Paula Morris: a pioneer in introducing technology to schools

Paula Morris has spent much of her time since September as a Warner School doctoral student, but not long ago she was Jamaica's first government information officer for information technology, a lecturer at the University of West Indies, Mona Campus, in Kingston, Jamaica, and a "train the trainer" technology expert. In addition to her current doctoral studies, she works with Brian Bailey and Catherine Collier as a technology specialist for the Preparing Tomorrow's Teachers to Use Technology (PT3) project. "I see myself as going wherever I'm needed," says Morris.

Sometimes that seems like everywhere--all at once! She works in the Warner technology laboratory with students, faculty, and staff, coaching them to use technological tools more effectively. She designs courses and collaborates with faculty to infuse technology into their academic courses. Most recently, she and Mike DuPré have developed the new course "Teaching Science with Technology." As a member of the Martin Luther King Day Celebration Committee last winter, Morris created a "virtual field trip" King Web site. The site is a teaching resource for area K-12 teachers and their students, and an example of the kinds of projects that are possible today through technology to enhance the teaching and learning experiences.

Comparing education technology challenges in Jamaica with what she observes here, Morris sees a few differences but many more similarities. She worked on a three-year World Bank-sponsored project to bring portable computer workstations into classrooms. "Our biggest challenge was convincing teachers that it would work," she says. In the United States, too, some teachers have a limited vision of what technology can do. "They see it as a stationary workbench instead of a tool capable of bringing the classroom to life." Finding the money to support technology in schools is a problem in both countries but is a bigger barrier in Jamaica, Morris believes. School officials there doubted whether the Ministry of Education would secure funding at the needed level. Morris suggested an alternative and, she says, "the lights went on." The Parent Teacher Association solicited hardware donations themselves and secured 120 computers for schools!

She came to the Warner School to become a better researcher. "Knowing about teaching and curriculum makes me more effective," Morris feels. Her major focus--her research orientation--is right where it should be: "I peek into class and see the children working and I know I had something to do with this. My experience at the Warner School has helped me understand this."