Distance Learning for Disadvantaged Young People in Jamaica

On 20 March 2008, the project was formally approved with a signing ceremony. Elizabeth Terry, chairman of ICT4D Jamaica and manager of the project, signed the approval document together with the Japanese Ambassador Masahiro Obata.

Helping young people who left school too early

In the Distance Learning Project, Jamaican school leavers who left school prematurely, particularly those aged between 17 to 30, are being trained to read and write and to learn English and mathematics with the help of a computer. The programme comprises three components: WordCraft 1 (Reading Phonetics), WordCraft 11 (English Lessons for Grades 1-9) and MathCraft (Mathematics Lessons for Grades 1-9). Each set of lessons consists of an e-manual which sets out all the content that will be covered in a logical sequence: a pre-test (or multiple pre-tests) and video lesson presentations on all the key content areas such as phonemes and blends. This is followed by interactive lessons with scoring and follow-up tests. Internet is used to view videos that form the basis of a discussion and to undertake research and gather information. Furthermore the internet is used to consult the dictionary and to undertake a virtual tour and write about it. An example of a lesson can be viewed here.

Ten 'Learning centres'

The project is now being implemented in ten ‘learning centres’ in socially and economically disadvantaged communities in and around the capital, Kingston. A group of about twenty facilitators help the students to use the learning software. Some of these facilitators are English teachers, however, on the whole the majority have not had any prior experience of using computers as a medium for learning. Facilitators from the selected community learning centres were therefore introduced to the system of learning on the computers during a special workshop set up for this purpose. In a follow-up session, the facilitators also learned how to work with the software that is being used to teach the early school leavers English.

The Distance Learning Project started out as the ‘Learning Deficit Recovery Programme.’  This programme ran for one month, involved four learning centres and focussed mainly on testing the computer approach and its effects. Comments made by the participators indicated that the programme had proved to be very useful. Students continued discussing the lessons even after the classes had ended, outside the classroom or when they were at work (the first phase also included several cement workers). Students told stories about how they observed the announcer on the nightly news. They watched how he moved his mouth and the position of his tongue. Both students and facilitators were so enthusiastic that almost without exception, they recommended the programme to other people in their environment.

Positive feedback

After this test phase, the programme continued as a pilot programme in eight locations. Getting a faster internet connection and reliable technical support and guidance regarding the use and implementation of the programme still remains an issue. However, the 405 people who have participated in the pilot programme so far have confirmed that they are very happy with the outcome as they have improved their reading ability and proficiency in English as well as enhancing their knowledge of mathematics. 

The next step

With the support of the Japanese government, it is expected that many more people will benefit from this new method of learning. One possible next step for the programme is to incorporate writing. The project team is already considering this as a future feature.