Top Ten Dominican Things I Will Miss

The generous people.

The greenery!

Fresh Spices.

Working with collaborative and highly appreciative people.

Colourful flora.

Buying fresh fruit (I bought a delicious watermelon from this guy)!

Dominica State College, Bath Estates Campus: the Teachers' College

Crazy traffic, driving on the wrong side and narrow roads!









And I cannot put in any image of the last two things. The aroma and sounds of the city - both have good and bad aspects!

Goodbye for now, Dominica!

Day Twelve Dominica: Done

On my way to the college this morning I took many pictures. This is my last day, or rather my final day of this visit. One lecturer warned me about saying 'last' due to the connotation of death. This day I was swamped with over eighty in-service teachers signing up for the summer institute, many of which had questions for me."What will we be learning?" "How do I know if I am a beginner or advanced?" "Who will be instructing us?" As in every environment, there were a few that felt the time would not be spent well and others who were scared that they would appear ignorant about technology. I laughed with a couple of friends who were teasing another about signing up as intermediate and not having an email address. One claimed, "You are a beginner if you do not even have email!"
Most of the day was spent with more revisiting and some apologetic revisiting of tools and skills. I smiled at this as I am technically still on duty, trying to make as much of an impact as I can while I am still here. I assured her that there was no need to apologize; this is what I came to do. Her smile in return was payment enough, but her comment about this being the most useful professional development she has ever had affirmed my approach to meeting each lecturer where they are skill-wise.
This has been the biggest lesson for me! In regards to hosting professional development sessions, first of all make it about them and their needs. Start where they are at and move at a pace comfortable to them. Provide enough information and support for them to experiment and succeed and they will come back for more!
One lecturer came in only last minute. It is likely that he felt there was little I could help him with, but after a quick assessment of what he already knew and exploring what he might need, we launched into something I did not introduce to any of the others. We investigated a beta version of an online course management system called Diipo. He was intrigued.
Next we learned how to import slides from one PowerPoint into another. This was essential as he has large presentations that cover several days of classes. To post them in his course, he needed to create several smaller ones. I must admit that I learned this because of his questions.
And so it is my last final day with the lecturers of Dominica State College Bath Estates Campus. Until next time, that is!

Day Eleven Dominica: Winding Down

Thursday was spent revisiting software and web tools with lecturers who are quickly becoming hooked on technology! Now that they have their feet under them, they came today to more fully develop what they have. Again, one lecturer was brave enough to use the technology immediately that day! However, things did not go as planned and I was called out to help. With a little encouragement, and a quick work-around, the class went forward with a healthy mix of instructional approaches: streaming video, textual reading, PowerPoint presentation and a game wrap things up!
Another lecturer wanted more information about Moodle tools, and so much of the day was spent linking to files, composing web pages, building forums and developing quizzes. It is unfortunate that the Moodle we are developing is temporary, but I do have the impression that the IT will work on getting something more permanent for the college. I really hope so.
All the while I am getting to know my Dominican counterparts very well. I know I have already said this, but the people are so very pleasant and accommodating. They love to talk about their country. There are many things that frustrate the populous, government corruption and nepotism being a common complaint. I have noticed that there is a protocol to almost everything and bureaucracy slows many things to nearly a halt. In this I can see where compliance is detrimental. I really hope that the country continues to grow, but that foreigners are no longer given freedoms that the nationals are denied.
Already I am looking at my last day at the college tomorrow and I can't help but start thinking about being home and in my own bed soon!

