By Chevonnese Chevers Whyte

The extravert is the student who will engage in discussions, ask questions and sometimes lead the class on a tangent. However, sometimes the introverted student can add depth to the discussion but does not participate. One reason is that your classroom may not be set up to engage with and allow introverts to be heard. A perpetuating misconception is that introverts are shy. They could be, but that may not necessarily be the reason why they do not participate in the classroom. Introverts get drained in large social spaces. This may describe your classroom. It then means that your introverted student is overwhelmed and may be unable to participate as you would like them to. It is, therefore, crucial to set up your classroom (whether face-to-face or virtual) in such a way as to allow your introverted students to speak. This presentation will explore this phenomenon in the classroom and discuss possible strategies that will make educators Get In-Troverted. 

By Karlene M. Black and Seanette Forbes

A little over two decades ago, creative courses were not part of the traditional educational system. As such, their introduction has presented a number of challenges for educators. The aim of this presentation is to highlight those challenges identified from the perspective of delivering the Bachelor of Science in Animation Development and Production at the University of Technology, Jamaica, and the possible solutions that may be/have been employed to mitigate them. Many of these challenges were amplified during the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the challenges are the technological resources available, fitting the deliverables for each course within a semester, managing class size, managing the diversity of learning styles and students’ personal challenges, effectively mentoring and motivating students to help in unlocking creativity, and keeping the courses relevant and in line with emerging trends. Possible solutions tried/considered include capitalizing on open-source software, providing 24 hour access to labs, exposing students to the realities of the industry through talks from industry personnel, utilizing alternative assessment measures, constantly reviewing the curriculum. There is constant dialogue and collaboration to ensure the students have the opportunity to succeed in the creative industry.