Division of Teacher Education Highlights Importance of Integrating Technology and Embracing Inclusion for Better Schools
Basseterre, St. Kitts, November 11, 2016 (SKNIS): The Division of Teacher Education at the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College (CFBC) held its Professional Development Day on November 11, 2016, under the theme “Integrating Technology and Embracing Inclusion for Better Schools”.
Several lecturers in the Division of Teacher Education attended the educational forum, which was spearheaded by Mrs. Joycelyn Archibald Pennyfeather, Dean of the Teacher Education Division at CFBC.
Mrs. Delores Stapleton Harris, Vice President, Academic and Student Affairs, in brief remarks underscored the importance of lecturers undergoing ongoing professional development in order to improve their craft which redounds to successful instruction, assessment and positive outcomes in the classroom. She reminded the lecturers that we are living in a technological age that requires the implementation of technology in the classroom as a must to enhance learning.
Mr. Lesroy Williams, Adjunct Lecturer at the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College and Director-General of the St. Kitts and Nevis Information Service (SKNIS), speaker at the forum, outlined to the lecturers that “technology is ubiquitous. It is the renewable energy that we need in the classroom. As society evolves we must think of sustainable education—think of the present generation and future generation in terms of their educational needs in a changing world.” He highlighted that technology can redound to more efficiency and cost-effectiveness in the classroom.
“Technology challenges us the teachers to design and develop classrooms that are more inclusive—more student-centered rather than teacher-centered. We teachers must admit that in most cases, the students are more au fait with the technology than us and sometimes we might feel threatened by this. While teachers might have the knowledge to impart, students are more equipped at packaging it with the means of technology,” Mr. Williams said. “Teachers must avail themselves of opportunities to become more proficient in the use of technology.”
Mr. Fitzroy Wilkin, Curriculum Specialist at CFBC, underscored “the Implementation of Integration ICT in the Classroom”. Mr. Wilkin also spoke to issues of ethics with using technology and how technology must be carefully monitored so that it does not become a tool for distraction.
Welcome remarks at the forum were given by Mr. Glenroy Blanchette, Lecturer at CFBC in Division of Teacher Education (TEd.); the invocation was done by Mrs. Rosamond Rawlins, Lecturer in Ted; Obarinda Liburd, a second year student studying Primary Education, rendered a song; Ms. Nadine Lawrence, Lecturer in Ted, introduced the motivational speaker, Lesroy Williams; Ms. Avis Pemberton and Mr. Randolph Taylor, Lecturers in Ted gave the Vote of Thanks; and Mrs. Eleanor Phillip, Senior Assistant Secretary in the Ministry of Education, presented the working session on “Barriers to Inclusion”.