Academic Research

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The 21st Century School
(Daily Express, 2007) Yamin-Ali, Jennifer
This article examines the strategies that should be employed by the modern school in order to better manage the achievement of professional standards and to meet the increased expectations of stakeholders
The ABC of Violence
(Daily Express, 2004-02) Herbert, Susan
This article reflects on the fate of children who exist in conditions of abuse and squalor in their home environment, and who enter the school environment from this background. It provides a list (from A to Z) of the actions endured by these children which result in them becoming violent when there have been either no interventions or when the interventions were unsuccessful. The articles provides suggestions on how educators should respond to such children
Academic achievement, pupil participation, and integration of group work skills in secondary school classrooms in the Caribbean
(School of Education, UWI, St. Augustine, 2006) Kutnick, Peter; Layne, Anthony; Jules, Vena; Layne, Bereneice Clarissa
This study sought to implement and evaluate a group work pedagogic method intended to encourage classroom participation and learning. It was especially concerned with teachers initiating and implementing within-class activities to enhance the performance of the lowest attaining students among both sexes. The 12 teachers identified to participate in the study were selected from those undertaking the inservice training in the postgraduate Diploma in Education (Dip.Ed.) programme at the Cave Hill, Barbados and St. Augustine, Trinidad campuses of The University of the West Indies (UWI). Data were collected from nearly 300 students in January and July of the 2003-2004 academic year. It was found that: 1) virtually all students improved their academic performance through the two terms of group work in their classrooms. This was especially evident among the lowest achieving students (particularly boys); 2) students showed generally improving attitudes towards working in groups and achievement in school over the two terms (especially among low achievers); and 3) teachers' attitudes and understanding of a "good pupil" changed over the course of study--moving away from simple individual skills (good knowledge, good concentration, etc.) to the recognition of the importance of social inclusion and relational skills
Academic supporting strategies for students’ graduate research
(2016) Ferdinand-James, Debra
Students pursuing graduate studies at the School of Education (SOE) of the St. Augustine Campus of The University of the West Indies (UWI) encounter challenges in meeting the required standard of academic writing and submission deadlines for their drafts and final theses. In renewing their commitment to support their graduate students’ research, the SOE explored various strategies for helping these students overcome their academic challenges, which included the following: research proposal workplan, research e-clinics, research presentation templates, sit-in writing coach service, and online academic writing assessment. The last can help to inform best practices for graduate research support in advancing higher education in the Caribbean.
Action Research and Teacher Education, Part 1
(Daily Express, 2006-10) Worrell, Patricia
Part 1 of this article notes that the School of Education at the St. Augustine Campus of The University of the West Indies (UWI) has included an action research component as a core element of its certificate and diploma programmes as one means of addressing the demand for more effective programmes of teacher education. However, it is also noted that the benefits of action research are not being realized in schools because of the negative reactions experienced by student teachers returning to schools and attempting to implement action research interventions. It is suggested that teacher education institutions should seek to design interventions that will include whole schools in the cycle of research
Action Research: Fruitful Collaborations, Part 2
(Daily Express, 2006-11) Worrell, Patricia
The second part of this article makes the case for collaborative action research as one way to help to ensure that positive changes occur in schools and classrooms. It makes suggestions for the specific arrangements that need to be put in place to ensure fruitful collaboration
Addressing cultural diversity in a Creole space: The SEMP language arts curriculum
(School of Education, UWI, St. Augustine, 2004) Worrell, Patricia
Proposals for curriculum reform under the Secondary Education Modernisation Programme (SEMP) call for a curriculum that respects diverse cultural experiences of students in Trinidad and Tobago, and that gives all students the opportunity to develop to their full potential, regardless of culture. This paper reports on an analysis of the curriculum proposed for a core subject in the proposed curriculum, Language Arts. The curriculum document was analysed, using qualitative content analysis techniques, to determine its orientation, as reflected in its approach to dealing with issues of cultural diversity. It was found that while the curriculum reflected an orientation to social relevance in dealing with other aspects of students' cultural experience, in addressing students' language experience, it remained largely traditional in its orientation. The paper discusses implications for teaching and learning Language Arts at the secondary level
