Why publish the ‘CSEC Study Guide’ for high-school students?
THIS IS the most interesting century in which to learn anything; it has overthrown the Renaissance in the 15th Century, as it pertains to influence and impact. The Internet has made learning accessible and affordable to so many. It has also transformed the way we learn into a more convenient and effective way. With the aid of a smartphone or tablet, learners are no longer restricted to a specific area, such as a study room, to learn content. In Jamaica, the day is also quickly coming when many students won’t be burdened with carrying multiple textbooks in their bags. Instead, the content will be stored as pdf files on their smart devices. I remember how strenuous it was for me to walk around with a 30lb backpack for an entire day. I also have the back pains to prove it.
What’s even more intriguing is the manner in which a lot of information is now delivered. With the advent of apps and interactive learning mechanisms such as smartboards, learners can be engaged in a more immersive manner. No longer are we engaged with words only; there is now video content, and in some cases, tactile interaction, to incorporate more of our senses. YOUTHLINK’S GOAL is to enlighten readers, especially high-school students. We inform them through constructive, knowledge-based, education-related articles such as School Review, Techno, Entertainment, The Fun Page, and most important, the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate(CSEC) Study Guide. The best way to build a nation is through a solid educational foundation, and Youthlink assists its readers in this regard by giving them content that is credible and insightful.
With a competitive academic market, we understand that having an advantage counts, and this is where our Study Guide comes in. We have also listened to many of our readers and have recently added two CAPE subjects (Caribbean Studies and Communication Studies) to the 12 CSEC lessons we already offer. We try to make them easy to read and readily understood. Our aim is to build students’ confidence before and during an exam.
In order to help our students to better matriculate to the next level of their academic life, which is another of our desires, we provide
Take for example virtual reality (VR). Imagine using a VR headset in a Geography class about the Eiffel Tower in Paris, where the learner can turn and view the tower from multiple angles while listening to a narration about it. The experience also allows him to see the surrounding environment as well as analyse the infrastructure of the tower. Compare such an awesome experience to the traditional method of listening to a teacher explain what the Eiffel Tower is while pointing to a static image in a book. Not only is this option beyond boring, but it is not as engaging, which will affect the learner’s ability to remember much about it.
This is the future of learning; one that is exciting and engaging.
The best type of learning is done when we engage as many of the senses as possible. The rapid change in technology is putting to death the mundane task of sitting and reading a book, which is outdated, in comparison to more interactive learning tools.
SUZETTE HART
them with experienced teachers who create insightful, useful lessons to unlock complex academic topics.
As it pertains to our editorial content, we are constantly looking for stories that are interesting and will engage our readers in a manner that will provoke thought. Some of our content will also help readers to develop a greater scope on pertinent subject matters facing teens. Most recently, we had to address the issue of cyberbullying, which has become extremely popular due to the pervasiveness of social media. Teens are now being exposed to issues such as fat shaming, wherein someone is made to feel embarrassed because of his or her weight. By addressing such issues, we help victims to avoid these situations and sensitise the perpetrators to the feelings of others.
Youthlink is a powerful medium for informing and guiding youths, and we encourage teenagers to take full advantage of the product. The magazine is published every week and can be found in the Tuesday Gleaner. The CSEC Study Guide is always placed in the centre of the Youthlink. Website: www.youthlinkjamaica.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/YouthlinkJamaica Twitter: twitter.com/YouthlinkMag Instagram: www.instagram.com/youthlinkmag