Mico Looking to Establish Smart Classrooms

The Mico University College is seeking to transform its campus into one that is technologically-driven in an effort to remain relevant and equip its graduates to work in modern settings across the world.

Mico President, Dr. Asburn Pinnock, said that while the teachers are excellent when it comes to pedagogy, “the concern is the culture shock they get when they move from a Jamaican classroom to a British classroom for example, where it is filled with technology.”

“The issue is how you navigate your way around and apply the Jamaican pedagogical skills to the modern classroom,” he pointed out.

Dr. Pinnock was addressing a JIS Think Tank yesterday (March 9), at the agency’s head office in Kingston.

He informed that the institution is looking to engage stakeholders to provide funding to institute smart classrooms as early as the start of the next academic year.

“What we are doing now is to engage the Ministry of Technology and under the Tablet in Schools (Programme) and the Universal Service Fund (USF) to upgrade at least 15 of our classrooms into first world smart classrooms with smart boards and computers so that we can expose our teachers. Once the funds have been committed, we are hoping to get those classrooms up and ready for September,” he shared.

Dr. Pinnock said that while Mico should have been further along with this process (of using technology in classrooms) it does not mean that we are starting at zero. We do have some level of smart boards and smart technology but it is not nearly enough because I believe that all classrooms should be smart classrooms,” he said.

The Mico President further stated that in addition to transforming the classrooms, there is a project being funded by the Mico Old Students Association (MOSA) to digitise the library.

“So in five or so years, we may have a library where there are no books and therefore it is going to be technology-driven. We are moving away from traditional books to eBooks. Smart phones may very well be incorporated in our teaching strategy because they are very useful devices that can be used to access information,” he said.

In the meantime, Dr. Pinnock is urging past students and the MOSA to support the initiative.

“Mico needs you more than ever. We are looking to the USF for probably 15 smart rooms. We have many more (to retrofit) so if you can match that I would be very happy. So, by the end of October, if we have 30 smart classrooms then we will be on our way forward,” he said.