NO MORE JUST WANTING A MASTERS TALK FOR ME

I am being very honest when I say that in the beginning of this program there were times when I felt that I could not really care how the program was going and all I wanted was my degree. I even told myself that if they didn’t hire me as a Reading specialist “at least I had my Masters.” But you know what this phase did not last long as the reality of the crisis situation that we are facing as a nation with regards to reading hit home.
As long as there are students in our Primary schools who are just moved up to the next class and can’t read the first primer level, then our role as Reading Specialists is critical. And as long as there are students entering our Secondary schools and leaving them with no subjects or worse yet dropping out of our school system because they are labelled non-readers or struggling readers and there were no one to help them, then Reading Specialists are needed.
So no more just wanting a Masters talk for me. I intend to take this role seriously I am doing extra reading on my own because people all I can say is this “We have not even touched the tip of the iceberg as yet!”

IMAGINE THAT!

Did you know that when computers first came on the scene there was this deep concern that it will isolate children? Yes, parents and educators alike were all concerned but subsequent research has alleviated that.
Have you noticed how children take to technology as we’d say in Trinidad “like duck to water?” For years, I am in awe at my favourite nephew’s marvellous abilities with computer and in fact any technology. From him, I have come to realise that children have no fear, no reservation, no holding back like so many adults when it comes to working/playing with technology. I know that I am guilty of shamelessly using my nephew whenever I am stuck with a new gadget or even with my computer. His fingers just seem to know which knob to turn, which key to tap and voila! the “problem” is solved. That which to me seemed so impossible is so easy to this 21st century techno-savvy child.
By the way computers have not isolated children rather they have been the catalyst for social interaction among young people. According to (Muller and Perlmutter 1985) children at the computer spent nine times as much time talking to peers while on the computer than while doing puzzles. Notice the next time you see your students working with the computers how they are always many of them playing games, Instant Messaging or on Face-Book. Children using technology always seem to prefer to work with others rather than alone, thus fostering new friendships.

A PUNCHLINE I JUST COULD NOT RESIST!

As soon as I saw the banner proudly proclaiming that the faculty of Humanities and Education is celebrating its 50th anniversary and its theme for this grand occasion is “A hint of the past, A taste of the present and A glimpse of the future”, I immediately saw the irony of the situation. This is my fourth trip to this institution and my main gripe with this goodly institution since my first degree was that it is living in the far past and needed a push into the 21st century. So here is this banner pronouncing that they are giving a hint of the past... (Hello, a what?) Surely it might have been most appropriate to say “A Chunk of the past and the Reality of the present with a Maybe of the future” or better yet “We are living in the past, operating in the present and hoping to be in the future”
When this goodly institution can seriously take its head out of the past especially where assessments are concern (needed creative quality ways of assessing and not the same ole same ole) and move into the present then and only then it will stand proud in the future. As for now though, all I seem to hear from students in every faculty who are forced to attend (the financial perks are great and we can’t do anything else and we want our degrees) is “This is madness, too much work, I am tired already ...”

QUESTIONS FOR THE POLICY ON ICT (2005)

It was with great interest that I read the Ministry of Education Policy on ICT. This policy was drafted in September 2005 having been in the making since 2004. An ambitious policy as usual like all documents, policies, White Papers and Green Papers, wordy and beyond the comprehension of those worthy of understanding such.
After reading the 42 page document (and it took a while) I had two serious questions that I will like anyone of my MEd colleagues to help me with: How far along are the 5 levels of setting up ICT in schools? And the document spoke about the MOE and I quote “The Ministry shall create a technology-assisted working environment in which all MOE staff can function with ease.” Five long years and we are still being told that our file cannot be found or they are in cardboard boxes in the corridors. How difficult can computerising the Education Ministry be?
I have a simple solution though for any government institution wanting to be computerized and that is for that institution to have a Competition for University Graduates in Computer Technology to put their skill at work and you will see how quickly and easily you will have it done. Young people would love to be known for having set up the system in certain public places so use them!
What do you think?

Whoopee! Hurray! Ah done! Ah Submit! People ...ah Turnitin!!

Whoopee! Hurray! Ah done! Ah Submit! People ...ah Turnitin!!
Mih essay ah mean and now ah smilin’
Ah doh kno’ if you like me ....type, type, type ...look at Word count
Buh wha the jail is dis only 375 words? An’ ah typing sooooo longggg?
Type type type... nah ah not lookin’ again. Dat counter cyar count!

