Jamaican Teacher-librarian wins award for mastering course management software

Author:   BY RACQUEL PORTER, Career & Education writer porterr@jamaicaobserver.com
Title: 'Alpha' teacher wins tech prize
Date published:  April 20, 2015
Source: Jamaica Observer
URL: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/magazines/career/-Alpha--teacher-wins-tech-prize_18776446

Abstract:
The article announces the winner of an award for mastering a course management software named RenWeb. The winner is a teacher-librarian named Hopplin Thompson. Details about the RenWeb software that Thompson mastered and its capabilities are presented. Also mentioned is the company behind the system. Names of the runners-up are also mentioned in the article.

Excerpt:

TEACHER-LIBRARIAN at Convent of Mercy Academy 'Alpha' Hopplin Thompson is the winner of this year's Zed-Makeyla Technology Award for creative use of the classroom management software, RenWeb.

A teacher-librarian is a certified teacher who also has training in librarianship. Hopplin, who received the award at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel on Thursday, beat out a field of 19 to win the top prize.

Barbados Archives urged to digitize

Author: (JH)
Title: Digitise records
Date published: June 4, 2012
Source: The Barbados Advocate
URL: http://www.barbadosadvocate.com/newsitem.asp?more=local&NewsID=25110

Abstract:
This article reports on comments made by a historian, Dr. David Browne, who delivered a public lecture as part to celebrate Archives Awareness Month 2012. At that event, Dr. Browne makes a number of comments, remarks, observations and suggestions, some of which are documented by the reporter. One such suggestion was that the Barbados Depart ment of Archives needs digitize its records to keep up with modern technological advancements, despite unavailability of resources. Browne articulates that access and preservation of archive materials are important to researchers, and makes suggestion about businesses needing to practice good record keeping and that schools need to create School Archives in similar ways that they have school libraries.



Excerpt:

THE BARBADOS Department of Archives must reposition itself for the modern era and the technological advancement that comes with it.

This observation was made recently by Dr. David Browne, who was delivering a public lecture on the topic “Preserving Archives as Evidence” in the 3Ws Oval. The lecture was hosted by the Archives Department and the West Indies Federal Archives Centre in celebration of National Archives Awareness Month 2012.

Acknowledging the current challenges which exist and which have existed for quite some time, namely the unavailability of resources, he said that access and preservation of this material is critical, particularly as it relates to persons seeking to carry out research on a given topic.

“More and more, information and documents are [being] produced digitally and stored in this fashion. I understand that the Archives Department was looking at the digitisation of records [and] that is the way to go.”
His comments came as he also questioned the purpose of record-keeping, whether it is for the use of researchers or just for posterity, otherwise known as the community memory.

First Jamaican public secondary school to get e-book platforms

Author: By Chris Patterson, Jamaica Information Service (JIS) Reporter
Title: New e-library Programme to boost Learning at Jamaica College
Date published: Tuesday, 13 March 2012
Source: Jamaica Information Service (JIS)
URL: http://www.jis.gov.jm/news/100-education/30045-new-e-library-programme-to-boost-learning-at-jamaica-college

Abstract:
The article reports on the launch of EBSCO e-library platform for the Jamaican public secondary school, Jamaica College. The Executive Member, Jamaica College Old Boys’ Association, Stephen Dawkins, describes some of the features of the platform.

Endorsement by the Minister of Education, Rev. the Hon. Ronald Thwaites is also reported. Thwaites also admonishes the students about the type of learners that Jamaica needs.

Statements on the integration of technology into learning are also reported from the Vice Principal for the Lower School,  Rohan Wong, and Public Relations Manager at FLOW, Jeanette Lewis. The contributors towards the platform's acquisition are identified, namely the Jamaica College Old Boys Association, and FLOW, as well as other institutions in the island which use EBSCO e-book platforms including the University of the West Indies (UWI), and private schools,  such as the American International School of Kingston (AISK).

Also, a brief background and history is also provided of the school.


