John Martinka

Wednesday marked the end of the first three-day training session for teachers on how to teach better using technology. I was very impressed with the lady the Ministry hired to facilitate the training. She has a Masters Degree from Columbia University in this exact field, (and I paraphrase) More Effective Teaching Using Technology.

I observed a few hours Wednesday and was quite happy with the lessons some of the teachers presented. They ranged from using PowerPoint, from a technology beginner, to using YouTube and a mind-mapping type software, from teachers more comfortable with technology. We’ll do a de-brief with the facilitator and the Ministry’s representative on Monday and tweak the program for future groups.

Friday I’ll work with Jeff as we plan to set up two schools with Wi-Fi. This should be an interesting project as we wire wireless access points (like a repeater) around the schools. This basically rebroadcasts the Wi-Fi signal from the base router.

On Tuesday evening I attended a community medical education meeting. A doctor and two nurses talked about diabetes care and prevention and blood pressure monitoring. They then demonstrated how to best use portable self-use blood pressure machines. The doctor informed them that portable machines (like you or I can buy at a pharmacy or on Amazon.com) are all different, unlike the continuity of the cuff and stethoscope at the doctor’s office. He informed them not to rotate among different machines, as they are all slightly different. He recommended they take their machine to the doctor, match it to the doctor’s reading so they know how “off” it actually is.

Wednesday is a light day as there’s a Rotary meeting at noon. Given the disruption of the day we choose to give the students the afternoon off to see the city and buy gifts for their parents. 🙂 At the meeting today we presented the Antigua Ambulance service with mobile defibrillators, as they have no defibrillators on any ambulances. Last year we donated some for the clinics (this was funded by last year’s grant but shipped this year after we knew our budget situation).

So far all is going well. I figure that if Jeff Mason’s and my phones don’t ring too much it means our planning was done correctly and the students were prepared for the day (versus when they call Jeff needing power cords because they forgot spares – a typical first day occurrence as they learn quickly).

On February 14, 2014 twenty-one tired but excited people departed the plane in Antigua to start their adventure of working in the schools. Sunday was a planning day and on Monday the work started. Four major things were initiated the first two days.

• Our teams of (14) students headed to the schools to install and/or upgrade computer labs. This year our focus, as per The Rotary Foundation (TRF), is to concentrate on one Parish in Antigua and do as much as we can in those schools. This means more computers, wireless systems in some schools, smart boards, and more.
• My wife Jan (with Laura videoing) opened a new sewing center, which also includes a community library for youth. The response was very good and they are rapidly progressing. These lessons will be continued by a local person, whom we pay, as per TRF guidelines.
• As part of this project there is a substantial investment in teacher training, again, as per TRF requirements. Over a number of different sessions we are to train most if not all of the teachers in our designated Parish. The training is on using technology to teach better and meet curriculum goals. After some initial “caution” there is good buy-in and on Tuesday each teacher created a lesson plan using technology as a teaching tool.
• Public relations – On Monday we met the Director of Education, the Governor General (he is the Queen’s representative to Antigua) and Cordel Joshia and I appeared on Good Morning Antigua (numerous people commented on seeing it).