Ah cut an paste here and ah cut an paste dere...no ah not plagiarising!!
Remember Turnitin go be checkin
An me eh want nobody tink I thiefin
So what ah really cutting an pastin’ was pieces from my own first draft
Dat is how I does write essay you kno
Ah does write mih thought down
From day one

Mih head buckin buh ah still typin
Ah seein in double...whey dis is trouble
Today is de 27th no ah not remembering 1990
Ah remembering dat the 30th is only 3 days away

Take ah look nah girl! You kno how long you typin
I sure you nearly finish...look how you fingers lookin
Take ah look! Take ah look!
Whaaaa... Helloo?
What do you mean? This cannot be happening to me?
People ah pass the 2500 mark...so you know wha dat mean?
Ah go have to turn back, take out, throw out.
You see, you see
I told you to take a look a long time ago
But nah you fraid to ...so guess wha it dX#@ good for you
Steups! Steups! Steups!

Ah chop chop here and ah chop chop dere
Here is good an there is good.
Hell everywhere lookin good good
Yeah ...yeah
You remember the beginning of dis poem?

Whoopee! Hurray! Ah done! Ah Submit! People ...ah Turnitin!!

LAUGHTER IS DE BES' MEDICINE ENT?

So you think you're computer-illiterate?

1. Compaq is considering changing the command "Press Any Key" to "Press Return Key" because of the flood of calls asking where the "Any" key is.
2. AST technical support had a caller complaining that her mouse was hard to control with the dust cover on. The cover turned out to be the plastic bag the mouse was packaged in.
3. A Dell technician advised his customer to put his troubled floppy back in the drive and close the door. The customer asked the tech to hold on, and was heard putting the phone down, getting up and crossing the room to close the door to his room.

4. Another Dell customer called to say he couldn't get his computer to fax anything. After 40 minutes of trouble-shooting, the technician discovered the man was trying to fax a piece of paper by holding it in front of the monitor screen and hitting the "send" key.
5. True story from a Novell NetWire SysOp:

Caller: "Hello, is this Tech Support?"

Tech Rep: "Yes, it is. How may I help you?"

Caller: "The cup holder on my PC is broken and I am within my warranty period. How do I go about getting that t fixed?"

Tech Rep: "I'm sorry, but did you say a cup holder?"

Caller: "Yes, it's attached to the front of my computer."

Tech Rep: "Please excuse me if I seem a bit stumped, it's because I am. Did you receive this as part of a promotional, at a trade show? How did you get this cup holder? Does it have any trademark on it?"

Caller: "It came with my computer; I don't know anything about a promotional. It just has '4X' on it."

At this point the Tech Rep had to mute the caller, because he couldn't stand it. The caller had been using the load drawer of the CD-ROM drive as a cup holder, and snapped it off the drive.

Is it Quantity or Quality?

“It is not the quantity of the meat, but the cheerfulness of the guests, which makes the feast” Edward Hyde.

Over the past week I have been weighing the importance of quality and quantity with regards to education in Trinidad and Tobago. This came as a result of my having to attend classes in the midst of what is supposed to be holidays a rest period after having worked during the last term. Because I like so many of my colleagues am tired I am left to wonder about the quality that I am taking in and by extension the quality that I am giving out.
It seems to me that for this institution, like so many others in this hemisphere, quantity takes precedence over quality and this can be seen in such overwhelming expectations as too many written assignments re. essays, blogs, portfolios etc (find creative ways to assess) and too many hours of classes crammed into the afternoons and teachers vacation period. Quantity or the more the merrier seems to be their mode of operating. Leading me to wonder if this course is tailored for us or are we being squeezed into a makeshift program?
The quote with which I opened seemed very apt as I am left many times with the feeling that the quantity of the information that I am being fed is way too much, giving me not enough time to chew, savour, share/feed others, cover down and go back to munch on later. Because I am rushed and stuffed with a large quantity I am really not cheerful (not given enough time to be cheerful about what I am fed). Is there something that can be done to make it less stressful? Because right now all I can say about this situation is ...
Sorry people, “This Med Reading feast is not enjoyable as I would have wanted or expected it to be.”