The Instruction Support Systems (ISS) unit at MITS is currently on a mission to reinvent, revitalize, and revamp the ways in which learning is conducted at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus. These efforts primarily seek to create a pervasive, collaborative learning environment where the creation of knowledge can occur irrespective of time and place.  Our students understand this need and are demanding more flexible learning opportunities as well as more engaging instructional experiences.

At ISS, a team of highly qualified professionals is committed to helping both students and lecturers get the most out of the teaching/learning experience. The unit consists of three main functional teams, namely: the Multimedia Engineering team, the Digital Content Creation (DCC) team and the Pedagogy team.

The Multimedia Engineering team is in charge of all multimedia installations across the Campus (including the Mona and Western Jamaica Campus (WJC). The team ensures that the most reliable brands of equipment are incorporated into the layout of lecture theaters and office spaces, so as to maximize efficiency and comfort among users. One of the major goals of the Multimedia Engineering arm of ISS is to administer the multimedia technology infrastructure in such a way that it becomes invisible to users; which means that lecturers and students should be able to effortlessly manipulate the technology to derive greatest value. One such major infrastructure development being undertaken is the Basic Medical Sciences Complex, which is currently the largest building on the Campus. The complex is currently being equipped with the most efficient and effective multimedia equipment specific to each subject area.

Working alongside the Multimedia Engineering team is the Digital Content Creation team. The DCC team is the largest subdivision of ISS, and is responsible for – as the name suggests – creating digital content for University and public consumption. This includes; filming, editing and distributing digital copies of Campus related events, graphic design for print and web publications as well as the design and development of multimedia learning objects. The division currently has the largest repository of original video content on Campus, and among other UWI campuses. The repository stands as a testament of the diversity of the university in its hosting of cultural, business, sporting and other themed events. Currently, the DCC team is working on the rebranding and mass marketing of UWI-TV. Plans are now being made to develop and launch a UWI-TV mobile application.

In addition to the Multimedia Engineering and Digital Content Creation teams at ISS, there is also the Pedagogy team, which focuses on sourcing and developing new technologies and methods for teaching. Primarily, the Pedagogy team is responsible for training and helping lecturers, through the appropriate use of technology, to reach and exceed global standards of higher education. Frequent workshops and seminars are hosted to help raise the standards of lecturers, so that they can better relate to and reach their tech-savvy students. The Pedagogy team is committed to providing flexible learning opportunities for students, and ensuring that students get the most out of the learning experience. Manager of the ISS unit, Mr. Crafton Williams, explains this mission best:

“Learning is dynamic and students come into the classroom with different backgrounds, and they each have different ideas and styles of learning. Our job here at ISS is to provide feasible technological solutions to lecturers, so that they can effectively reach their students and get positive learning outcomes. We want to use the vast number of technologies at our disposal to tailor solutions that will get all students involved in the lesson; whether they be auditory, visual or kinesthetic learners.”

Currently, the Pedagogy team is conducting numerous pilot projects across the Campus to test and measure the effectiveness of some of the newest learning tools on the market today. The pilots are being closely monitored and are expected to provide new information and procedures for lecturers, so that they can meet the changing demands of students and keep abreast with global industry trends.

ISS is certainly taking learning at UWI, Mona to a higher level. The Unit has been making great strides in accepting the challenge to adopt new paradigms of education for the 21st century. One ISS staff member explains the challenging, but satisfying nature of the combined work being done by the Unit.

“It is truly satisfying to be apart of this…revolution. Just the other day, I was a student at UWI, Mona and I often felt that more could be done to truly reach students in the New Millennium. As a member of the ISS team, I now realize how challenging it is to cater to the needs of the dynamic group of students we have. Nevertheless, we are all working together to upgrade the key areas of education. We are targeting the physical school, the teachers, the learners, the instruments and the curriculum; so we are leaving no stone unturned. Each arm of the department plays such an important role in propelling this education revolution that we are bringing forth.”

Article written by Mortilaine Riley