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by pltm
Twenty education professionals throughout the public secondary school system last week received training on the use of Promethean ActivPanels.
According to the Education Ministry, the training which took place on November 29 and 30, provided hands on practical knowledge on the integrated use of Promethean ActivPanels in the classroom.
(PLTM) - Conducted by Noel Doglione, a Promethean Education Consultant based in South Florida, teachers from Elmore Stoutt High, Bregado Flax Educational Centre and the Claudia Creque Educational Centre, had an opportunity to gain further training from Doglione; as the Ministry started initial training during the summer.
Minister for Education and Culture, Hon Myron Walwyn said the training is all part of the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to make education more relevant and digestible for the Territory’s students.
“Our students today spend a considerable amount of time utilizing technology outside of the classroom. In order to make their education more relevant and relatable, we have to integrate the use of technology in our classrooms to tap into the wealth of digital knowledge that is available to convey the same information that are in traditional textbooks," he said.
During the training teachers were introduced to the basic tools and capabilities of Promethean’s ActivInspire software. The software helps teachers bring lessons to life with rich, powerful activities that grab students' attention, blending real-time assessment and real-world experience into the learning process.
The session provided teachers with a foundation for continuing to build their knowledge of the software and its application in the classroom. Teachers received step-by-step, hands-on instruction and classroom integration examples.
The ActivConnect G is an Android powered processor that gives the ActivPanel tablet-like capabilities. In this session teachers learned how to: display their mobile devices onto the ActivPanel, download and installing apps from the Google Play Store, and customise the ActivConnect’s home page to suit their teaching preferences.
Teachers were also engaged in an app evaluation activity. The activity allowed teachers to build their techniques on selecting and using appropriate apps to support the teaching and learning process.
Earlier this year the Ministry purchased 20 Promethean ActivPanels for Grade 7 classes. Work has already started to secure an additional 40 panels to be distributed accordingly to other classes.
"The Government of the Virgin Islands has made significant investments as it relates to the integration of technology in public schools," the ministry stated.
Minister Walwyn said that the implementation of these plans are important to ensure the competitiveness of students.
“We want to ensure that our students are learning in a modern environment, and that they also have access to the information and methods used, just like their peers across the region and the world," he said.
During the 2014/2015 school year the Ministry piloted its first ICT programme in eight primary schools at the Grade 5 level. At the start of the 2016/2017 school year the programme was successfully expanded to all Grade 5 students in all public primary schools across the Territory.
A total of 350 laptops for students were purchased and an active three-person itinerant ICT unit have been set up to implement ICT in schools, train teachers and ensure continuous upgrading of technology in schools and development of the Territory’s educators.
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