Educational Technology for International Development (SAWSO Intern)

About the Organization

The Salvation Army is an international movement and an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Its mission is to meet human needs without discrimination. National Headquarters (NHQ) supports the work of The Salvation Army across the United States and internationally by providing leadership, resources, and strategic support to territorial and local operations.

ABOUT SAWSO

The Salvation Army World Service Office (SAWSO) works in collaboration with several international Salvation Army territories with their respective schools programs. There are two key initiatives that involve educational technology in this support. First, SAWSO is working with three Salvation Army territories/divisions— Indonesia, Uganda and Haiti —to develop school data collection mobile based applications. Second, SAWSO is working with several territories to support customization of an online library for afterschool reading programs in Guatemala, Uganda, Papua New Guinea, and Indonesia.

The purpose of these school data collection apps is to help track essential information at the schools to inform their management and to support data driven decision-making. Many of these schools are extremely remote and in very poor areas. Frequent monitoring trips from local headquarters are costly and travel logistics are difficult. As a result, many schools lose contact with central headquarters, and the lack of supervision impacts the quality of their services in numerous ways. Mobile-based data collection apps will be an important tool for improving these conditions. An educational technology for international development intern will assist in researching this technology and making design recommendations. An external developer will support in developing the actual Android-baced mobile tool on the KoboToolbox platform.

The secondary component of this internship relates to after school reading programs for children that are operating or in development in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Guatemala, and Uganda. The educational technology intern will assist in research and providing recommendations for customizing the Bloom online library software (Bloom.org), developed by SIL Lead, for these territories.

These projects operate in extremely low-resource and low-capacity environments.

Key Responsibilities

This job description should not be interpreted as all‑inclusive. Interns can work with Mentors to select areas of interest. Additional responsibilities may be assigned based on organizational needs.

School data collection mobile app duties

• Analyze existing school evaluation and assessment documents for three Salvation Army territories/divisions: Haiti, Uganda and Indonesia.
• Identify relevant types of data to be collected within each of the three territories based on documents and discussions with SAWSO’s Senior Advisor for Education.
• Review KoboToolbox data collection capabilities and templates for applicable features
• Recommend KoboToolbox design and relevant screen examples for the school management data collection app
• Review KoboToolbox reports in dashboard features, and make recommendations for customizing to the respective needs
• Review existing KoboTools user guidance and customize user guidance for Salvation Army school staff
• Support in the search of Cobo tool application, developers
• Bloom Library duties
• Review Bloom library software features and make recommendations for customizing the application for the respective after school programs.
• Review existing Bloom Library user guidance and customize user guidance for Salvation Army school staff

MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT

• Computer and Printer
• Photocopy Machine
• Scanner
• Microsoft Office365

IDEAL CANDIDATE PROFILE

• Mission‑aligned student (or recent grad) who’s passionate about improving lives of people in low-income settings
• Comfortable with simple data management and analysis
• Interested in international development and the implications of foreign assistance policy on marginalized populations

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Ability to manage multiple tasks and prioritize deadlines.
• Ability to organize and present information clearly.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Cultural humility and sensitivity toward diverse populations.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and professionalism.
• Proficiency in English and Microsoft Office365.

MENTAL AND PHYSICAL ABILITIES

• Ability to perform essential duties with or without accommodation.
• Ability to sustain attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently and follow instructions.
• Minimal physical effort required beyond standard office activities.

Qualifications

Required

Education & Experience

• Completed or in-progress master’s degree in educational technology, technology systems, international development with a focus on technology, or related field.

BENEFITS:

• Free lunch
• Free parking

Ability to Commute:

• Alexandria, VA 22314 (Required)

Work Location: In person