The Ministry of Education is well poised to develop learning through the use Information, Communication and Technology in Dominica. The Ministry has plans to begin a School Learning Network in Dominica through the use of ICT. The Ministry of Education is expecting this new approach to transform the way that students learn and teachers teach.
Abraham Durand, TVET Coordinator, former ICT Coordinator explains during a discussion at GIS on Tuesday, “One of the critical means of doing this with the use of ICT is to set up what is called a School Learning Network, Where the school provides access to on line resources whether it is stored locally [or elsewhere].
According to Durand, through this programme, no matter when one logs in to their computer they will log in to a network that is a learning environment in itself.
“We have done some pioneering work in this with what we call the Digital Live Classroom Portal,” Durand informed, “where we filmed and documented expert teachers delivering key lessons in specific areas, especially in the areas that are difficult to turn out in the classroom, so that wherever a teacher is located, students anywhere on the island can in fact benefit from these teachers’ expertise by following these lessons on line.”
As this new approach to education evolves, there will be a growing need for students all across the island, even in the remotest areas, to have access to such technology.
Director of Telecommunications, Bennette Thomas, says provision has been made for such individuals through The Telecoms Liberalisation Act of Dominica.
“The Telecoms Liberalisation Process, part of the Telecoms Act, mandated that school or centres for persons who are disadvantaged, underprivileged or in very challenging or remote areas who need access to education and ICT,” explained Thomas, “there is something known as the Universal Service Fund which is managed by the National Telecom Regulatory Commission right here in Dominica.”
In the words of the Director of Telecommunications, the role of this Commission is provide funding for certain projects for persons out in the remote areas who may not have the kind of access that others have. However, its primary purpose is what is known as the Universal Access.
Universal Access is a Universal Service Obligation under the Telecoms Act that ensures that persons who reside in remote areas will have just as [much] access to ICT resources as everyone else, as well as the affordability of these resources.
In the effort to continue strengthening the e-education system locally, the Ministry of Education in conjunction with the Ministry of Communications will conduct a National E-Learning Symposium.
The professional service of Dominican-born Dr. Laurelle Jno Baptiste has been secured for facilitating this symposium.
Dr. Laurelle Jno. Baptiste, a Canadian Government E-Educational Advisor, has worked in Education and Online Learning for over thirteen years.
The E- Learning Symposium will run from September 23 to 26 2013.