Project Prospectus: Design and Implementation of a Methodology for Using Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)

by

Team: Trending Innovators A Project Prospectus Presented in Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements of EDID 6506 Trimester III, 2012-2013

Team Members

Arlyn Linton-Jones (1996605185) Sharon Gilzene (91050985) Melisa Hippolyte (312500178) Rupatee Rajkumar -Singh (312500108) Caron Webster (1998605453)

University: eTutor:

University of the West Indies Open Campus

Course Coordinator: Dr. Dickson-Deane

Project Prospectus: Design and Implementation of a Methodology for Using Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)

Background This project defined/refined from an initiative entitled Curriculum Internet Access for Teachers and Students (CIATS) which was originally undertaken in Europe where the objectives were to facilitate co-operation between organizations and institutions in the field of ODL and to enhance the skills of teachers, trainers and managers in the use of ODL techniques. Relating this project to our situation in the primary and secondary schools in the Caribbean, we will seek to produce evidence of the value of the ICT in a variety of educational settings to both teachers and students, and to enhance the skills of teachers in incorporating ICT into the classroom and obtaining and effectively using material obtained from, and services provided through the internet in their classrooms. Problem Countries across the Caribbean recognize that the knowledge economy driven by ICT is a key to global competitiveness; as a result many countries have attempted to introduce/ integrate ICT into the primary and secondary classroom. There have been many issues associated with this attempt, namely; limited physical space for the creation of labs and for some where labs could be established they have been faced with scheduling problems, teachers varying levels of comfort with the use of 21st century technologies, a lack of teacher education in ICT, and a lack of a standardized guide to the proper use and integration of ICT in the teaching and learning process. Audience The audience of this proposed project will be teachers from primary and secondary schools with access to computers and internet connectivity, from each of the four different Caribbean

Project Prospectus: Design and Implementation of a Methodology for Using Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)

countries that each member of the group represents namely Barbados, Jamaica, St. Lucia, and Trinidad. The audience will be made up of teachers of both sexes, from different age groups with varying levels of experience, and qualification. List of Ideas Possible solutions for the proposed problems identified are:

Implementation of mobile laboratories and laboratories through the use of ubiquitous technologies.

Teacher training/workshop in the use and integration of ICTs in classroom learning and instructional strategies.

A pod cast on the way to use internet services/search engines to locate learning materials and how to use these learning materials effectively..

Creation of a manual, both hard and soft copy with evidence of the value of the Internet in a variety of educational settings to both teachers and students, and literature on how to integrate ICT into the classroom.

Creation of a policy to guide the use and integration of ICT in the classroom.

Potential Challenges with Realistic Solutions

Lack of definitive ICT in education policy; [liaise with policy makers and stakeholders] The ability to acquire timely information from the audience [start collection of data early and set and keep deadlines along the way and also making use of available resources]

Finding a solution to the problem that will resolve the issue for all those affected [be realistic about expectations]

Attitude of teachers [build a relationship of trust and teacher efficacy]