THE view that older teachers are afraid to embrace modern communication technologies or that teachers are not savvy with the computer is being challenged. Indeed, age is becoming no longer a factor in the willing participation of teachers in various technology-oriented projects and programmes in education. Some teachers are actually proving that they are as good as anyone else is or leaping ahead in the use of the range of technologies.

One demonstration of this was seen at a teachers’ presentation of certificates ceremony held at the St Elizabeth Technical High School on October 30. Then the secondary school teachers from St Elizabeth received certificates for successfully completing the e-Learning Jamaica Company information technology training for teachers. We heartily congratulate those teachers.

The setting was superb and stimulating. The STETHS auditorium had an auspicious tone with decorations fluttering the presentation area. Furniture was arranged with precision and convenience in mind. The conversations before and after the presentation ceremony were light-spirited, reflective, engaging and lucid. Teachers and guests reflected on the changing circumstances of the classroom, some for better, some for worse. They contemplated the future of technologically enhanced school environments and the prospects for improved student performance. Also, they reminisced on the training experience. The best of St Bess in poise, friendliness and elegance was evident as pleasantries and greetings were exchanged.

The chairman, Mr Robert Phillips of e-Learning Jamaica Company, managed the afternoon’s proceedings well. He situated the training programme in the wider context of the significant developments in information and communication technology and the need for teachers to keep abreast and to master and use many of the tools. He also commended those who played leading roles in bringing the training plan to fruition. Among those cited was training consultant and former chief education officer, Mrs Adelle Brown, who was on hand to facilitate a well-planned and executed programme. Appropriately, Mr Winston Fletcher of HEART/NTA and other colleagues attended. He made very instructive remarks.

Guest speaker, State Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries JC Hutchinson, delivered a focused speech on the use of technology in education. He hung up his hat as a leading peanut and cattle farmer in St Elizabeth to explore the topic of technology use in the classroom. He first reminisced on his earlier teaching and football coaching stint at the school. He then went on to acknowledge the tremendous challenges facing teachers today, including the daring acts of indiscipline being perpetrated by some students. With wit and oratory on the theme of technology empowerment, he kept his audience in rapt attention for the entire duration of his short presentation.

The former teacher cited the enormous value of information and communication technology and observed its increasing use as an essential skill for life. He declared that ITC “should be used to improve the lives of students. It should be used to facilitate and promote innovation”. He posed the reflective question, “How do we do it?” and gave the answer, “Prepare the teachers.” He envisioned the entire school system having “technology capability”.

The state minister spoke fluently about “Generation X and Generation Y” as he ignored his script frequently to elaborate. He dwelt substantially on Generation Y of whom present students are the main products. The frequent use of email and text messaging as well as the ubiquitous cellphone by students did not escape his attention, and he reflected on the serious implications for teachers who were not keeping abreast with the use of these tools. To clinch the point, he gave the anecdote of a father who remarked that the present students are born with a “tech chip” in their brain. The implication for teachers could not be more profound! Albeit, he invited the teachers to “help the students to use the technology” and well he might have, since the teachers were well trained to do precisely that.

The highlight of the function was the presentation of certificates to the teachers. In flawless organisation, a representative of each school confidently went forward to receive certificates on behalf of the rest. Each made introductory remarks and quipped on anything that was either said or observed. The language and tone were delightful. The host principal “brought down the house” when he quipped that most teachers were graduating summa cum laude. He was right!

The introductions brought out some interesting facts and inter-generational perspectives. At one school, a mother and daughter received certificates. It could hardly get better where a father, mother and daughter were proud receivers of certificates and a sibling was a trainer. Black River High School had 87 teachers receiving certificates with STETHS running second with 65. Sydney Pagon Agricultural High School had 20 out of 20 teachers successfully completing the training course. Bethlehem College, Munro College, Lacovia High School, Maggotty High School, Lewisville High School and Newell High School had 47, 42, 53, 40, 21 and 37 respectively receiving certificates. Hampton High School and BB Coke High School were in the first phase of training and they had blazed the trail in high success rates. Some myths were exploded on the occasion.

An important observation must be that the teachers have not only learnt about technology but have been learning with and through technology. We applaud this. The excellent programme of integrating technology with learning developed and being delivered islandwide by the illustrious and responsive The Mico University College will add a new dimension and impetus to the upskilling and mastery of teachers in information and communication technologies. No investment could have been of more strategic importance at this time, than this investment in the tooling of teachers to meet the unfolding era of digital pervasiveness in teaching and learning.

One issue that must be raised loudly is that of provision for sustainability. The teachers of St Elizabeth, as all teachers, would like to know that there will be a new momentum and continuity to their empowerment in the understanding and use of the modern technologies. JC Hutchinson has peeped into the future with his prognosis for “technology capability” for all schools. Let us endeavour to make this goal an early reality as we try to keep morale high among our teachers.

Well done, St Bess!

wesebar@yahoo.com