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Country Report

Andrew C. Samuels, Information Technology Specialist Trainer

c/o Ministry of EducationMona High School

Presented at the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Training in Sapporo, Hokkaido, at the

Information Technology Engineering Training for Public Educational Institutions For year 2012/2013

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Mona High School - Background• A secondary high school founded in 1979.• Operating under the Ministry of Education.• Providing a wide curriculum of both traditional subjects (Mathematics, English,

Spanish, Computing, Social Studies, etc.) • Provides wide range of special technical/vocational training in Physical Education,

Music, Food & Nutrition, Visual Arts, Theatre Arts, Metal Engineering, Building Technology, Cosmetology.

• Number of Students: 1, 200: divided into 26 Classes ages from 12 – 18 (5 Grade 7s, 6 Grade 8s – 11s, 1 Grade 12).

• Number of Teachers: 52, 1 Principal, 2 Vice Principals, 2 Guidance Counsellors, 1 School Nurse, Administrative and Ancillary Staff, Security Guards; Strong Parent/Teachers Association (PTA).

• * Caters for children who are physically • challenged (i.e. some 32 students are physically • challenged); modified facilities for these students Kemar Cummings, top performing student in 2005

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Organizational Chart

Business Education Department

Head of Department(Doc. Preparation Teacher)

Principles of Accounts Teacher

Principles of Business Teacher

Office Administration Teacher

IT Specialist Trainers

IT System Administrator

Department Composition: 4 Females, 3 MalesBachelors Degree /Dip. In Education

Dept. Org. Chart

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Roles of IT Specialist Trainer – Allocation of Worker Time Weekly 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m. (Work Hours)

with additional work done at home and on weekends

Teaching/Instructional Learning/Online Learning70%

Maintenance of Lab, Stored files, archives7%

Research for new teaching

tools/aids3%

Develop-ment of Educa-

tional aids3%

Adminis-tration - Grades

input, dis-cipline10%

Other: Communications, use of Social Network in Educa-tion7%

Class # of Students1 Grade 8 422 Grade 9 902 Grade 10 802 Grade 11 60Grade 12 16

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Obstacles/Challenges of IT in Organization & Ministry of Education

Lack of cooperation in persons attending training returning to their organization to train others

High cost associated with training for setting up as well

as the high cost of transportation

IT professionals attending training

thinking and sticking to their own

self ego that they “know it all”Unavailability of persons to attend training due to

work commitment

Limited number of trainers to participate and provide expert guidance;

Senior M

anag

emen

t in

organ

izations a

re not a

ware o

f

trainings

in a

timely

man

ner

Limited number of training facilities available; disruption in school

operations.

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Future Projects and Strategies

Persons attending training are required to submit 30, 60 and 90 days report of how the information they received are being utilized and disseminated in their local organization. Forms developed will help to collect the contact information for other IT professionals who are eligible but did not attend training. Satellite training done via e-Learning or training video shared.

Require of schools and participating organizations to stand half the cost of training or closer to a 1/3rd while the participant pay’s only 1/3rd in the event the school and other agency cannot afford. Where possible, solicit assistance from Ministry of Education and e-Learning Jamaica to endorse training and offer funding to assist in offsetting the cost.

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Future Projects and Strategies

Assist and encourage persons to understand that personal development and knowledge acquisition is a vital component of development for organization’s plan for improved efficiency.

• Trainings done early in the summer months as possible or ending of June as this will provide for more willing participating of teachers ahead of their summer vacation.

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Future Projects and Strategies

• Create Training Of Trainer (TOT) Workshops in order to allow for Knowledge Transfer to as many IT Teachers and other Subject Teachers in Jamaica and the Caribbean region.

• Introduce e-Learning Management training in Moddle ® as an improved way of monitoring student performance.

• Improved and extended use of Web sites in classroom instructional use for teachers and their students.

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Expectations from JICA Training in IT Engineering for Public Educational Institutions

• Acquire knowledge of more advanced use of IT in education and training suitable for secondary and post secondary level learners.

• Skills to develop Action Plan to empower Jamaica’s teaching contingency to greater use ICT skills in their daily interaction with students.

• Improved knowledge of Web Design to facilitate teaching training for regional CXC CSEC and CAPE examinations.

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Use of Training Content in Jamaica

30 days after returnDissemination of Action Plan and presentation of Training Report to Mona High School and Ministry of Education (MOE), Jamaica Teaching Council (JTC) & e-Learning Jamaica.

&Letters sent to Mona High, JICA Jamaica, Ministry of Education and e-Learning Jamaica to have a meeting to discuss implementation of Action Plan and Training Report.

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Use of Training Content in Jamaica

60 - 90 days after returnImplement Cluster Training 1 for six high schools nearest Mona High Schools (1-2 mile radius) [2 workshops]. 1 with Satellite Training facilitation using e-Learning tools and posted.

&Upload workshop videos and training manuals along with materials and share with schools in anticipation for Phase 2 – 6 Cluster Trainings in Regions 1 – 6 schools across Jamaica.12 Workshops proposed.

Do a Student Workshop for CAPE Advanced IT Students with participants from 14 High Schools at a Weekend Residential Training programme (April 2012) with enhanced ICT/e-Learning tools

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ICT IN ACTION AT MONA HIGH

Students of Grade 9 (15 year olds) are scene here in class using computers during a classroom test. Students have the opportunity to take lap top to school (those who get dropped at school). Students email test assignments or do online tests.

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Students at Mona High School congregate for worship/devotion. Students signing

Cultural presentations by the Theatre Arts Group. Key Club conducting sale of pop corn for their projects.

Students playing drums at worship. Students practicing active learning skills in Mathematics.

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Meet Marcus Banton, a 17 y.o. Student doing advanced studies in IT. Dream to become a Web Developer or Software Specialist. He was the top performing IT student for year 2011/12.

Featured Student