Being in Honiara

It's good to be back in Honiara. This is such a small place I find that I know quite a lot of people and have been happy to see them again. I am also working with an old friend and it is such a change to have someone to work with as usually I am on my own. It also means I have someone to have dinner with each evening ... yay!

For the past couple of weeks Greville & I have been talking to different stakeholders in education in an effort to come up with some sensible suggestions for how they might use distance and flexible learning programmes.

Tomorrow we have to facilitate a workshop and try to get a large group of people to agree on what SI should be doing. Then I guess we'll spend the weekend writing it all up for our report. We also have to generate the actual policy - that's a tricky bit! We are funded by European Union - and their reporting requirements can be a bit cumbersome ... booh!

Maybe next week we'll get a day off - but I doubt it ...

Tech nightmare in Honiara

Just to let you know that I have not been in contact because I am having huge problems with my new laptop from COL. It is locked down so tightly that I have no administrator rights to it - and for some reason I can't get onto the local internet prepaid service here. I am SO frustrated!!!

I had to come to my friend Katie's house so that our tech service in Vancouver could call me and talk me through how to fix the problem - but they were unable to do it. Now they've gone away to scratch their heads!

The project here is VERY challenging - we are trying to write national policy and strategic framework for the use of open and distance learning. Lots of consultations with stakeholders. I am working with a friend and colleague who I have known for many years - so it's good not to be on my own.

So just to let you all know I'm fine - but will not be in contact much while I am here. Due back in Vancouver on Saturday 5th December - after a whole day layover in Honolulu! It's a tough job but someone has to do it :-)

my first video

I've been busy making a video for the technology course I'm studying. It's taken me several weeks of on-off activity - but I've just finished it. The video is about a local tourist spot that John & I visited when we first arrived in Vancouver - Capilano Suspension Bridge.

The full story is on the other blog - detechnophile - but if you just want to watch the video - try this!

The movie is pretty amateur but I had fun doing it and I've learned how to use Windows Movie Maker - which isn't as hard as you might think.