The Teacher In-Service Program in Trinidad

1
The Teacher In-Service Program in Trinidad
Tobago

• September 2008
• Port of Spain, Trinidad
• Douglas Gorham
• IEEE Educational Activities

2
Program Background and Scope
3
The Immediate Objectives

• Train IEEE volunteers to train pre-university
  teachers, so that the teachers can be more
  effective in bringing engineering and engineering
  design into the classroom
• Train IEEE volunteers to approach the school
  system in order to make the teacher training
  possible
• Make this activity sustainable and long-term

4
The Long-term Goals

• Empower Section champions to develop or enhance
  collaborations with their local pre-university
  community to promote applied inquiry-based
  learning
• Enhance the level of technological literacy of
  pre-university educators
• Encourage pre-university students to pursue
  technical careers, including engineering
• Increase the general level of technological
  literacy of pre-university students for many
  years.

5
Why Participate in a Teacher In-Service Program?

• Enhance the level of technological literacy of
• Teachers
• Students
• The local school community

6
Why Participate in a Teacher In-Service Program?

• Enhance the standing of IEEE and the engineering
  profession in the eyes of pre-university
  educators and students
• Promote engineering as a program of study and
  career choice
• Encourage IEEE member participation

7
Why Participate in a Teacher In-Service Program?

• Have fun

8
TISP Presentations by Section (a partial list)

• Chattanooga, TN
• Miami, FL
• Florida West Coast
• Santa Clara, CA
• Piura, Peru
• North Jersey, NJ
• Republic of South Africa
• Lima, Peru
• Central Indiana
• Jamaica
• Atlanta, GA
• Houston, TX
• Central North Carolina
• Malaysia

9
Metrics To Date

• 80 presentations to date
• More than 1813 pre-university educators have
  participated
• Science, technology and mathematics educators
• These educators represent 197,000 students

10
Metrics To Date

• Over 90 of the respondents agreed
• They would use the concepts presented in their
  instruction
• Doing so would enhance the level of technological
  literacy of their students

11
Counting the Cost

• 300 (USD) to 1200 (USD) per year will sustain a
  very active teacher in-service program in a
  Section

12
Counting the Cost

• Re-useable materials and hardware

13
Counting the CostExpendables
14
Trinidad Tobago Schools and TISP (1)

• The Vision of the Ministry is to be
• A pacesetter in the holistic development of an
  individual through an education system, which
  enables meaningful contributions within the
  global context.

15
Trinidad Tobago Schools and TISP (2)

• The Mission of the Ministry is
• To lead the modernization and renewal of the
  system of education.
• Core values include integrity and trust,
  respect, customer service, teamwork, love,
  loyalty and commitment

16
Trinidad Tobago Schools and TISP (3)

• The Healthy Citizen (partial list)
• Is conversant with the demands of the 21st
  century
• Is Technologically Aware
• Is functionally literate
• Has a strong work ethic
• Is responsible
• Is Creative
• Is productive

17
Trinidad Tobago Schools and TISP (4)

• The objectives of the Secondary Education
  Modernization Programme (1999) include
• The reform and expansion of the secondary school
  system that will result in five years of high
  quality secondary education
• The creation of a curriculum that is relevant to
  the very demanding and dynamic world of work
• The development of teaching technologies that
  will produce graduates who can adapt to the rapid
  changes being brought about through technological
  advances and globalization

18
Trinidad Tobago Schools and TISP (5)

• Sample curriculum areas in science
• Matter and materials
• Properties of materials
• Structures and mechanisms
• Levers, pulleys and gears
• Forces act on structures
• Energy
• Electrical energy
• First law of magnetism
• Series and parallel circuits
• Investigating an electromagnet

19
References

• http//www.nationmaster.com/country/td-trinidad-an
  d-tobago/edu-education
• http//handouts.aacrao.org/am08/finished/T0130p_K_
  Trayte.pdf