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The Ministry of Education (MoE) of The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago has recently embarked on another teacher training program to equip secondary school teachers with the necessary competencies for ICT infusion in their physical classrooms. This study aims to investigate the impact and usefulness of that program, and challenges that the teachers have been facing in its implementation. Thirteen interviews (eight one-on-one and five focused group) were conducted from forty trained teachers. The findings showed that almost all the teachers were quite content and even ecstatic about the workshops and were willing to use the acquired knowledge and skills. Those who were able to use the knowledge and skills attained in the workshops reported improved students’ interest, classroom interaction, and academic performance. However, many expressed disappointments due to the multiple obstacles at their schools which prevented them from fully and effectively using the knowledge and skills from the workshops. They specifically reported insufficient number of computers, poor and inapt ICT environment and most importantly, unreliable internet access and connectivity. This study identifies three important elements in the successful implementation of any ICT in education program: willingness (mainly of administrators, teachers and students), training (especially for the teachers) and infrastructure (physical, hardware and software). Although, there was an overwhelming willingness from the teachers (even excitement) and adequate training, issues with infrastructure appear to be preventing the policy from yielding desired results. In order to ensure that the current policy brings the desired results, the MoE must not only provide effective professional development training for teachers, but also furnish schools with the necessary ICT resources and infrastructure. Only then, the MoE may revolutionize the education system through ICT. Keywords: ICT in education, professional development, teacher training, 21st century skills, Trinidad

The main objective of this chapter is to demonstrate how an instructional model, 2T2C, was used to infuse 21st century skills in the teaching of secondary school mathematics using a smart learning environment (SLE). It was imperative that cooperative and collaborating learning methodologies were included in the teaching model to ensure peer/teacher interaction to enhance student communication, the infusion of high-order thinking skills to guarantee that students can solve real-world problems and think at higher cognitive levels, the introduction of self-efficacy sessions to ensure that all students have the confidence and self-esteem to believe and have the self-assurance to solve mathematical real-world problems and take responsibility for their own learning, and the infusion of technology as a resource in the teaching and learning process: hence, 2T2C (thinking, technology, communication, and confidence). The scenarios presented highlighted the need for communication, high-level cognitive objectives, multiple evaluation practices, and thinking as key to the learning process.

This study has explored the perspectives of elementary school teachers of their challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, as they transitioned from their traditional mode of facilitation to a program called Home-Based Learning (HBL). The objectives of the study, which focuses on the implementation of HBL for elementary school students, from March 2020 to June 2021, were to investigate elementary school teachers’ perspectives on their readiness for HBL; to determine elementary school teachers’ perspectives on their students’ readiness for HBL; and to investigate elementary school teachers’ perspectives on their implementation of HBL. There was a need to determine how teachers, students and parents responded to this sudden shift. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 40 teachers from all class levels, number of years teaching and from the eight educational districts. The results demonstrated that despite the efforts of the Ministry of Education (MoE) to provide support and assistance, teachers struggled with instructional strategies and pedagogy, connectivity and technology concerns, parental support and involvement, burnout and being overwhelmed with the long hours preparing for online and offline students and lack of continuous professional development. It was clear that teachers used creative and innovative means to ensure learning continued, striving to make HBL work for their students. It is recommended that the MoE design and implement a continuous and structured professional development programme for teachers, ensure that technology resources and infrastructure are available and sustained and that internet connectivity be reliable and suitably fast in all elementary schools. Keywords: Home-based learning, Trinidad and Tobago, teacher training, online learning