Newspaper Magazine Article: Technology In Our Schools
TITLE: Technology in Our Schools
WRITTEN BY: Kisha Wilson Young
PUBLICATION DATE: May, 2011 (Trinidad Guardian Newspaper - Tech
Live)
Who can forget the dread of walking to the front of the class, tiny eyes piercing through
your back as you take the chalk to answer the longest equation in the world or getting
your neck exercised with the rhythmic nodding motion as you took notes from the
board? The blackboard has been an important instructional device for decades, allowing
teachers to illustrate lessons and direct the attention of the entire class to one central
focal point.
In recent times, teachers have become less dependent on this medium and have
evolved to the use of overhead projectors and computers with presentation software
screens. Many teachers also prefer to circulate print outs or copies of tasks among
students and work with them one-on-one or in small groups. It is becoming more
evident as technology advances, so too, will teaching methods and mediums.
As the fastest growing form of technology in public schools today, student access to
computers is becoming the norm. The reach of the Internet could very well redefine
education, as students research remote databases and access sites devoted to specific
educational topics, providing access to an unlimited amount of information that could
rival any major research library. Internet access is also enhancing school-to-home
communication offering new ways for both teachers and students to develop, through
on-line courses and peer support groups.
While the culture of knowledge exchange has long been established and recognized,
enabling learning through technology will make an indelible mark in strengthening this
cause. The use of technology will not only enhance a school’s curriculum but will also
provide an opportunity to engage a class of students with varying developmental needs
and gather immediate assessment data to inform instruction.
Our knowledge-based, technology-driven global environment now demands that our
education system produce citizens with the ICT skills and competencies to successfully
deal with the imperatives of globalization. This will only allow us to continue to rise, as a
country, in the Global Information Technology index (63rd overall and 47th out of 138
countries for access of Internet in schools). The Government’s provision of laptops to all
Form 1 students is a major step toward this and will assist in providing a diversified,
knowledge intensive platform to develop our students.
At Flow, we believe that education and technology can be effectively utilized to enhance
and promote the learning process and are committed to achieving this through the
provision of our services. We recognize that this can only be successfully implemented
with the involvement of parents, teachers, principals, educational boards, our partners
and facilitators that also have a vested interest in the growth and development of our
students.
We have launched an initiative which offers our cable and broadband services FREE of
charge to all Government and Government-assisted schools under our “Triple A
program for Learning – Aim. Aspire. Achieve’’. We believe it will enhance the education
process, creating opportunities for alternative learning and developing the skills needed
to allow our students to successfully compete in a society that is steadily becoming
consumed by technology.