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Name of School:
Centre Number:
Candidate Name: Selah Lewis
Candidate Number:
Territory: Trinidad & Tobago
Subject: Communication Studies
Unit: 1
Theme: The Effect of the Integration of ICT on Education in
the Caribbean
Teacher:
Year: 2016

Table of Contents
General Introduction..............................................................................................4
Preface...............................................................................................................5
Reflection...........................................................................................................7
Analysis...........................................................................................................11
Bibliography......................................................................................................12

General Introduction
In 2010, the then government of Trinidad and Tobago distributed over 10,000 laptops to new Form 1
pupils. This began an era of technological advances in education for the country as a whole. Since then,
many upgrades have been implemented in schools at all levels in this twin island state. This portfolio
allows me to delve into The Effect of the Integration of ICT on Education in the Caribbean.
In my exposition, I presented my research, including interviews, and statistical evidence of the effect of
ICT on education, to enlighten and inform those in authoritative positions, so they may take actions
appropriate to address the lack of ICT integration in some public and private schools. These effects are
also highlighted in my narrative entitled White Bougainvillea, where a student is introduced to a
different style of learning.
My subjects also facilitate my choice. In Information Technology, we learn about the advancements in
technology over the years and the effect they have had on the business and educational sectors. Growing
up in a low-income, single parent home, I did not have much encounters with modern technology. Being
exposed to this the moment I entered secondary school opened my eyes to a whole other world. I have,
since then, developed a keen interest in anything technology related, and hope to one day become a
software engineer.
224 words

Preface
For my reflection, I have written a narrative entitled White Bougainvillea. I have chosen this
genre because I believe it is the most appropriate medium in which the main characters feelings
towards the events which take place around her are best expressed. The purpose of the piece is to
further emphasise the influence of technology on education, especially in the Caribbean, and is
meant to put forward the different approaches to teaching, comparing the effect each has on the
student.
My target audiences are the teachers, principals, and high-ranking officials working in
educational facilities. I believe that these persons have an influence on the future of the children
and people under their tutelage, and may be unaware as to the impact information technology can
have.
The narrative can be published as part of a collection of short stories and made available to those
responsible for the education system in the region. It can also be made into a film script, then
into short movie which would be able to use more visual cues than the written counterpart.

181 words

Reflection
On the corner of Harvard and Forde, there was a hedge of bougainvillea bushes. It stood
in front of an old school building, and the people who walked past would say, Look fuh ah
white one, an if yuh see it, dat mean yuh real bless, good days fuh yuh ahead. It became a
tradition among the students of the school to go looking for the white flowers before exams, but
Jemalia Forthros always looked for them. Every day she walked past, and stopped to search its
thorny branches for even a glimpse of that fabled snow white.
Jemma, as she was called, wasnt a perfect student. She had average grades, and despite being a
relatively well-behaved child, some teachers seemed to mistake her shyness for disrespectful
silence. Its not that she didnt try, but she didnt understand the work sometimes, even though
she would reach to class early, sit near the front, and listen attentively to her teachers. It sucked.
Some days, she would try to listen, but then realise that shes trying so hard, that shes not
listening at all. She just couldnt grasp some of the concepts, and no matter how it was phrased,
she only understood the bare basics of the subject matter. The absolute worst, however, was
when teachers would say,
Jemalia, would you please come up and summarise what we did today?
She didnt even know how to start, because she didnt really know what was taught. It was at this
point Jemalia would just stare at the teacher silently, mortified. And teachers would then mouth
her ear off about how she should pay better attention in class. Eventually, she had had enough.
One day, she stormed home angrily.
Ah done! Ah done! she cried, Ah fed up tryin tuh learn dese tings an not get it! Christ on a
bicycle, ah so vex, and ah tryin yuh know, ah real doin ma bess, buh like it eh good at all, at all!
She breathed deeply, See me, ah go jus sell nuts on de highway.
For the next two weeks, Jemmas work began to slip. She felt demotivated, and gave up trying to
pay attention in class. It happened on one of those depressing days. As usual, Jemma stopped to
look at the bougainvillea. And as usual, the bright pink and purple flowers were in full bloom.
Except for the small green bud growing near the back of the crisscrossing thorns. Jemma took
note of this strange occurrence and begrudgingly went off to class.

The next day, a new teacher appeared in Jemmas biology class.

