Meet Melody Williams of Jamaica, final-year PhD-student from the Curriculum Department, Faculty of Behavioural Sciences. Melody has been working on a study that explores the potential of multimedia cases in enhancing the performance of trainee teachers in Jamaica.
She explains, 'In Jamaica and many other countries, teacher educators are researching strategies to raise the quality of teacher training programmes.' When teacher educators observed trainee teachers they found that they did not adequately understand or use teaching techniques, for example in the case of a technique called Co-operative Learning that entails students working together in small groups to make the best use of their own and each other's learning.
When evaluating their teaching the trainees only focused on whether lesson objectives were met or not. They did not reflect on the reasons objectives were not met, or on any events that affected teaching but had no bearing on the objectives.
Melody is investigating the use of multi-media cases, in which a real-life classroom event is depicted, to improve teacher training. 'Having teachers spend long hours in real-life classroom settings and reflect on their experiences is one way of enhancing their learning. But it is not always possible to do so for the length of the entire training. Hence cases used as an alternative to develop the kind of thinking and problem-solving skills employed by professional teachers.'
The trainee teachers using the multi-media case developed by Melody were asked to write down their idea of co-operative learning before using the CD-rom 'in order to gauge its potential.' They then watched a video, the core of the case, of a professional teacher using co-operative learning to teach 'how to use a measuring cylinder' to a class of seventh graders. 'The video is cut in ten segments and questions follow each segment to encourage reflection on the events in the video and help the trainee teachers understand the rationale for a particular action.
'There is also an expert commenting on the events in the video. The trainees were asked to discuss their responses to the reflection questions with each other before listening to the expert's comments.'
This is the first time that multimedia-case based learning is being used in the Jamaican teacher training programme; no wonder Melody's enthusiasm is almost palpable. 'It was a challenging experience and it will be so rewarding to defend it. I am confident that it will open many doors in teacher education in Jamaica.'
Melody graduated in Chemistry from University of the West Indies. In the following years, she taught chemistry, got a Diploma in teaching, did a teaching stint in Suffolk, England and worked as a Science teacher trainer with ROSE (Reform of Secondary Education) project in Jamaica. Her next stop was the UT for a Master's in Education and Training Systems Design. After going back home she continued her work with ROSE before coming back to the UT for her current position. On completion of her PhD, Melody plans to continue working in teacher education in Jamaica.
Hometown : Kingston, Jamaica
Favourite Food: bammy and Snapper fish, stewed chicken and rice with red beans
Favourite music: Gospel (Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir), Classical (HandelÆs Messiah)
Best part of living in NL : Arrangements made for cycling, changing of the seasons, punctual bus service
Worst part of living in NL: Deciding what to wear because of the unpredictable weather
