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Students drop by to check on their teachers.—Photo by Kevin Gabbert
Kevin Gabbert, Calgary
The airplane doors opened, and the heat and humidity hit us like a brick wall. We had landed in Kingstown, St. Vincent, for our Project Overseas assignment.
We five Canadians were joined by four St. Vincentians. Together we trained teachers in testing and measurement, special education and differentiated learning, information technology and science. Our days, filled with teaching and planning, were punctuated with generous amounts of debate, discussion and laughter. The 120 teachers enrolled in the workshops had given up two weeks of their summer holidays to attend. Their dedication and commitment to their students served as an inspiration.
Teachers are struggling to escape the long-established rote learning practices of the past. Amaala Muhammad, a science curriculum planner from the ministry of education, was my St. Vincentian partner. Together we led teachers through sessions in portfolio development, nontraditional assessment techniques, hands-on experimentation, cooperative learning and field trip planning.
No one learned more than me.
Also in Project Overseas
