MR. PHILBERT CROSSFIELD, lecturer in Industrial Arts at Mico Teachers' College, has been selected to pursue a Master's degree in Technology Education at Illinois State University, beginning this month.
His studies are sponsored by the US Embassy's Office of Public Affairs (formerly USIS) under the 2000-2002 Fulbright/LASPAU (Latin American Scholarship Programme of American Universities) Faculty Development Programme.
Since its inception in Jamaica in 1979, LASPAU's Fulbright Faculty Development Programme has been extended to exactly 50 Jamaicans, excluding this year's recipients. In general, the emphasis has been on studies in Education, and Mr. Crossfield is the sixth Mico College faculty member to receive the grant. Jamaicans have pursued studies in a wide range of other fields, including Home Economics, Social Work, Banking and Finance, Comparative Literature and the Sciences. Mr. Crossfield's particular emphasis will be on the teaching of communication systems, production systems, supervision and administration, facility planning and other areas, while keeping pace with rapid technological advances.
A First Class Honours graduate in Industrial Technology from the University of Technology (UTech), Mr. Crossfield also holds a Diploma in Education from the University of the West Indies (UWI). In his current post as Senior Lecturer at Mico Teachers' College, he prepares student teachers to the Diploma level in Metal Working Technology and Engineering Drawing. Mr. Crossfield previously taught Metal Work and Technical Drawing at William Knibb Memorial High School and at St. Andrew Technical High School.
President of the American Studies Association of Jamaica and Director of the Institute of Education at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Professor Errol Miller, commented: "Information and communications technology is changing all aspects of society, including education. Hence it is important that teacher educators become masters at infusing this technology into their work. I am delighted that Mr. Crossfield has been offered this scholarship, which will enable him to pursue this important goal."
