Philipsburg:----Last week, August 31 thru September 3, 2009 , Cycle II FBE teachers participated in the Mathematics & Science trainings prepared by Sergeant Training International (STI)
The STI consultancy was awarded the contract from DERPI to prepare and execute the module for Mathematics & Science for the Teacher Retraining & Upgrading Program. This module is part of the mandatory Teacher Retraining & Upgrading Program for the Cycle II FBE teachers as stated in the Law for Foundation Based Education.
(Earlier this year during a working visit Minister O. Leeflang stated that all teachers working in FBE schools should have completed all the retraining & upgrading programs by the end of 2011 in order to meet the requirement of the Law regarding qualifications of a teacher in FBE schools. see Article 4- item 1.1 a & b Proof of competency)
The Mathematics & Science trainings have been divided in two phases;
• Phase I: August 31st thru September 3rd, 2009
September 28th thru October 1st, 2009
November 23rd thru November 26th, 2009
• Phase II: will continue during the new school year
The training days have been divided over the five (5) school boards in the following way:
Training for Cycle II FBE teachers:
Public Schools will be attending the trainings on Mondays,
Catholic Schools & the S.D.A. school will be attending the trainings on Tuesdays
Hillside & M.A.C. Schools will be attending the trainings on Thursdays.
Each training day is from 8:00 a.m. thru 4 p.m. and the Executive Council along with the Ministry of Education W.I. has given permission for these trainings to take place on the above mentioned dates.
At then end of each day, the participants were asked to fill in an evaluation form.
Here follows a sample of comments made by the participants in response to the questions on the evaluation forms
Please make comments that would help us to improve the workshop.
What Went Well?
Interesting – learnt a lot about patterns, and a lot of skills in math
Very informative and useful
Contents well delivered by presenters
Practical activities meaningful
Looking forward to next workshop
Great science simulation on mixed ability classroom
What Would You Like Us To Do Differently?
Got concepts but more examples on elementary level math
Next time more actual situations will be appreciated in math
Too long on one skill in math
Copy the science activities so we can use in our class
The abovementioned training is being organized by DERPI with funding from USONA through the Project Programma Onderwijs & Jongeren 2008- 2012
COMPUTER TRAINING FOR CYCLE II TEACHERS
One of the fundamentals of Foundation Based Education (FBE) is the use of ICT (Information Communication & Technology) in the classroom. The students are introduced to the computer in Cycle I and learn how to use and operate the computer to gain knowledge and do research.
Over the years DERPI has provided all FBE schools with computers for the classrooms through funding for education projects received through USONA.
During the school year 2008-2009 DERPI received requests from FBE School board representatives as well as from some Cycle II teachers for assistance in organizing computer training for the Cycle II teachers. Teachers also asked for assistance on how to use the computer as an instructional tool.
DERPI commissioned a Digital Literacy Assessment study of all Cycle II teachers, the results indicated that a large number of the teachers were not as computer literate as is demanded for them to operate efficiently in this system.
Presently the training has started with 86 teachers from Cycle II with training in basic training in Computer/ PC – Management, Power Point, Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel.
The 86 training have been grouped according to their computer competency levels.
The training is scheduled to last for four (4) months. Each month the training will focus on one component, which will be Computer/ PC- management, Power Point, Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel. The sessions are held once a week in the afternoon from 2:30 – 5:30 p.m.
The Computer institute of The Caribbean has been contracted to provide the training based on the positive results of the ICT training for the FBE school directors during school year 2007 – 2008.
DERPI will look into organizing training in the future for those teachers who are in the category of an advanced level according to the Digital Literacy Assessment.
The abovementioned training is being organized by DERPI with funding from USONA through the Project Programma Onderwijs & Jongeren 2008- 2012.
