Post-Ivan ITALIC Plans on Track

Training sessions for ITALIC (Improving Teaching and Learning in the Cayman Islands) are back on track again, post-Ivan. Sessions recently resumed for teachers, with four different curriculum software packages aimed at using technology to enhance the traditional classroom experience.

ITALIC is a programme developed by the Ministry of Education and is designed to integrate the full use of computer technology in the education system to improve teaching and learning.

The software packages, Destination Reading and Destination Math, along with Reading Upgrade and Comprehension Upgrade, were all scheduled for implementation into government schools before Ivan struck. The rescheduled training sessions mark the first step towards achieving that goal.

ITALIC Programme Manager Mrs. Ann Hale explained: “With our strategic partnership with IBM, we were able to call for assistance to address the situation of lost teaching materials and computers, and to re-prioritise projects. IBM sent down a team for planning and the week of 29 November, a trainer and technician were on-island. Brac schools were trained that week and the Grand Cayman schools are being trained now.”

The plan is for each teacher to go back to the classroom and immediately use the software and strategies learned in training.

“Many schools lost materials because of the storm but we have enough computers to start the programme,” continued Mrs. Hale. “This gives teachers an additional tool, using an interface that captures children’s attention. It will also enable us to make up some lost ground.”

Principal of Cayman Brac High School, Mrs. Shirley Wahler said: “I’m really excited about getting this software. We are already running with the reading software, and the Destination Math package is going to be a key part of our action planning in the Math Department.”

Reading Upgrade helps students overcome reading difficulties and to rapidly begin reading alone. Comprehension Upgrade teaches them how to understand textbooks and literature and helps develop critical thinking skills and expand vocabulary. Both programmes will be piloted in all middle and high schools for all students.

Destination Reading covers phonics, decoding and comprehension skills, and guides students towards reading success. It will be used in all primary schools, with efforts to integrate it into the Mcgraw-Hill Reading programmes. Destination Math focuses on applying learned skills and concepts to solve meaningful problems and will be used by all students in all government schools.