearnley-Sander and Mr Peter Lelong