Not every school may enjoy reliable internet. I'm grateful to have fairly reliable internet access when teaching in my school's science lab. However, I always try to come up with a contingency plan in case the internet fails. I download educational videos on my device before classes so that I don't have to rely on using the internet to access videos during class time. Also websites like google sheets or google slides can be viewed offline in the event of no wifi. If you know of or have used other offline educational websites can we share here? Thanks in advance.

AI software is rapidly becoming a leading force in enhancing many aspects of our professional and personal lives. As new careers emerge and others become obsolete in the coming decade, AI prompt engineering may become an essential skill for students to learn in order to stay competitive and adaptable.

How can we help to develop intrinsic motivation among learners, especially those who may fall under the category of remedial or moderate performers? One strategy I use is to design introductory tasks that are achievable, then gradual increase the difficulty as students' understanding grows. This helps them build confidence through early success. I also incorporate examples that are relevant to the Caribbean or Trinidadian context and everyday experiences of young people, making the content more relatable and engaging. I would love to hear what strategies have worked well for you.

I agree that activity-based learning (ABL) enables students to develop a deeper understanding of concepts. However, ABL often requires significant preparation time and access to specific resources . In the case of experiments, having the necessary apparatus and materials can be a challenge for some. Fortunately, many low cost or improvised alternatives can be used to achieve the same learning outcomes. When it comes to gamification, providing tangible rewards for students may not always be feasible. As an alternative, digital rewards such as badges and digital certificates can be effective. Teachers may also choose to focus less on extrinsic motivation like rewards and instead design gamified activities that foster intrinsic motivation, encouraging students to engage for the joy of learning and problem solving.

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I appreciate all of your responses. I'm taking notes. If any one else knows of any more offline educational tools and websites please feel free to share.

I agree with this perspective. Many students are primarily kinesthetic learners and benefit from subject specific activities that involve movement.This can be incorporated through engaging tasks like classroom treasure hunts, where students search for clues or through hands on experiments that require physical activity. For example, I often conduct an experiment where students calculate the power they exert when running and walking up a staircase.

What suggestions would you offer to the instructional leaders in your educational institutions for building systems of continuous professional learning for teachers in the day to daily operation of the school? I think a short hot topic professional development videos can be shared once a week for staff discussion on staff groups via email, WhatsApp or a learning management system. The learning could be further discussed and reinforced at department meetings and staff meetings.

@Zakia-soomro I agree that not every region may have the same access to resources, especially those that can facilitate AI software and development. However life is not stagnant and with awareness, advocacy and helping hands, these regions can slowly move in this direction.

This is a great idea! What is your contingency plan in the event that a student loses their phone or does not have access to a working device during the fine arts lesson?

I create educational videos featuring myself and/or animated characters to use in my lessons. I utilize Canva to create many of the video resources. The students love to see cartoon characters speaking with a local accent or visual storytelling with local accents. It becomes more relatable as opposed to using videos featuring other accents on youtube. How do your students respond to locally created videos whether animation or otherwise?

@Kalhorouris Another suggestion is to set up a book resource corner. A magazine or book rack could be set up in a quiet area of the staff lounge to encourage reading of educational material. Department Heads can execute mini professional development sessions at their meetings and roster teachers to share on articles they read on an agreed topic from the educational corner.

@Bousl2336873cb4 I agree and have definitely experienced this in my classroom.

@Kalhorouris Thank you. I appreciate your contribution to this topic.

@Mishael-Naqash That's great. It's great to hear the views of educators from other countries. Even though we are from different countries, we share similar experiences.

This situation is a reality for many students. Besides providing a listening ear, schools should have policies and systems in place to deal with these types of reports. Students should be referred to a school social services division for intervention by persons trained to do so.

What suggestions would you offer to the instructional leaders in your educational institutions for building systems of continuous professional learning for teachers in the day to daily operation of the school? I think a short hot topic professional development videos can be shared once a week for staff discussion on staff groups via email, WhatsApp or a learning management system. The learning could be further discussed and reinforced at department meetings and staff meetings.

I agree. Emotional intelligence should be taught in schools to help students manage their emotions and foster stronger, positive relationships. This may lead to better academic performance. Teachers too can stand to benefit from being taught emotional intelligence since it can help them create a more supportive and engaging classroom environment.

I create educational videos featuring myself and/or animated characters to use in my lessons. I utilize Canva to create many of the video resources. The students love to see cartoon characters speaking with a local accent or visual storytelling with local accents. It becomes more relatable as opposed to using videos featuring other accents on youtube. How do your students respond to locally created videos whether animation or otherwise?

I agree. Cartoons when used wisely can be very engaging and effective. We should always try to encourage children to engage in active learning. Therefore there must be discussion of the cartoon content along the way or after, depending on the length of the cartoon. I even create my own animations for use in my lessons.

@Sanaa You brought up a good point especially when it comes to praising students!