MONTEGO BAY, St James – Just over 300 educators on Friday left the Jamaica Teachers’ Association’s annual education conference armed with a wealth of information to enhance their teaching strategies.

The three-day conference, which was staged at the Holiday Inn Sunspree resort in St James, saw several experts in the field presenting the latest updates on issues affecting the teaching/learning process.

“I’ve become more sensitised to the need to look out for gifted children. I’ve become more hopeful and motivated as a result of what I’ve learned during this conference,” said Marshell Veiro, a teacher at the John Mills Primary and Junior High Schol in Kingston.

According to Veiro, who teaches a grade three class at the school, the material she gained from the conference has put her in a better position to deal with some of the aggressive behaviour that her students display.

Michael E Ottey, behaviour a senior teacher at the Lyssons Primary school in St Thomas, told the Observer that the information coming out of the conference would enhance his school’s plans to introduce e-learning to its students.

“The presenters generated much interest,” he said.

Ottey’s colleagues, Patrick Lindsay and Marvin Johnson agreed.

“This conference was very timely as the focus is now on educational reform. From the conference itself we have gained insight into the introduction of new teaching/learning strategies that will be more effective in coping with the present generation of children,” said Johnson.

One of the issues highlighted at the conference, which was staged under the theme “Teaching for Success – Reaching Every Learner”, was the need for more collaboration between the Teachers’ Colleges and professional teachers.

“There definitely needs to be more collaboration, especially where the practicum is concerned,” said educator, Patricia Patterson.

The practicum component of the professional training for teachers entails 12-16 weeks of practice in the classroom as one of the criterion for certification.

According to Patterson, one of the observations that came out of the conference was the fact that student teachers were often totaally unprepared to deal with the realities of the classroom after completing the theoretical aspects of their training.

“With more collaboration between the teachers who are already in the classroom and those who are just coming in, some of this problem could be solved,” she said.