Excitement, enthusiasm and eagerness were the words expressed by teachers as they described their emotions heading into the ‘Train the Trainer’ component of the Coding in Schools Programme.

“I expect that at the end of the training I will have the knowledge and wit to execute lessons using information technology to spark the interest of my students. [Coding will] give them a gravitational pull to be more independent in their learning,” said Renee Rose-Grandison, teacher of Toll Gate Primary School in Clarendon.

“I would like to see them using research, games and music since this is where their interest lies, to take charge of their learning by using the technological tools available at their fingertips.”

CODING IN SCHOOLS PROGRAMME LAUNCHED LAST NOVEMBER

Rose-Grandison joins 939 other teachers from 364 schools who, since January 31, are being taught the basics of coding, to aptly prepare them to deliver instructions to their students later this year. These sessions will be done in three full-day and six half-day sessions over the next six weeks, and are being done in conjunction with the Jamaica Teachers’ Council.

The Coding in Schools Programme, which was launched in November last year, is a joint initiative of the Amber Group and the Ministry of Education and Youth, with support from the Digicel Foundation. 

Ruchita Tripathi, the technical coordinator of the Amber Academy, an arm of the Amber Group, said that, “all the teachers are ready to take the opportunity to learn the principles of coding which will help them to cultivate talent in their students and prepare them for a better future”.

In addition to being taught the fundamentals of coding, the teachers are also enrolled in stress management workshops, which are being conducted by the Art of Living Foundation. 

Denise Carter, from St Patrick’s Primary, asserted similar sentiments to those of her colleague and said that she is “looking forward to improving [her] digital education skills as well as to learn how to write or create apps, websites and games to improve the teaching and learning process”.

As for her students, Carter believes that “it will increase their digital competency, and improve skills like communication, creativity, problem-solving and resilience. It will make the teaching and learning process more interactive, practical and fun”.

The Coding in Schools Programme is the major thrust by the Ministry of Education to teach coding in all public schools, to equip students with the skills to take advantage of emerging careers in technology. 

The Amber Group has committed $150 million yearly towards funding the Programme.