New Technology Hub Facilitating Interactive Learning at Seaward Primary and Infant School

With the opening of a state-of-the-art technology room at Seaward Primary and Infant School in St. Andrew, students and teachers now have access to a dedicated space that promotes interactive, hands-on learning experiences.

The facility was officially opened by Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, and representatives from e-learning Jamaica Limited and the institution earlier this year.

Equipped with 20 laptop and 20 tablet computers, and an interactive whiteboard, the facility supports both individual and collaborative learning, fostering digital literacy and innovation across all grade levels.

Principal, Arlene Reid, tells JIS News that the new technology space marks another significant step forward in equipping the students with the tools they need to thrive in an increasingly digital world.

“Having these gadgets will really help our children improve in their literacy and numeracy because it brings another mode of learning to the children, where they are not just interacting with the books, pencils and paper, but they are able to interact with technology. It means that there is an addition to what we do, with the expectation that our children will continue to improve,” she says.

Ms. Reid expresses deep appreciation to e-Learning Jamaica Company Limited for the vital role in bringing the project to fruition, acknowledging their steadfast support and collaboration throughout the process.

“We are excited to have a technology room open at our school, and it all happened because of the kind patronage of e-learning Jamaica [who] gave us 20 laptops, and we later on got an interactive white board. So, the thought came that if we have 20 laptops and an interactive whiteboard, why not create a space where the children can come and interact with that form of technology,” she tells JIS News.

The Principal notes that although students had prior exposure to technology, the introduction of new devices is expected to deepen engagement and enrich the overall learning experience.

“Our teachers use technology a whole lot and each class is [outfitted] with a television so our children are exposed to technology. [The COVID-19 pandemic] has done some good, because they had to go online for a long period of time… and even in the everyday teaching and learning, our teachers make use of technology. So, this is a welcome change, where they can go into a space where each child can get the opportunity to interact with the gadget,” she informs.

Ms. Reid also notes that some teachers, particularly in the infant department, utilise their classroom televisions as interactive whiteboards to engage students more effectively.

Additionally, she says the institution, already equipped with two interactive whiteboards, is set to receive three more, further strengthening student-teacher communication. The devices were generously donated by a former teacher of the institution.

Ms. Reid shares that teachers have received training, including sessions facilitated by e-Learning Jamaica, on how to effectively use the new devices, with additional support expected to follow.

“We have gone through… over six weeks of [daily] training, as to how to use different modalities to get our children interested in learning. I can tell you that the possibilities are endless. There are so many things that we can use the interactive whiteboard to do, and I know that the teachers are excited,” she adds.

Meanwhile, Ms. Reid informs that the school’s internet capabilities have been significantly upgraded, thanks to the generous support of Barrington Drummond, a valued affiliate of the institution.

“When he learnt that [the Internet] had been a challenge for us because we had to be putting on data on teachers’ phones… a few persons would have modem and that can be very costly… he decided that he was going to take a plane… come here for a few days and set up access for us, and that he did. That is what we are now working with, that access that we have gotten through the kind patronage of Mr. Drummond, [and] we really want to laud him for that,” she says.

The Principal further notes that internet access continues to be supported by existing infrastructure, including the use of modems by some teachers.

Meanwhile, Ms. Reid says the school will continue to employ additional strategies to enhance numeracy and literacy outcomes. The institution has a staff complement of 24 teachers and 346 students.

“At Seaward, we do not test our children. We believe in the mantra of the Ministry [of Education, Skills, Youth and Information] that ‘every child can learn and every child must learn’.

“With that in mind, we do not screen them, we just take them as they are, we work with them at their starting point and we move them up. There is not one child that we have taken that we have not seen them moving up, because we check on their performance regularly,” she informs.

“We have extended the school day for many of them. We would normally end at 2:30 pm. For many, we end at 3:30 p.m. to put in that extra hour where our children can get that extra help to improve in literacy and numeracy.

We also have teachers coming in for 7:00 a.m.; school starts at 7:45 a.m., but the teachers would come in and do extra work with our children.

“We have seen the progress, and we know that there is not even one child who is still at their starting point. So even if they are still in the same reading level, they would have moved within the level, and that for us means a lot,” Ms. Reid says.

The Principal further emphasises that parents play an integral role in the educational process and are actively engaged through conferencing sessions focused on literacy, numeracy, behaviour, and attendance.