Her sugar brown skin

was stretched over a thin frame, and she wore a simple blue shirt and black slacks. But what
caught Jemmas attention were her eyes. They were bright, sharp. They pierced Jemmas soul.
Good morning students! she chirruped cheerfully, My name is Miss Warmington, and from
today, Ill be your new biology teacher. Mrs. Algid, as you know, retired early. I shall be taking
over her teaching duties.
After settling the eruption of whispers and whimpers, Miss Warmington started class. Stand
up, she ordered, I want you to know something. I am not going to stand in front of here and
just teach. You have to participate. It is mandatory.
Miss? asked Toriel, the class monitor, Whyd you make us stand up? Miss Warmington
smiled brightly, showing off her deep dimples and white teeth.
To get your attention.
Jemma liked Miss Warmington a lot. She didnt call on Jemma constantly like Mrs. Algid
had, and took the time to explain things to her. But Jemma still had difficulties understanding the
work being given. One week after Miss Warmington took over, she walked into class rolling a
large, strange, white board, behind her.
Okay, she breathed, Ive come to realise that some of you dont like to participate, or at least
are too shy to, she glanced at Jemma, and gave her a small smile.
So, Im going to make class so fun that not participating becomes socially unacceptable.
She tapped the board with her index finger, and the area she tapped began to glow. Then with a
ripple of light, the board came to life. Pictures of cells, plants, and a little boy, all came flooding
onscreen. The class gasped in astonishment. Miss dah real dred! called a student from the back
somewhere.
These are the topics we need to cover this term, she said, Now, we need to start with
microbiology, She tapped the picture of a bean shaped cell, and the screen went blank, then a
series of icons popped up. For the rest of the class, Miss Warmington taught using the smartboard. She called up a few students to use the board at random intervals to complete little
activities she would put up. The students sat, listening and watching attentively, eagerly raising

their hands to answer questions posed by Miss. Then, towards the end of class, she turned
towards Jemma and said, Jemalia, would you please come up and summarise what we did
today?
And she could.
Later that week Jemma realised she hadnt checked on the green bud in a while. So she stopped
and looked. The green bud was gone. In its place was a single, white flower.

884 words

Analysis
My reflection White Bougainvillea, tells the story of a students encounter with education, both
with and without the use of information technologies. To effectively convey the plot, and to fully immerse
the reader, communicative behaviours and dialectal variation were used.
Firstly, the use of vocalics is seen where Jemalia cries in frustration, which was used to help the
reader visualise her distress and empathise with her. Another instance of vocalics is where Miss
Warmington enters the class, she chirrups cheerfully which immediately indicates her bright attitude,
and signals a change from the previously somewhat depressing atmosphere. Facial expressions are used
especially with Miss Warmington; she is shown smiling brightly which helps create a kind portrait of her
personality. Her name, Miss Warmington, is a direct contrast to the previous teachers name (Algid)
which means cold. She is again seen smiling at Jemalia, which emphasises her role as a candle in the
dark for the protagonist as the smile was meant to be an encouraging one.
Furthermore, the artefacts presented played a major role in the reflection. The smart board
signified a change in Jemalias life. Its presence represented a hopeful future for Jemalia. The major
artefact in the reflection; the hedge of bougainvillea flowers. The pink and purple flowers were a symbol
of the overwhelming majority that did not understand what Jemalias problem could have been. The
growing green bud represented Jemalia in her green state, not yet blossoming, not yet at her potential.
When the bud blooms, Jemalia has already begun her journey to a brighter future, and the flowers white
petals symbolise Jemalias uniqueness, and the idea that, in spite of the odds, as long as there is hope,
things will eventually work out.
In addition, the narration was written in Standard English to appeal to a wide audience. Teachers
and students also used Standard English in dialogue in the fairly formal classroom setting. However,
Jemalia uses a mesolectal variety of Trinidadian English-based Creole (See me, ah go just sell nuts on de
highway,) in the emotionally tense scene where she cries out in frustration. This aided in the
contextualisation of the story, and gives it a realistic feel as persons tend to revert to their native tongue in
times of great emotion.
In brief, White Bougainvillea utilises communicative behaviours such as vocalics, and dialectal
variation to express its message.
381 words

Bibliography
A Summary Report, Based on 16 Country Surveys SURvEY Of ... (n.d.). Retrieved
October/November, 2015, from http://www.infodev.org/infodevfiles/resource/InfodevDocuments_441.pdf

CSEC results: Over 50% of students continue to fail Math, English. (2014). Retrieved December
2, 2015, from http://www.inewsguyana.com/csec-results-over-50-of-students-continue-to-failmath-english/

Introduction of Information Technology to Schools in Jamaica. (n.d.). Retrieved October 15,

2015, from http://www.mona.uwi.edu/cop/library/introduction-information-technology-schoolsjamaica

LaBerta, C. (2014). Computers are your future. Harlow, Essex: Pearson.

G. N. (n.d.). Minister on 2014 CXC results: Best results ever. Retrieved November 7, 2015, from
http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2014-08-15/minister-2014-cxc-results-best-results-ever

Peres, W., & Hilbert, M. R. (2010). Information societies in Latin America and the Caribbean:
Development of technologies and technologies for development. Santiago, Chile: United
Nations, ECLAC.