A Role model To Peers And Students

Wed, Sep 5th 2012, 11:13 AM

While students around the country prepared to head back to school for a new academic year, for one student a four-year journey that cost her $40,000 and a reduced social life was coming to an end, but it was a journey that Joan Rolle said was worth it all as she can now add the title doctor to her name. The 50-something-year-old education officer with responsibility for Primary School Mathematics in the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, recently graduated from online college, Walden University, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with a doctorate degree in education.

"I'm overwhelmed at what I've done and still have a sane mind, because it was a challenge," said Dr. Rolle who said she did it because she wanted to improve herself. "And you could not send your assignments late, -- if you did it was a grade reduction, so I had to be on top of my game." But it was all worth it to Dr. Rolle whose dissertation was "The Impact of Teachers Integrating Constructive Strategies on Students' Mathematics Problem-solving Skills in Elementary School.

"At the primary level our students take the Grade Level Assessment Test (GLAT) as well as the Iowa Math, a test that we give to grades two, four and five which measures where our students are in terms of their weaknesses. Teachers look at those tests and try to improve the results of those particular areas wherever the problems may arise." Dr. Rolle said with her doctorate degree she also now has a better eye to do observations in the classrooms.

She said it also affords her the opportunity to do studies and implement methods to see how it will help in the remediation in Math education. Example to peers and students Dr. Rolle said her ability to go after her doctorate degree should also serve as an example to her peers and students because it showed perseverance. She studied for her degree while maintaining a full-time job and having to teach at The College of The Bahamas in the evenings to supplement her income to pay for her tuition.

She also had to set aside time to travel to the school periodically and would take casual and vacation days to facilitate the times she had to travel. "It took dedication and commitment. And it was difficult, but I would encourage anyone to go after their goals and dreams, because once the dream materializes you can look back and say to God be the glory great things He has done," she said. "I would get off work 4-5 p.m., go to COB to teach from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., then go home and prepare Math for students' work, prepare for the next day and then I had homework assignments.

It was tough. I had to forgo family activities, and even if I attended social events I would not stay long. I would show my face for an hour or so and then return home to the books." Dr. Rolle said to fellow teachers who would like to seek higher education that she proved it's never too late to accomplish their dream. "COB is trying to ascertain university status and with a doctorate degree you're more eligible to be considered to teach there if you desire," she said.

"And the sky is the limit. Never think you're too old to do it, because you can accomplish it." Her advice to high school students is to never think that it will be too much. She said once they put their mind to it, they can do it. "It may seem like a lot of work, and yes it is, but if you have the determination, perseverance and a passion for it, you will be able to achieve it," she said. With her doctorate degree in hand, Dr. Rolle is looking to effect change in Mathematics learning in the county.

She said she sees herself engaging in lots of research work in Math education and writing articles for publication in journals. "My university is strong on social change, and social change for the betterment of any country. You just don't want students to just do well in examinations, you want them to be viable citizens of the country and to be able to cope with everyday situations, so you want them to be able to ascertain skills that would assist them nationally as well as internationally," she said.

Dr. Rolle said teachers should allow students to see how Math is connected to the real world which would give students a better appreciation for Math. "Math enhances critical thinking and if teachers teach students to analyze and solve problems, [students] would be able to solve more problems and not only pass the GLAT exam and the BGCSE because they have the basic concept," she said. "Once they have the concept, integrate the skills, computations, and add the application, students will realize they can solve any problems. It's just a matter of understanding. And of course, the Math vocabulary would come in."

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