Interview with Dr. Florence Williams and much more

Don't Throw Pedagogy Overboard in a Time of Crisis

My mother was a talented seamstress. She held contracts with various institutions, had a long list of clients, and also bragged about being part of the costume design team for the movie Papillon, which featured Steve McQueen. While she was talented, she did not possess the capacity to teach others as she did not have the appropriate methodology or resources to do so. My mother's situation highlights the necessity of a systematic approach for engaging her interns. A balanced, systematic approach would require the use of technology and consideration of contextualized teaching and learning theories. While my mother was not an academic, her case highlights the importance of pedagogy within today's context.

Therefore, as institutions begin to plan to deliver their courses online, it will be important that there is a balance between teaching and technology. In many cases, academics are often well equipped for their research role; however, many have had little to no formal preparation for online or remote teaching. The lack of formal preparation to teach online or remotely could lead instructors to adopt their own teaching style, which may include practices that may not be effective for their students' learning.

As institutions move their classes online, the use of technology should not be the only focus. Too often, the technology used to facilitate teaching and learning becomes the central point for discussion with limited or no consideration of teaching and learning theories or research-based practices. Consequently, this could impact students' achievement and experiences,  instructor's confidence, teaching quality, and so on. The reality is that if pedagogy is thrown 'overboard,' then the quality of teaching and learning also goes with it. Consequently, the application of pedagogy provides theories and research-based practice that will give instructors a treasured framework for teaching online or remotely. Instructors with an understanding of teaching and learning pedagogies will:

1.      Understand the teaching and learning process.

2.      Apply best practices for engaging students online or remotely.

3.      Be aware of the need for planning, development, delivery, and evaluation in the teaching and learning process.

4.      Deploy a variety of strategies for the assessment of students' learning.

5.      Use practical strategies to motivate, engage, and sustain students in the learning process.

6.      Critically evaluate the deployment of new and emerging technology for the enhancement of students' learning needs.

7.      Develop instructional materials and interactions that allow for inclusive teaching.

8.      Enhance their students' experience.

9.      Support students to achieve the learning outcomes of the course.

10.  Consistently reflect on practices to improve the quality of their teaching.

As you consider the use of technology, I urge everyone to deliberate on the points above. The reality is, we need to balance pedagogy with technology if we intend to have a quality learning environment. Finally, the acquisition of pedagogical knowledge will take time. Thus, it will be important that a quick fix approach is not applied.

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Remote Teaching and Learning via WhatsApp: A Jamaican Perspective

Remote Teaching and Learning via WhatsApp: A Jamaican Perspective

The Caribbean is known for its creative ways of addressing a crisis. Therefore, it is not at all surprising that their response to the COVID-19 pandemic was proactive. After all, most Caribbean countries have developed standard procedures to ensure that they are prepared for a significant disaster. Notwithstanding, COVID-19 placed educators in the Caribbean, particularly in Jamaica, in a unique position to find a pathway to continue teaching.

In Jamaica, many children do not have the luxury of internet access, and in many cases where they do have access, the internet connection is not reliable. This challenge has led to the use of WhatsApp as a communication and teaching tool. WhatsApp uses a cellular or Wi-Fi connection to enable users to use messaging or voice calling. The app is unique in that it also allows for file sharing, taking photos, and recording videos. Users of the app can also create specific groups. One major drawback of this app is that users without access to Wi-Fi are required to purchase data for the app to be operational. Therefore, the government, policymakers, and telecommunication companies should discuss ways to ensure that the cost factor for data will not be an obstacle for students.

Most Jamaicans (including young children) were users of this app before the COVID-19 pandemic. The primary purpose of using this app was to communicate with friends and relatives. Today, WhatsApp is being used to educate children across Jamaica. Teachers are now using WhatsApp to post-work, provide instructional videos via YouTube or other sources, give students feedback for their completed work, and respond to students' questions using the messaging feature of the app. Teachers also use WhatsApp to host one-on-one sessions with students who need differentiated instructions. Parental involvement is a critical element in the success of the use of WhatsApp. Parents are required to ensure that their children complete the assigned work.

Overall, while WhatsApp is not the ideal teaching and learning environment for students and teachers, it provides a low-cost platform for the continuation of children's education in times of crisis.  Below are ten top tips to consider when using WhatsApp for remote learning.

Content contributors Dr. Jowallah and Desmond Coke