Academic review of the evaluation of partnerships in development

Despite the widespread assumption that partnerships are effective, there is limited systematic evidence of a link between partnership and improved development outcomes, with a widespread lack of clarity regarding how best to ascertain the effectiveness of partnerships. Their rigorous evaluation is an emerging field of study. Hence this review engages with the relevant literature and provides an initial foundation for analysis. In recognition of the complexity and ambiguity surrounding partnership evaluation, three sets of initial framing questions are outlined along with five foundational issues in order to provide a clear platform from which to operate

Evaluating ICT for education in Africa

This thesis is situated at the intersection between the three themes of education in Africa, impact assessment, and Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). Specifically, it seeks to develop a critique of current practices regarding monitoring and evaluation of ICT for education within Africa, and explores plausible alternatives to such practices that would make the benefits of education and technology more available and structured towards the poor and marginalised. Two participatory case studies of ICT for education programmes in Malawi and Ethiopia were used as the main empirical focus for the research. These involved working in partnership with implementing organisations, whilst simultaneously abstracting myself so as to evaluate the evaluation process and assess the underlying reasons for what was occurring. These case studies were supplemented by three international participatory workshops and a pan-Africa survey of ICT for education practitioners. The findings from the empirical work are examined within four analytical contexts. The first of these analyses the different methodological approaches employed in the case studies and considers the limitations and opportunities encountered. The second focuses on the role of partnerships within ICT for education programmes, especially in regard to their impact in defining the nature of monitoring and evaluation processes. The third investigates the marginalising of pedagogy within many ICT for education programmes, especially in regard to educational outcomes. The fourth explores the significance of aspiration within technology related development initiatives, focussing on consequences for effective impact assessment. The applied nature of the research emphasises the need for both critical rigour and innovative alternatives in assessing ICT for education in Africa. This thesis concludes by demonstrating the ways in which monitoring, evaluation and impact assessment can be positively reframed in the light of the research findings to emphasise process, participation, capacity enhancement, and the centrality of education

Value for money discourse : risks and opportunities for R4D

The increased emphasis on value for money (VfM) within international development planning represents both a challenge and an opportunity for research-focused organisations. This report provides a neutral assessment of VfM, informing and contributing to the larger ongoing conversation regarding the most appropriate and effective ways for the research for development (R4D) community to engage with the emerging discourse. The report offers four initial ways in which this may be explored. Transitioning to an assessment process which is primarily based on portfolios, rather than individual programmes would be better able to embrace risk

A Review of High School Level Astronomy Student Research Projects over the last two decades

Since the early 1990s with the arrival of a variety of new technologies, the capacity for authentic astronomical research at the high school level has skyrocketed. This potential, however, has not realized the bright-eyed hopes and dreams of the early pioneers who expected to revolutionise science education through the use of telescopes and other astronomical instrumentation in the classroom. In this paper, a general history and analysis of these attempts is presented. We define what we classify as an Astronomy Research in the Classroom (ARiC) project and note the major dimensions on which these projects differ before describing the 22 major student research projects active since the early 1990s. This is followed by a discussion of the major issues identified that affected the success of these projects and provide suggestions for similar attempts in the future.Comment: Accepted for Publication in PASA. 26 page

K 1-6: an asymmetric planetary nebula with a binary central star

We present new imaging data and archival multiwavelength observations of the little studied emission nebula K 1-6 and its central star. Narrow-band images in H-alpha (+ [NII]) and [OIII] taken with the Faulkes Telescope North reveal a stratified, asymmetric, elliptical nebula surrounding a central star which has the colours of a late G- or early K-type subgiant or giant. GALEX ultraviolet images reveal a very hot subdwarf or white dwarf coincident in position with this star. The cooler, optically dominant star is strongly variable with a period of 21.312 +/- 0.008 days, and is possibly a high amplitude member of the RS CVn class, although an FK Com classification is also possible. Archival ROSAT data provide good evidence that the cool star has an active corona. We conclude that K 1-6 is most likely an old bona fide planetary nebula at a distance of ~1.0 kpc, interacting with the interstellar medium, and containing a binary or ternary central star. The observations and data analyses reported in this paper were conducted in conjunction with Year 11 high school students as part of an Australian Research Council Linkage Grant science education project, denoted Space To Grow, conducted jointly by professional astronomers, educational researchers, teachers, and high-school students.Comment: 13 pages, 5 figures, accepted by the Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia (PASA

United We Stand, Divided We Fall: Historical Trajectory of Strategic Renewal Activities at Scandinavian Airlines System, 1946-2012

Although the second half of the twentieth century saw the rise and fall of ‘multi-flag companies’ in the civil aviation industry, our understanding of how some managed to buck the trend and achieve longevity remains limited. This paper advances business history and strategic management research by examining the strategic renewal activities of Scandinavian Airlines (formerly Scandinavian Airlines System) during the period 1946-2012. The study sheds light on the key roles of private and state owners, rivals as well as banks, in critical financial phases are discussed in terms of longevity in the company. The longevity of the business stems from the leaders’ ability to develop as anticipated and respond to change in their competitive arena in close interaction with the owners. Thus, incumbent firms that strategically renew themselves prior to or during market reform, such as deregulation, enhance their chances of developing the size of their networks and revenue streams. Our main contribution to business history and strategic management literatures is the development of context-specific stages, which shed light on the evolution of strategic renewal activities and shifts from older processes and routines towards customer service and efficiency

