Arbeidsrapport nr. 167 Odd Ragnar Hunnes The best from two Schools … An Assessment of the Partnership between an International/North-American and a Norwegian School in Kenya VOLDA 2004 Author Odd Ragnar Hunnes Publisher Volda University College ISBN 82-7661-218-0 (online edition) 82-7661-217-2 (printed edition) ISSN 0805-6609 Type set Odd Ragnar Hunnes Distribution http://www.hivolda.no/fou (online edition) Gnist Møre, pb. 275, N-6101 Volda, Norway Phone +47/70075385 E-mail [email protected] (printed edition) Odd Ragnar Hunnes (1948) is associate professor at Volda University College, Faculty of Education, Norway. About the Working Report Series (Arbeidsrapportserien) A working report is based on work in the process of being finalized, having an acceptable academic quality. It may be partial reports within a larger project, or educational materials prepared for specific educational demands. The working reports should be approved by the Dean, a group leader, the Project Director or another professionally competent person, which they have chosen, and the Research Coordinator at Volda University College. The final quality assessment shall be undertaken by a professional who is not the author. 2 CONTENTS INTRODUCTION...................................................................................................................... 5 1. BACKGROUND AND AIM ................................................................................................. 7 The situation....................................................................................................................... 7 The process......................................................................................................................... 8 Aim of the project ..............................................................................................................8 Assessment......................................................................................................................... 9 Economy............................................................................................................................. 9 2. A PRESENTATION OF THE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM............................................. 11 The Partnership Schools.................................................................................................... 11 Main points in the partnership program ......................................................................... 11 3. METHODS........................................................................................................................... 17 Am I disqualified? .............................................................................................................. 17 Focal points in the report................................................................................................... 18 The information.................................................................................................................. 19 4. SELECTED PERSPECTIVES ON THE PARTNERSHIP ................................................. 21 Participant’s perspective ................................................................................................... 21 The student is the important one ...................................................................................... 21 A regular day.................................................................................................................... 22 Thoughts/Points of view................................................................................................... 24 The international perspective............................................................................................ 25 Building attitudes ............................................................................................................... 27 Tolerance.......................................................................................................................... 27 Christian traits .................................................................................................................. 28 Body ................................................................................................................................. 29 Other attitudes .................................................................................................................. 29 Identity ............................................................................................................................. 30 The Norwegian part.......................................................................................................... 30 The contents of the subjects............................................................................................... 32 Time spent........................................................................................................................ 32 Plans ................................................................................................................................. 33 Work methods in the learning processes.......................................................................... 35 Variation........................................................................................................................... 36 Structure ........................................................................................................................... 36 Homework........................................................................................................................ 37 Project work ..................................................................................................................... 38 Tests ................................................................................................................................. 38 Verbal participation.......................................................................................................... 39 Strategies for learning ...................................................................................................... 41 After returning home........................................................................................................ 41 Adapted teaching................................................................................................................ 42 Individual adaptation........................................................................................................ 42 Local adaptation ............................................................................................................... 45 3 Student assessment........................................................................................................... 46 Students wanted grades .................................................................................................... 47 The system of grading...................................................................................................... 47 A comparison with Norway ............................................................................................. 49 Satisfied parents ............................................................................................................... 50 Use of grades balanced by other means ........................................................................... 51 Learning profits.................................................................................................................. 52 Social environment............................................................................................................. 55 A larger arena................................................................................................................... 55 Return to Norway............................................................................................................. 57 Teacher/student relationship............................................................................................. 58 Respect ............................................................................................................................. 58 Good teachers................................................................................................................... 59 Care taking ....................................................................................................................... 60 Ability to understand........................................................................................................ 60 Balance between respect and closeness ........................................................................... 61 Well-being ........................................................................................................................... 61 Democracy........................................................................................................................... 62 Foundation for democracy ............................................................................................... 63 Decision-making .............................................................................................................. 64 The flow of information ................................................................................................... 66 More on democracy.......................................................................................................... 67 5. BENEFITS FOR PARENTS, TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATION............................ 68 Parents .............................................................................................................................