Students engage with technology inside a classroom at Seaside Primary School. (Photo: Everard Owen)
The classroom that forgot the blackboard
In a small, rural school in Jamaica, a teacher once stood before her class with nothing but a piece of chalk and a dusty blackboard. Her voice and her energy were the tools she wielded to capture the minds of her students.
Thirty years later, in the same school, a young teacher struggles to troubleshoot a faulty interactive whiteboard while her students lose focus, their eyes wandering to the smartphones in their laps. Such a scenario causes one to wonder: Has the modern classroom truly propelled us forward, or have we traded old problems for new ones?
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Is Tech truly better?
The allure of technology in classrooms has been undeniable. Tablets, interactive boards, and online portals promised to transform learning into an engaging and personalised experience. However, the results paint a starkly different picture.
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Recent Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) results, particularly in mathematics, indicate that only 33 per cent of students who sat the exam in 2024 achieved passing grades. This follows a broader trend of underperformance despite increased investments in tech-driven education.
Globally, the push for modernisation in education has often left out the nuanced needs of students, particularly in countries like Jamaica. While Sweden’s decision to reassess its approach acknowledges this flaw, Jamaica has yet to fully examine whether our educational strategies are truly working for our unique challenges.
Before the adoption of technology, Jamaica’s education system operated within a more traditional framework. Chalkboards, textbooks, and face-to-face interaction were the pillars of learning. While there were limitations — such as outdated materials and overburdened teachers — students often relied on memorisation and critical thinking in ways that technology might have unintentionally undermined. Comparing past and present learning outcomes highlight the decline in basic literacy and numeracy skills despite modernisation.
Have Boys Benefited from Technology?
For years, the narrative that boys “connect better with technology” was touted as a way to address their consistent underperformance. Yet CXC data show that boys continue to lag behind girls in almost every subject area. The introduction of technology, rather than bridging this gap, seems to have widened it. Many boys engage more with gaming and social media than with educational tools, further distracting them from their studies.
In 2024, a significant percentage of boys failed to meet the standard in subjects like English language and principles of accounts. This raises a crucial question: Are we addressing the real issues or simply hoping technology will magically fix systemic problems?
Technology and the Disenfranchised
Technology was heralded as the great equaliser, a means of providing access to quality education for disenfranchised communities. But for many rural schools, where Internet connectivity is inconsistent and devices are shared among multiple students, the promise remains unfulfilled. Reports show that the digital divide has exacerbated educational inequalities, leaving the most vulnerable further behind.
A 2023 Ministry of Education survey revealed that nearly 40 per cent of students in low-income areas do not have consistent access to a personal device. For these students, “modern learning” is more myth than reality.
Are Teachers’ Lives Easier?
While technology was supposed to ease teachers’ burdens, the reality is more complex. Many educators report feeling overwhelmed by the demands of integrating technology into their lessons, often without adequate training or support. Instead of spending time crafting lessons that fit local contexts, some resort to copying lesson plans from the Internet which fail to address the unique needs of Jamaican students.
Additionally, tools like ChatGPT and Google have created a dependency that undermines creativity and local relevance.
The Psychological Impact
Several studies point to the negative psychological effects of excessive screen time on students. Issues like reduced attention spans, difficulty retaining information, and higher levels of anxiety are becoming more common among students.
In Jamaica, the challenges of mental health are compounded by limited access to guidance counsellors, with many schools sharing a single counsellor among hundreds of students.
Global Comparisons
Countries like Finland, often celebrated for their educational success, prioritise teacher quality, small class sizes, and hands-on learning over high-tech gadgets. Jamaica could learn from this approach, focusing on personalised teaching methods and fostering critical thinking rather than relying heavily on screens.
The Cost Factor
The financial aspect of integrating technology is significant. Jamaica has spent billions on digital learning tools, yet the return on investment remains questionable. Breaking down the costs of these programmes versus their outcomes raises concerns about sustainability. For instance, the Tablet in Schools Programme has faced challenges with maintenance and connectivity, leaving many devices unused.
Recommendations for the Way Forward
1) Hybrid learning models: Combining traditional methods with technology in a balanced way could ensure students receive the best of both worlds.
2) Increased teacher support: Investing in professional development for teachers is critical for effective technology integration.
3) Localised content creation: Encouraging the development of digital resources that reflect Jamaica’s cultural and social context could improve engagement and relevance.
4) Focus on critical thinking: Technology should be used to foster problem-solving and creativity, not just for rote learning.
5) Infrastructure improvements: Ensuring that every school has access to basic resources like electricity, Internet, and modern classrooms is a prerequisite for successful modernisation.
Balancing Tradition and Innovation
While technology has transformed many industries, education demands a more nuanced approach. Sweden’s example shows that simply introducing screens into classrooms is not a panacea for better learning outcomes. Jamaica must recognise that education is about more than gadgets, it is about creating environments that nurture curiosity, discipline, and critical thinking.
By learning from global examples and tailoring solutions to our unique challenges, we can ensure that the promise of modern education does not become its peril.
janielmcewan17@gmail.com
