VISION

https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=au%3AMcDonald%2C+Betty&fq=&dblist=638&start=11&qt=next_page

Teaching and learning have always been my passion from a child. I believe that everyone can learn and should be provided with suitable opportunities to do so. Those who know me are convinced that I was ‘born to teach’. From as early as nine years old I started my own Sunday School, teaching all the children in the neighbourhood. When I needed more teaching time and no one was there, I taught inanimate objects, chairs, trees, toys, etc. So intense was my passion for teaching that I wished my Mom were a teacher. I got myself teachers as mentors and shared with them my childhood teaching experiences. I love to learn! What joy!

All my teachers found me to be exemplary and favoured me in too many ways: being able to borrow certain books that were not normally loaned to students; being selected to participate in school and also national competitions; being placed as student head and responsible for maintaining discipline in the class; to mention a few. It was therefore no small wonder that I started teaching in state schools in 1971 immediately after completing Advanced Levels.

When asked about my future career, without hesitation, I emphatically stated, ‘Teaching’. When further probed about engineering or medicine or any other profession to which traditionally persons loving mathematics gravitate, I insisted that teaching and teaching only was my heart's desire. Nevertheless, I must say that at times I wondered if a career in journalism would meet my burning desire to communicate effectively. Clearly, my passion for teaching could not be undermined by my love for language and expression of thought.

Interwoven in teaching and learning was my intense love for many subjects especially mathematics. In fact, I would choose to do my homework in all other subject first because I knew regardless of how tired and sleepy I was, mathematics would energise me. I vividly remember helping just about anyone who had a mathematical problem that they could not solve. If I ran into difficulties over a period of time I would muse on the problem and eventually I would be able to solve it. At those times, I did not know about the fixed mode and diffuse mode operations of the brain. To top it all, as computers became more fashionable, I found that I was even more engaged as I immersed myself in technology and realised that the future for teaching and learning was embedded in technology.

Having undergone a profound spiritual transformation that impacted my entire being since I was nine years old, I found that understanding the world through ‘spiritual’ eyes proved invaluable in appreciating the wonders of life. For me, prayer opened up doors that normally would remain shut. My spiritual awareness together with my love for teaching and learning, philosophy, psychology, logic and mathematics provided me with the catalyst for extraordinary success. It was no small wonder that prior to entry to university I had gained 14 Ordinary Level; 3 Advanced Level subjects and General Paper.

My first degree from The University of The West Indies (UWI) was a double major in Mathematics and Physics with Chemistry and Computer Science as minors in 1975. The formal training I received in Computer Science (especially Programming) together with the long hours I dedicated to the discipline provided me with a solid understanding of information and communication technology that continues to be the bedrock of my ongoing interest and excitement for emerging technology and e-learning. My honours degree propelled me to explore Statistics as a discipline at the Masters level in 1977. My intense love for teaching and learning steered me away from a career in Pure or Applied Mathematics or Computer Science (which I seriously contemplated) to a career in Education. Helping people to understand anything not only helped them, but simultaneously brought me a personal sense of satisfaction; mutualism at work. Mathematics pedagogy was my area of specialty while I did my Postgraduate Diploma in Education in 1982 at The University of The West Indies.

In 1985/6, as an exchange teacher in London for the Inner London Education Authority (ILEA), I was exposed to a host of special programmes designed to improve students’ understanding, appreciation and love for Mathematics (the hated subject on the curriculum). At that time use of computers was embedded in the teaching and learning process, so I developed a number of skills that proved invaluable in my future career. Individualised teaching and learning was another area that allowed me to function efficiently and productively. So successful was my exchange teaching year that I was commended as the best, well adjusted teacher on the programme for several years. I further went on to author a computer literacy curriculum for novices that proved very successful judging from the feedback I continue to receive to date.

In 1989, one of my dreams came through by the award of a government scholarship to pursue a Masters degree in Education, specialising in Measurement and Evaluation; a perfect fit for a person like me who loved Mathematics, Computer Science, teaching, learning, assessment and research. Graduating with distinction and moving on to the MPhil. in Education, followed by a Ph.D. in Psychometrics/Statistics (in collaboration with OISE, University of Toronto, Canada) and numerous post docs abroad allowed me to hone the enviable skill set that continues to serve me so very well at The Teaching, Learning and Instructional Support Centre at The University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT).

As founding Head of the Centre for Assessment and Learning (CAL), that was later subsumed under Teaching, Learning and Instructional Support Centre for administrative reasons, I continue to be able to equip hundreds of instructors both inside and outside of UTT. My exposure and experience as a secondary school teacher; UWI Mathematics script marker; UWI Physics laboratory demonstrator; lecturer at University of Technology, Jamaica; Assistant Registrar, examiner and assistant examiner at the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) ; Associate Professor at University of the Bahamas prepared me adequately for my present service at UTT.

Observing numerous changes in pedagogical practices in the classroom among UTT instructors as a result of my continuous professional development brings me great joy and satisfaction. Additionally, when I witness the present enviable skill sets of my three biological children (medical doctor, manager, actuary) and students who have been mentored by me, I cannot help but think that my vision for education continues to be fulfilled.

Continuing professional development in a variety of forms; workshops, formal training sessions, seminars, webinars, reflection, mentoring, coaching, internships, professional affiliations, networks, partnerships, study groups, research, etc. has enabled me to keep abreast of e-learning along with current and emerging technologies in teaching and learning. My Workshop Satisfaction Rating in excess of 90 % speaks volumes about the quality of my deliverables. As a Visiting Professor to several different universities across all five continents; Dissertation Chair at Nova Southeastern University; journal reviewer; and director of a local educational institution, I feel satisfied that I am contributing enormously to academia locally and internationally. More importantly, I have had the distinction of teaching successfully and mentoring individuals at all levels of the education system; early childhood, primary, secondary, and tertiary.

With a well proven track record of commendable qualities like resourcefulness, determination, critical thinking, resilience, resourcefulness, excellent communication, respectfulness, cooperativeness, creativity, abundance mentality, helpfulness, skilfulness, technical soundness, and attention to details, to mention a few, I continue to be successful in research, leadership, management, and administration in a congenial manner. Motivational speaking, conference presentations, keynote speaking, workshop facilitation, individualised assistance, technology enhanced education and curriculum development and implementation have all been part of my portfolio at UTT.

Being extremely well organised, mild mannered and empathetic, I tend to face challenges head on. I'm never afraid to deal with difficult situations and conflict. With my excellent work ethic and positive attitude, I am determined to continue to peacefully live by my personal tag line pray, prepare, produce as I enjoy my day-to-day interactions and excellent relationships as an exemplary team player at UTT and abroad.

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