Models in Distance T eaching in T eacher Education in Jamaica

This paper describes models that have been used in delivering initial and inservice teacher education in Jamaica over the last 30 years. These include: • The In-Service Teacher Training Thrust model of the 1970s and early 1980s that combined face-to-face instruction delivered during vacations and evenings and weekends to provide formal training for unqualified teachers. • The UWIDITE model, using voice technology and print materials in delivering instruction for the University of the West Indies Certificate in Education. • The Upgrading Programme model employed by the Ministry of Education using a combination of face-to-face sessions during vacation and self-instructional printed modules. • The ROSE Project model, combining face-to-face instruction delivered during vacation with school visits and printed modules to deliver inservice training. • Institute of Education online delivery of Master’s in Education courses. The paper concludes by making some inferences with respect to the feasibility of these models and implications for further use.