Developing Higher-Order Skills with ICT-Mediated Instruction
In the Caribbean today ICT tools are readily
available to assist with the development of higher order skills among
learners. In islands such as Jamaica,
Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada and St. Lucia, Ministry of Education has put
measures and policies in place to integrate ICT into the education system from
the primary schools to the secondary schools.
This is so pertinent today because it is critical to the development of our students since we live in a technological world.
In my island – St Lucia, there are computer labs in every primary and secondary school on the island and every fourth form student was given a laptop by the Ministry of Education to help them become computer literate, although it came with many restrictions. We have come a long way and we still have a long way ahead of us. The Caribbean is heading in the right direction and that is wonderful. Also there are many internet cafes around the island where students can also take advantage of.
In the primary schools all children have access to the technology on a daily basis whether it be at home or at school. Most children in the primary schools are more computer savvy than their teachers. The Ministry has not invested much into training and education their teachers with the technology. Those who are computer illiterate integrate the internet and other computer tools into the learning process, while others look on. ICT – mediated tools such as blogs, wikis. Web-quest, power point and many others are being used in the schools, all in an effort to develop students higher order thinking skills because it facilitates discussions that will make children think critically and find solutions to problems.
This is so pertinent today because it is critical to the development of our students since we live in a technological world.
In my island – St Lucia, there are computer labs in every primary and secondary school on the island and every fourth form student was given a laptop by the Ministry of Education to help them become computer literate, although it came with many restrictions. We have come a long way and we still have a long way ahead of us. The Caribbean is heading in the right direction and that is wonderful. Also there are many internet cafes around the island where students can also take advantage of.
In the primary schools all children have access to the technology on a daily basis whether it be at home or at school. Most children in the primary schools are more computer savvy than their teachers. The Ministry has not invested much into training and education their teachers with the technology. Those who are computer illiterate integrate the internet and other computer tools into the learning process, while others look on. ICT – mediated tools such as blogs, wikis. Web-quest, power point and many others are being used in the schools, all in an effort to develop students higher order thinking skills because it facilitates discussions that will make children think critically and find solutions to problems.