Day Ten Dominica: Another Campus

Today I spent the morning at the Teachers' College again working one-to-one with the faculty there. One particular gentleman was a little reluctant to work with me or at least that is how it seemed. On Friday when we were booking appointments, he took Wednesday morning and I teased him quite a bit about spending the whole day working together. He was sure it would only be an hour or two. However, once we started discussing the uses of technology and working at gathering materials for his courses, he was hooked. We Moodled and searched and organized for hours. He even ducked out to buy me a couple of croissants! Did I mention how generous the Dominicans I have met are? I brought a watermelon to the college as a 'Thank you' for their kindnesses, and in return I get two croissants and lunch brought to me. Every time I make an attempt to repay I am told, "Welcome to Dominica!" I concede.
The afternoon was spent at the Health and Sciences campus with the Nursing Faculty.
This is a dynamic and eager-to-learn group of professionals. After the routine discussion about digital citizenship and the elements of TPACK, we discussed how they have used technology. Most have taken courses over distance, so they were familiar with various Learning Management Systems.
However, they loved the idea of blogging with their students to reinforce the important elements of certain lessons. They are a collaborative group and so once the ball got rolling, there was little I had to do. This is great to see as I am now sure that they will use this with their students right away.
This internship is winding down; the poignancy of my last two days is hitting me.

Day Nine Dominica: Back on Track

The internet is a little slow, so I will add pictures later. All the well-wishes you sent for internet connectivity was successful! Connections remained strong at the College all day. However, they were a little sketchy at the hotel in the evening again.
Showing the possibilities with Moodle is inspiring. No matter what their technical skill level are, the lecturers that make appointments with me are eager to learn!
I have also introduced them to Symbaloo, a social bookmarking site. However, most of them do not have a lot of tools or links to put in there. If I get time in the next couple of days, I will get them into Twitter. They were at a blogging session before, so maybe we can go over that again if they are interested. And they are usually interested!
They take extensive notes of what we do, ask good questions and are appreciative when they are given time to figure out what to do and how to do it. I really am enjoying working with these kind people.
I have noticed that they are so polite that even those opting out of these session continue to pop in to tell me why they have not been back in to see me. Very polite people, even though many have been struck ill by my presence :)
I am starting to count down the days and nights. Bittersweet!

Day Eight Dominica: Technical Difficulties Continued

Monday, Monday ... The second week did not start well. More frustration with technology as I tried to set the lecturers up with a Symbaloo bookmarking site and teach some Moodle as the internet faded in and out. They are really excited to learn how to get their course work for the in-service teachers on line. However, the main web page has completely crashed, with no apparent back-up to reload, so anything we do is temporary. This is not an ideal situation, but there is still some value in practicing, right?

The IT manager made another special trip to campus to help me. While he was there, we discussed with the Dean the importance of posting course material online. Everyone was in agreement, teacher access to course material anytime anywhere would be extremely beneficial. This could be the thing that brings success to the system which seems to be struggling to gain ground. Disappointingly, the internet connection was lost again shortly after the IT manager left the building.

So, just as any good teacher would do, we fell back on productivity tools that exist off line. Since we have covered most of what is needed in PowerPoint, we turned to Microsoft Publisher and the various documents that can be created with it. If it weren't for bad luck, I just would not have any luck at all. At least those I worked with are an amiable lot. No complaints from them; they are pleased to learn any new thing. God bless them!

Hopefully tomorrow is a full internet-access day. I hope to get some real on-line work completed! Wish me well; I really need it!

Days Six and Seven in Dominica: Hot and Cold

I only have two days to spend as I wish, so on Saturday I took advantage of an offer to go to Trafalgar Falls, just a little outside of Roseau. The bus trip to get there was in itself an adventure! The falls are in the rain forest and are actually two falls. They are spectacular. Oddly enough, beside the cool stream coming from the falls, there is a pool which is warmed by geothermal heat. This juxtaposition exists in the sulfur springs to the South as well. The hot springs have cool springs nearby. The island's volcanic origins warm only portions of the water it seems.

Sunday's trip to the sulfur springs included a quick viewing of the narrow strip of land at Scott's Head that separates the Atlantic Ocean from the Caribbean Sea as well as a drive up the precarious road to Galleon, far up the mountain where you are rewarded for your bravery with a fantastic view of the island below. Did I mention the narrow roads here? They seem that much narrower when you have a drop off of several thousand feet to one side (my side!!) and a mountain wall on the other. If you have ever been unsettled by the Fraser Canyon in British Columbia, do not take this drive! My stomach stayed in my throat for many hours afterward.

I am once again indebted to my tour guides. They took time out of their busy lives to entertain me and show off their beautiful island. I would love to return and enjoy the island at leisure. The people alone make it worthwhile!