Addressing social participation as a major goal in social studies: A case study of a fifth-form group pursuing the CXC/CSEC social studies programme in a Barbadian school
(School of Education, UWI, St. Augustine, 2008) Griffith, Anthony D.; St. Hill, Sonia
This paper, in the form of an exploratory case study of a select group of fifth-form students, employs triangulation techniques to (a) examine the extent to which the Caribbean Examinations Council's Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) programme addresses social participation, and (b) explore the students' responses to opportunities to engage in active involvement in the social issues and affairs of their community. The findings revealed that, at the school involved, social participation is one of the goals least emphasized during the teaching of social studies. There is also a general heavy emphasis on traditional modes of instruction such as reading and notetaking. After the use of more participatory activities introduced during the unit, there were some noticeable behavioural and attitudinal changes among the participating students. The students themselves also expressed a preference for more active learning tasks and for activities that directly involve them in examining social issues in their own local community. The findings of the study could have implications for addressing what is perceived as varying levels of alienation and social disaffection among Barbadian and Caribbean youth
Adventures in building a learning community: Experiences in reformulating a course in educational foundations [PowerPoint presentation]
(2013-07-02) Geofroy, Stephen; Joseph-Alleyne, Gail; Mohammed, Jeniffer; Pierre, Phaedra
The aim of the course, "Education and the Development of Social Competencies," is to explore what is involved in the process of developing social competencies relevant to the demands of effective citizenship in Trinidad and Tobago (or in the Caribbean today). This paper explores the rationale in revisiting the course and for undertaking departures from that which existed previously. One central concern was that students should engage in intensive practical experiences in groups, the requirements of building a learning community. Building learning communities in schools, in disciplinary groupings, and generally among educators appears to us as essential to being effective or socially competent in our space, whether envisaged on the national, regional, or international level. The key research question is: How comfortable are students and lecturers with the efforts at building community traced over the years 2010 to 2012, in reference to the course "Education and the Development of Social Competencies"? Data comprised lecturers' and students' comments, test and assignment scores, and group evaluations, where students assessed each other. This article discusses the reflections and experiences of three cohorts of students and lecturers as the journey into building a learning community unfolded
Alcohol Education 101
(Daily Express, 2006) Brathwaite, Brader
This article seeks to prepare citizens for the introduction of the breathalyser in Trinidad and Tobago by explaining how the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is determined
Altering the pedagogy of Caribbean teaching: Beyond the new "chalk and talk"
(2013-06-24) Francis, Lovell
This paper attempts to assess the current trend of integrating the use of technology into the classrooms of tertiary level institutions like the University of the West Indies at St Augustine. This thrust has for example, seen the use of laptops, multimedia projectors and various other advanced paraphernalia becoming items of customary usage in the classroom. It notes, however, that while this move is generally laudable and has assisted in the effective conveyance of needed information to students, if used incorrectly it can be pedagogically flawed and easily lends itself to bad classroom practices and ineffective teaching. In delineating the aforementioned the paper also attempts to illustrate that in many circumstances instead of promoting and creating innovative and lively teaching and learning experiences, the use of technology has been concomitant with the rise of a new culture of "chalk and talk" in the classroom that is inimical to the requirements of effective teaching and learning at the tertiary level. It concludes by asserting for it to be truly meaningful the use of technology in the classroom must not be considered a "conceit" but instead must be seen as a necessary conduit of the wider well established practices of a student-centred education
An Alternative Language Experience approach for selected Creole-influenced students
(School of Education, UWI, St. Augustine, 2008) Joseph, Barbara
This paper explores the notion that to assist problem/struggling readers in Trinidad and Tobago, it is necessary for teachers to have a knowledge of how language is used in the community and how communication events occur there. These can be the basis for patterns of interaction with texts written in English where both learners and teachers are speakers of Trinidadian or Tobagonian Creole English. The speech acts fall within the learners' "experience" of their language and can be used creatively by teachers for the better comprehension and production of (International) English texts
The Alternative Paper to School Based Assessment (SBA): Importance of sustaining and expanding the CXC innovation [PowerPoint presentation]
(2013-06-24) Griffith, Stafford A.
