Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

MARCH 8, 2008

Micronesia left quite an impression on me. It's great to go to completely different places, spending time learning about history, politics, issues and culture from new perspectives. Apparently, typhoons are a big deal in Micronesia. Micronesia is hard to sum up in a few words. Waste disposal is hard on these tiny islands.

Micronesia 100

Micronesia Reflection Guam Marshall Islands 100

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

FEBRUARY 10, 2008

I'm on an exciting trip to places I've never been before! Although the mission of the trip is to understand the situation of visually impaired students in Micronesia, I absolutely get the benefits of visiting these islands and enjoying the scenery. As a history buff, I didn't know the new names for some of these places.

Micronesia 100

Micronesia Guam Honolulu Hawaii 100

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

FEBRUARY 20, 2008

The main goal of visiting Micronesia is for me to gain a real-world perspective on schools and books for students with disabilities. Students on Pohnpei learn in the vernacular (Pohnpeian) until they are in third grade, when they start learning English. Most classrooms have desks and textbooks and all have chalkboards.

Micronesia 100

Micronesia Classroom Student Language 100

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

FEBRUARY 18, 2008

The Federated States of Micronesia has its capital on Pohnpei (it's one of four states in the FSM), so we met with both leaders from the federal FSM government as well as from Pohnpei State. Pohnpei State includes the island of Pingelap, which has 10% of their students with a hereditary condition called achromatopsia.

Micronesia 100

Micronesia Library Student Education 100