Excerpt:

With the click of a button, students and teachers at one of the country's oldest secondary institutions, Jamaica College (JC), in Kingston, will have access to hundreds of digital books, photographs, and recordings through their e-library programme.

This means that students will now have the option of visiting the school’s library or using the virtual platform of the Elton B Stephens Company (EBSCO) e-library, which was launched on March 9.

Catering to user needs and preferences at every level of research,  the system can be used to easily move from the catalogue to the particular book, then to a particular chapter.

Jamaica College is the first and only public secondary school in the country to have implemented the EBSCO e-library platform.

NCB Foundation donates to Mountain View Primary School library

Title: NCB shares passion for reading
Source: Jamaica Gleaner
Date Published: Sunday | February 20, 2011
URL: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20110220/arts/arts6.html

Abstract:
Article reports on a local bank's initiative towards promoting reading in a Jamaican primary school. At the end of the article, NCB Foundation's contribution to the school in terms of reading and library material and equipment is mentioned.


Excerpt:

Through the NCB Foundation's 'Love for Reading' programme, the students from grades one to six sat in groups and listened keenly as NCB employees engaged and encouraged them to read.

The 'Love for Reading' programme was developed to ignite a passion and love for reading among students at the primary-school level. The programme includes NCB employees becoming personally involved by conducting reading sessions with students at primary schools islandwide with an aim to encourage them on the importance of reading. Having previously invested and partnered with Mountain View Primary School it was a natural fit for NCB to return to the school to put to work the investment.

The NCB Foundation donated $80,000 worth of books, a computer and a multimedia projector to upgrade and improve the library facilities at the school. This was done in an effort to provide an environment for the students to learn and improve their reading skills.

NCB donates books to Alpha Academy school library

Title: A time for reading
Source: Jamaica Observer
Date published: Sunday, January 23, 2011
URL: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/magazines/career/A-time-for-reading_8291356

Abstract:
Photograph with a brief caption showing the assistant branch manager for NCB Duke Street reading a copy of Souldance by Jean Lowrie Chin with Alpha Academy students, as NCB donated copies of the book and copies of Usain Bolt's biography, titled Usain Bolt 9.58 to the school's library.


Excerpt:
The NCB Foundation donated copies of Usain Bolt's biography, titled Usain Bolt 9.58, as well as Jean Lowrie-Chin's Souldance to the school's library.

Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/magazines/career/A-time-for-reading_8291356#ixzz1BuXpZnCM

Jamaica to host international conference for school librarians

Title: Jamaica to host international librarian conference this year
Source: Jamaica Gleaner
Date Published: Sunday, January 16, 2011

URL: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20110116/arts/arts4.html

Abstract:
Article announces the International Association of School Librarianship conference to be held in Jamaica.


Excerpt:

Library and Information Association of Jamaica (LIAJA) will host the 40th Anniversary Conference of the International Association of School Librarians (IASL), at the University of the West Indies, Mona, from the 7th to 11th August 2011, under the theme: 'School Libraries: Empowering the 21st Century Learner.'

IASL, which was founded in Kingston, Jamaica, in August 1971, approved the contract in Padua, Italy in 2009 for Jamaica to host the 2011 Conference.

Jamaican School holds Read-A-Thon: Parents encouraged to read to toddlers

Title: Parents Urged to Develop Children's Reading Skills
Source: MANDEVILLE, Jamaica Information Service (JIS)
Date published: Friday, December 31, 2010
URL: http://jis.gov.jm/education/html/20091231T190000-0500_22394_JIS_PARENTS_URGED_TO_DEVELOP_CHILDREN_S_READING_SKILLS.asp


Abstract

A Jamaican school, Green Park Primary and Junior High School in Sandy Bay, Clarendon, held a Read-A-Thon and Spell-A-Thon. The competition culminated with an awards ceremony where participants received certificates and the top performers received trophies. The article also gives a synopsis on a speech delivered by an educator, Dr. Jean Beaumont, who urges Jamaican Parents to play their active role in development of their children’s literacy skills. Beaumont advocates that Jamaican parents read to their children before school age and get them interested from early in words and letter recognition. This Beaumont declares will serve as the foundation of academic success in adulthood.


