LIME IS SPEARHEADING a new online educational project aimed at students taking the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination.
The animated programme, called Infinity Island, takes the form of five children involved in a reality show where they have to find maths-related solutions to problems. It is part of LIME’s Learning On LIME initiative.
However, it was not revealed when the programme would be rolled out. Regional head of sponsorship Sheldon Keens-Douglas said it was still a matter of getting funding.
“We are still to get feedback from our partners to identify the number of episodes although there should be around eight to ten half-hour-long episodes which may be partly animated and partly real action.”
Keens-Douglas said there was no confirmed date when the online programme would commence as it had taken them 18 months to have the pilot episode prepared.
As for taking the programme to television, Keens-Douglas said there had been no such talks with Caribbean networks although there had been some preliminary talks with a few United States-based entities.
A part of the pilot was shown to members of the Ministry of Education and the media on Wednesday at the Island Inn Hotel, Aquatic Gap, St Michael.
The initiative is a partnership between LIME, animation company FableVision and learning company Pearson International.
LIME’s country manager Alex McDonald said children had a different view on learning and technology had to be utilized to keep them interested.
“Children today expect learning to be anywhere and everywhere and in the way they want it, so we can decide as a nation to either stay with what we have always done or to change,” he said.
“We have to have Caribbean answers, for it is only from us these answers can come. Those in the ministry know the great challenge is relevance. If a child can’t understand something, they will not get past that to learn and this [programme] represents that attempt to bridge the digital divide.”
Deputy Chief Education Officer Irwin Greaves commended the businesses for their collaboration, adding transmedia storytelling [stories told across multiple platforms and formats using current digital technologies] was a way for students to learn mathematical concepts using their favourite form of media.
“Technology has a motivational power . . . and can ensure students focus on the task; enjoyment while they learn and bring some measure of satisfaction,” he said.
Greaves outlined some keys to making learning more meaningful: a need for knowledge, developing an understanding of problems, structuring information in meaningful ways and being aware and controlling thinking.
“This is cutting edge technology that can have an impact on the teaching process. We at the ministry endorse this programme and are prepared to collaborate with you as you go forward,” he said. (CA)
