Mrs Wenonah Lawrence (standing) and Ms Kenesha Babrow
Like everywhere, around the world, youngsters in Anguilla are “children of the digital age”. That is one reason why they are catching on so very well to the online supportive systems in place in the schools for their well-rounded education at home and in the classroom. Another reason is that there is a special arrangement in Anguilla to guide the learning process, and the teachers themselves are excited and dedicated to the task.
The e-learning system, delivered by the teachers, is being monitored by a small, but very effective, management unit in the Education Department headed by Mrs. Wenonah Lawrence, the newly appointed Curriculum Officer, ICT. She is being assisted by Kenesha Babrow and Dejonique Bhagwan, with the Chief Education Officer, Mr. Bren Romney, overseeing the operations, but leaving the actual work in their capable hands.
The Anguillian schoolchildren are receiving their e-learning instructions through digital platforms never heard of before, by former students going back many years. The e-learning management systems are owned by digital companies in the United States and are being used separately in the schools of Anguilla. One of the systems, ‘Schoology”, has been adopted by the Adrian T. Hazell Primary School and the Alwyn Allison Richardson Primary School; ‘Google Classroom’ is in use at the Morris Vanterpool Primary School, The Valley Primary School, Vivien Vanterpool Primary School and the Orealia Kelly Primary School. The third system, ‘Edmodo’, is being used at the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School.
Mrs. Lawrence, the ICT Curriculum Officer, told The Anguillian newspaper: “The teachers are using these management learning systems to reach the children by sharing content with them. In these live sessions, they have classes much like they would if they were in a regular classroom but it is not for an extended time. The sessions are short so the teachers do not interact with the children for the entire school day, and they also have some face-to-face each week.”
In addition to working in the classroom, the students are also required to access the systems at home on devices such as computers, tablets or smart phones owned by them, their parents, other family members or friends.
The online e-learning systems were available in the schools before, but the advent of the coronavirus was the catalyst that drove their heightened use when the schools were closed. But even now, with the phased returning of the children to the classroom, the e-learning platforms are continuing there – as well at home. “E-learning continues and will be part of our regular learning instruction,” Mrs. Lawrence explained. “It will be a blended approach so teachers are expected to share different tasks with their students through the management systems that we are continuing. So it won’t be something that will be done away with once we fully return to our regular classroom. E-learning will continue synchronously with regular classroom instruction.”
The very confident and upbeat ICT Curriculum Officer added: “The e-learning platforms were used previously so they are not entirely new to many of the students. With the covid-19 lockdown, persons were forced to adapt to circumstances and, in adapting, this was one of the ways that we decided to deliver instruction to our students – so the lockdown was a catalyst.”
Asked about the impact of the e-leaning systems on the work of teachers, the Curriculum Officer replied: “The teachers’ job is enhanced. In the initial stages they will go through some challenges because it is still something new. Following this initial introduction, they will become more familiar with the use of the systems and will find creative ways to use it with their students. It helps them to be able to monitor the progress of the students so that they can have a record of what the students are doing; but, with a management system, the record is there so you really don’t have to create it. We can monitor what the teachers are doing but do not exercise any control. They have autonomy in their classroom and are able to post any material that they see fit for the students. The teachers can make content available to students from anywhere using their phones, laptop or tablet, but must have internet access.”
Questioned as to how the children are reacting to the e-learning systems, Mrs. Lawrence stated: “They enjoy when they can interact with their friends online. They enjoy being able to access different learning materials and creating different digital projects. Some of them have taken the opportunity to enhance themselves in this area as well as helping their classmates. Others are a little challenged, as with other things, but many of them are enjoying it because this is their area. They enjoy being on devices, and our students are children of the digital age. It just takes parents to monitor them to be sure that they are staying on course.”
The Curriculum Officer was asked what advice she had for parents. She responded: “Even though it is challenging at first, they must see the challenges as something to rise above and, in partnership with teachers they should assist their children to access the content of the e-learning systems daily so that it is not overwhelming at one time or twice during the week. If they access the systems daily it will be easier for them to maneuver through them and to cover all the content. By addressing the systems in small sections, it will be easier to manage them.
“Another thing I would advise parents to do is to plan a time approach for e-learning. If they are going to have their children begin their e-learning work at a specific time and to have an area in the home where they can sit and to have their textbooks and other material referenced by the teachers. Make the space’s as quiet as possible for the children to do their e-learning and offer support to them. If there are questions, reach out to your children’s teachers or principals. All teachers are willing to help and, of course, the e-learning team is here is to assist all parents in Anguilla.”
The supportive team at the Education Department is delighted with this new approach to e-learning, the instruction in the schools by teachers, and the involvement of parents, other family members and friends, on the home-front.
