Efforts by Government to advance student’s learning through the use of Information Communication Technologies or ICT has moved another step further with the hosting of a National e-learning Symposium this week.
The symposium organized by the Ministries of Education and Information and Telecommunications, brought together a number educators and other stakeholders in the ICT sector at the Fort Young Hotel on Monday for the official opening of the week- long symposium.
E-Education Advisor Dominican born Dr. Laurelle Jno Baptiste who resides in Canada, is in Dominica sharing her experience and expertise with Government in taking the ICT sector forward.
Dr. Jno Baptiste is the Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of Scholar Labs technologies, a company offering superior online learning solutions.
Throughout her one week stay, Dr. Jno Baptiste will deliver lectures and work with schools with the hope of imparting new knowledge and skills on how classroom learning can be enhanced through the use of ICT’s.
“I am not saying replace classroom education with online education, however I advocate for a blended approach using online education to supplement and enhance classroom instruction, there are times when complete online solutions are also needed. At Scholar Lab we are not only building online products and solutions, we are changing how people learn, we are changing the world,”Dr. Jno Baptiste told the opening ceremony.
Minister for Information, Telecommunications and Constituency Empowerment Hon. Ambrose George in addressing the start of symposium said Government has recognized that ICT’s must be used as the enabling tool to ensure educational success. He noted that this workshop is a step in that direction.
“Now is the time for us to embrace every opportunity to educate the children of this nation, to work collaboratively with Government and the private sector to help foster the continued educational development of our people in every area of endeavour by maximizing the benefits to be derived from the liberalization of the telecommunications sector,” he said.
Education Minister Hon. Petter Saint-Jean said his Ministry has recognized that teachers must understand and explore new and innovative ways to incorporate aspects of E-learning into classroom activities.
He said the Ministry is cognizant of the fact that both the context in which schools operate and the purpose of education are undergoing drastic changes because of rapid technological advances and Dominica must move with the times.
“Our focus here in Dominica therefore, is on getting students to develop the skills for life in an increasingly technological world in an environment that is characterized by technological innovation and computerized responses to situations in the workplace and in the wider society. It is imperative that all citizens possess a working knowledge of the available technology. We believe that if Dominica is to become globally competitive, all students must have the opportunity to access these important skills and knowledge being passed on within the classroom environment,” the Minister explained.
Meantime Dominica’s Director of Telecommunications, Bennette Thomas and lead organizer of this week’s symposium said the role of E-education in the effective delivery of school curriculum is fundamental to student learning.
“The continued emergences of new and innovative technologies in ICT are critical to the development of our students. ICT is simply a tool to be used to advance the education of our people and it is important therefore that as educators and policy makers, that we take a vigorous role in ensuring that our students are in line with the modern technologies of our time.”
Dr. Laurelle Jno Baptiste during the week will be engaged in a number of educational sessions with students as well as educators and administrators.
She will meet with educators and administrators at the Public Service Training Centre on Tuesday morning from 9:00 a.m.
On Wednesday this week she will deliver a lecture at the UWI School of Continuing Studies on Elmshall Road at 7:00pm-9:00pm.