Abstract
In the mid-1960s what was then publicized as the world’s largest educational television broadcasting system began beaming core instruction into the public schools of American Samoa—about 300 classrooms in all. By 1980 television was playing only a minor, supplementary role in instruction, and many classroom receivers were unworkable. This article traces the rise and decline of television instruction in that South Seas island possession and looks at some lessons to be learned from the experience.
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References
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Unless otherwise notedby references to publications, information in this article was derived from interviews with members of the public education system of American Samoa during the period 1968–77 when the author visited the islands periodically as external director of assessing unmet educational needs. A further series of interviews was conducted in August 1979. The following informants were particularly helpful: Sili Atuatasi, Marilyn Barry, Mere Betham, Nicholas Cowell, Robert Evans, Betty Johnston, John Kneubel, Ivan Probst, Samiu Sala, Nancy Satele, Tyman Stephens, Paul Stevenson, Fulifuli Taveuveu, and Moega Tuitele.
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Thomas, R.M. The rise and decline of an educational technology: Television in American Samoa. ECTJ 28, 155–167 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02765361
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02765361