The Use of Technology in our Jamaican Classrooms

The use of technology in the classroom to facilitate the teaching and learning process has become an integral aspect of education, not only in Jamaica but worldwide. The use of Technology in the Jamaican classrooms has drastically increased since the outbreak of the Covid-19 virus.



Before the pandemic, technology played an important role in the teaching-learning process, however, the need for technology to accommodate online learning and teaching have become necessary for the delivery of educational material and facilitate learning.
Education systems have implemented a vast number of ways to implement the use of technology in classrooms. Some of these include the use of PowerPoint presentations, other visual/audio materials, tablets, cellphones and laptops. Technology often times are used to make content more digestible for students and teachers who require a more creative way to teach and to learn.
The switch from face-to-face learning to strictly online delivery has consequentially highlighted the disparities in the availability of technology across schools island wide. In an article published by the Jamaica Gleaner, the Minister of Education, Youth and Information the Hon. Fayval Williams had highlighted that around 120,000 students in the western region of the island have not been able to participate in remote learning due to the lack of the availability in the technology required to facilitate online learning. 
On the other hand, a number of schools inside and around the Kingston Metropolitan Area (KMA) were able to transition to remote learning based on the fact that it is one of the most developed areas in Jamaica. Although not every single student is fortunate enough to have unlimited connectivity, in most instances provisions would have been made by the schools and the ministry at large to have them connected. Even through government assistance etc. numerous students will still lag behind due to their unfortunate circumstances. 


What other measures can be put in place to increase technological availability and literacy in Jamaica? Do you think enough is being done to improve this?










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