This paper explores the significance and challenges of the Alternative Paper to School-Based Assessment (SBA) in the public examinations offered by the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC). It considers the opportunity that the Alternative Paper provides to out-of-school candidates to complete their secondary or immediate post-secondary education and to acquire certification for advancement at work or to satisfy other purposes. It examines the challenge of assuring equivalence of the competencies assessed for those who take the Alternative Paper and those who complete the SBA. This is an important consideration since the two sets of candidates obtain certification that is identical. The paper considers the impact of the possible discontinuation of the Alternative Paper. It concludes by urging the adoption of measures to sustain and expand the Alternative Paper, including steps to assure its validity as a measure of the competencies developed and assessed through SBA. These measures include more extensive action research and the use of technology to provide simulated experience for out-of-school candidates who may not have access to the facilities that would enable them to develop and demonstrate the same competencies as their in-school counterparts
An analysis of primary teacher education in Trinidad and Tobago: Multi-Site Teacher Education Research Project (Muster): Country report four
(Department for International Development, 2003-03) George, June M.; Quamina-Aiyejina, Lynda
This country report is a synthesis of reports of several sub-studies on primary teacher education in Trinidad and Tobago. The research project was a component of the Multi-Site Teacher Education (MUSTER) Project, coordinated by the University of Sussex Institute of Education. The report details the research procedures adopted, the findings, and discussions on the findings of the various sub-components of the project as executed in Trinidad and Tobago
…and Spiders are not Insects
(Daily Express, 2003-06) Herbert, Susan
This article uses a personal experience to illustrate the resilience of students' prior concepts in science education. It suggests that teachers who embrace constructivism as a philosophy of knowledge should continue to elicit students' prior understandings, but also try to help them to become aware of, and understand, the different constructed understandings of phenomena they encounter by deliberately confronting their prior knowledge
Annotated bibliography of Master of Education (M.Ed.) projects 1994-2013
(2014-09-22) Gordon, Leah
This is an annotated list of the research projects produced by students in the M.Ed. Programme at the School of Education, The University of the West Indies during the period 1994-2013
Another Look at Indiscipline in our School System
(Daily Express, 2002-07) Hackett, Raymond S.
This article examines the culture of Trinidad and Tobago as a factor in the problem of indiscipline in schools, as well as the issue of student control in schools. It then offers recommendations for addressing the indiscipline in schools in Trinidad and Tobago
Anti-racist education and research: A vision for Caribbean education in the 21st century
(School of Education, UWI, St. Augustine, 2008) Kallon, Michael
This is a theoretical paper intended to discuss ideas on how anti-racist education and research can be approached in the Caribbean context. The paper seeks to examine the role of, and challenges, to anti-racist education and research in a contemporary new epoch, one that is remarkably different in its celebration of cultural fragmentation and pluralism as against the universalizing, homogenizing effects of rationality and scientism. I would not attempt to argue that there is a consensus out there on what constitutes anti-racist education and research. I only draw attention to certain basic challenges for those interested in the conduct of anti-racist work in the Caribbean
Are Parents Doing it Right?
(Daily Express, 2003-12) Maharaj-Sharma, Rawatee
This article examines the parent-teacher relationship and the impact this relationship can have on the child, if not properly managed. It is suggested that there comes a time when the role of parents as teachers of their children is not as significant as the role of teachers at school, and that the parents need to become teacher facilitators who work behind the scenes to equip their children with the attitudes and understandings that will make them good students at school and good children at home
Arresting Violence and Indiscipline
(Daily Express, 2005-03) Pierre, Phaedra
This article examines the trend of increasing indiscipline and violence in the school system of Trinidad and Tobago and the various ways in which this is manifested, including student-student aggression and student-teacher violence. It identifies some of the reasons for this trend and makes recommendations on how the school system could play its part in addressing the crisis

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