An evaluation of speech perception when introducing ADRO to adults who use both a cochlear implant and a contralateral hearing aid

© 2011 Rodney David HollowSpeech perception outcomes obtainable with cochlear implants have improved over time, so cochlear implantation is now routinely offered to adults with residual hearing who gain benefit from using a hearing aid in their contralateral ear. To maximize the overall sound perception abilities for these patients, we need to consider optimizing the fittings of both the cochlear implant and the hearing aid. One means of optimizing a person's speech perception is to allow them to trial sound processing schemes and evaluate their effects on speech recognition. Adaptive Dynamic Range Optimization (ADRO) is one such scheme that is available in Cochlear Limited's speech processors and has been shown to offer speech perception benefits for adult and paediatric cochlear implant recipients. More recently, ADRO has been implemented in hearing aids and shown to offer some speech perception benefits over other hearing aid amplification algorithms. The aim of this study is to evaluate the ADRO sound processing scheme when implemented in both a cochlear implant speech processor and a hearing aid in a group of adults who would normally wear both (bimodal) devices. Following a period of take-home experience with all device combinations, speech perception measures using words presented at 50dB SPL and 60dB SPL and sentences presented with competing noise were evaluated for the participants using their devices with and without ADRO activated, and the results compared. Participant preferences for the bimodal device combinations were also obtained using a take-home questionnaire. The results from this study show that adults can obtain significant improvement in speech perception when listening in quiet environments when ADRO is activated in both their hearing aid and cochlear implant. The greatest benefit is seen when listening to softer levels of speech. There is no detrimental effect on speech perception when using ADRO in the bimodal device condition in noisy environments. Whist statistically significant differences in speech perception scores were observed between the bimodal-ADRO and no-ADRO device combinations, the differences were not large. This is reflected in the participants indicating no overall preference for either device combination. The outcomes of this study suggest that adults who routinely use a cochlear implant in one ear and a hearing aid in the other could benefit from having ADRO implemented in both devices

An evaluation of the use of ICT within primary education in Malawi

Abstract — The paper demonstrates how appropriate technology, when combined with quality curriculum-based content, has the potential to have a positive impact on primary education within developing countries. It documents an evaluation of portable learning technology from the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology in Malawi, providing theoretical background and educational context before detailing the methodology and findings of the study. Significant impacts from the introduction of the program were increased school attendance, reduced drop-out rates and improved student and teacher enthusiasm. Alongside this, the audio and video material and interactive learning techniques offered potential pedagogical benefits in combining learner-centered and outcome-based activities with continuous assessment, helping children to retain information more effectively and record higher test scores. Major challenges were also identified regarding implementation and sustainability. These centered around the need for rigorous teacher training, classroom integration, appropriate deployment, maintenance, sustained impact and overall cost-effectiveness. In closing, the paper emphasizes the need for such programs to be driven by educational concerns and recognizes the similar challenges faced in many related initiatives

Evaluating ICT for education in Africa

This thesis is situated at the intersection between the three themes of education in Africa, impact assessment, and Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). Specifically, it seeks to develop a critique of current practices regarding monitoring and evaluation of ICT for education within Africa, and explores plausible alternatives to such practices that would make the benefits of education and technology more available and structured towards the poor and marginalised. Two participatory case studies of ICT for education programmes in Malawi and Ethiopia were used as the main empirical focus for the research. These involved working in partnership with implementing organisations, whilst simultaneously abstracting myself so as to evaluate the evaluation process and assess the underlying reasons for what was occurring. These case studies were supplemented by three international participatory workshops and a pan-Africa survey of ICT for education practitioners. The findings from the empirical work are examined within four analytical contexts. The first of these analyses the different methodological approaches employed in the case studies and considers the limitations and opportunities encountered. The second focuses on the role of partnerships within ICT for education programmes, especially in regard to their impact in defining the nature of monitoring and evaluation processes. The third investigates the marginalising of pedagogy within many ICT for education programmes, especially in regard to educational outcomes. The fourth explores the significance of aspiration within technology related development initiatives, focussing on consequences for effective impact assessment. The applied nature of the research emphasises the need for both critical rigour and innovative alternatives in assessing ICT for education in Africa. This thesis concludes by demonstrating the ways in which monitoring, evaluation and impact assessment can be positively reframed in the light of the research findings to emphasise process, participation, capacity enhancement, and the centrality of education.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

The Internet as a Tool for Student Research and Communication - Australian Perspectives

The Internet is a valuable tool that allows students to access resources hitherto unobtainable in most high schools. The range, depth and power of resources related to astronomy provide school students with the tools to conduct educationally exciting and scientifically valid research projects. The use of the World Wide Web and Email allows students to communicate with each other and professionals. This is particularly useful for the delivery and support of distance learning and for collaborations. Examples of research and collaborative projects undertaken by students of Blue Mountains Grammar School, Australia, are given. The importance of a web-based bulletin board for student-student and student-teacher communication is demonstrated, using the NSW Cosmology Distinction Course as an example