Excerpt:

Educator, Dr. Jean Beaumont, is imploring parents to work with their children to develop their reading skills.

The awards ceremony was held to recognise the 40 students, who participated in the school's Read-A-Thon and Spell-A-Thon competitions.

Certificates were presented to all the participants, with the top three finishers in each segment also awarded medals and trophies for outstanding performance.

Caribbean Classic Golf invitational powering e-learning in schools

Author: Nadisha Hunter

Title: Golf invitational helps yet another school

Source: Jamaica Gleaner

Date Published: Saturday | May 16, 2009

URL: http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20090516/lead/lead7.html

Abstract:

Article reports on the donation of computers to the Nightingale Grove Primary School school. Also documented is how the school is expecting to make use of the donations to manage learning and reduce illiteracy.


Excerpt:

Nightingale Grove Primary School, located in St Elizabeth, was among seven primary schools given computers to assist students in the learning process.

The equipment was donated by Caribbean Classic Golf Invitational in fulfilment of its mission "to put computer learning centres in all primary schools in Jamaica".

So far, the group has met the needs of 70 schools at a cost exceeding US$400,000 (approximately J$35,303,303).

A Jamaican School reading programme

Author: Adrian Frater

Title: Gabrielle - Green Island's reading phenom

Source: Jamaica Gleaner

Date Published: Friday | May 8, 2009

URL: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20090508/social/social2.html

Abstract:

Article reports on the results of the work and efforts of a teacher and parent to get children involved in reading, and how it has benefited her own daughter and the school that she works for.


Excerpt:

For many, Gabrielle's brilliance is nature's way of repaying her mother for the beyond-the-call-of-duty approach she adopted when the school's reading programme was being developed two years ago. Today she works with a special group of 30 students.

"I try to develop a close relationship with them and try to get them to believe in themselves," said Salmon, who has created an incentive programme for her students, using her own money
.

Salmon, a graduate of Mico Teachers' College (now The Mico University College) has also tried to get parents involved in their children's reading, sometimes including activities for parents in the homework

Civic organization supports Literacy in Jamaican Schools and Libraries

Title: Schools to Benefit from Literacy Support
Source: Jamaica Information Service (JIS): WASHINGTON, DC
Date: Friday, May 01, 2009

URL: http://jis.gov.jm/education/html/20090501T190000-0500_19453_JIS_SCHOOLS_TO_BENEFIT_FROM_LITERACY_SUPPORT_.asp

Abstract:
A civic organization announces its plans to carry out some activities geared towards promoting and developing literacy in Jamaica. This article reports on that organization, the Read Across Jamaica Foundation founded in 2004, summarising its planned activities and mission.


Excerpt:

Some 20 schools and one library across six parishes are to benefit from literacy support as the Read Across Jamaica Foundation pays its annual visit to the island from May 1-9, under the theme: 'Journey across Jamaica.'

Educators say that Internet makes Jamaican students lazy

Author: NADINE WILSON Career & Education staff reporter wilsonn AT jamaicaobserver.com

Title: 'Internet making students lazy': Educators say better monitoring of use required

Date Published: Sunday, April 12, 2009

URL: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/magazines/Career/html/20090411T220000-0500_149225_OBS__INTERNET_MAKING_STUDENTS_LAZY__.asp


Excerpt:

FOR many of Jamaica's students, the Internet is easily accessible and convenient, allowing them the opportunity, at the click of a mouse, to get their hands on the answers to an abundance of homework questions. And that is precisely the problem that educators are having with the technology.

Teachers complain that while the existence of the Internet has its advantages, it also helps to promote laziness among students, which manifests itself in their poor academic performance at exam time and in their school-based assessments (SBAs).

Abstract:

Article reports on the observations of educators about the impact of the Web on student academic work, abilities and achievement. The report chronicle negative observations made by educators about the quality of the work of students and their lack of critical thinking and analytical skills, which they attribute to the increased access to the Web.