These are list of projects I've been working on. I am in the process of finding sponsors to fund, advise, share experiences on these projects. These projects are not for my own good but mostly for youth at risk, community and nation development.
1. Low Budget Interactive Whiteboard
2. Broadcasting Centre at Gros Islet Secondary School
3. Publishing a book of St. Lucian Folk Music to use in schools
As technology develop, we adapt to new technology. Everybody have a smart phone now. But what happened to the education system? Currently there are interactive white board installed at various schools but very ineffective due to lack of portability, software (whiteboard placed in the school only works with specially designed software by the company), training of the software to the teachers, bugs in the software, time spent on planning and editing one lesson on the software. Above all, most schools have 1 interactive whiteboard because they are very costly. Upon my research, I came across few ideas and built a system which cost nearly 1/10 of the cost of interactive whiteboard used in school. This in mind, if this project works out well, with the same amount of money spent on 1 interactive whiteboard, there can be 10 portable interactive whiteboards in school. I used the one I build as a trial in my classes and the results were phenomenal.
When I was in primary school back in my country (many years ago). Each class room was equipped with a huge screen TVs or a projector. That's not all, there was a room for broadcasting. It was like how a TV station would set up their studio. Every week there would be a broadcasting session by a classroom. It was very creative. That's what I want for St. Lucia. I want to develop a broadcasting centre whether it can broadcast audio or video. Imagine instead of having regular assembly every Monday, there will be a broadcast. Just like news, all done by students. conducting interviews, talk shows all done by students. I can already feel the passion students will develop and their eagerness to come to school to learn and develop in positive realistic way.
Another need I saw in St. Lucia, There are not enough written contents on folk music of St. Lucia. I am a music educator and its challenging sometime to get resources on folk music. Most I get is the audio copy of the song. The scoring of these music are not available to most people even music teachers. I believe these are something that all St. Lucians should have access to. By scoring them it opens many possibilities for further development in educational form, cultural form, etc.
Here in St. Lucia, we follow Caribbean Examination Council. For music at CSEC level, it is recommended on the syllabus that suitable music rooms must have at least 3 workstations (computers) as well as a recording studio. As part of their SBA, students are required to record their compose pieces. However due to unequipped music rooms, students are forced to go to professional studios (most time it costs them) and produce their work. By doing this, it makes the work much difficult on the students because the professional studios are not familiar with CXC syllabus and their requirements. Students will have to do two set of works on each song. So far, my school and students has benefited from my experience and equipment but it is not enough and I will not be able to continue this for a long time.
With limited room and expertise for development in creative arts industry in St. Lucia. It has been a long dream to produce high quality musical / series of stories in similar concept of high school musical, glee, etc. This area I would need more assistance from different experts since I am specialized in music. This production will open up opportunities for growth in many ways.
Similar to publishing of books, often the recording available are in low quality. Some of these recordings have been transfers through tape after tape after tape and finally in digital form. This results for some recording to be in what I call "in between keys" where the key of the song is unidentifiable, its like not in C and not in C#, somewhere in between. One thing is for sure, there are plenty of creative musicians all over St. Lucia. I would like two different versions, 1. reproducing the original recording in digital form and 2. re arranging the music by fusing it with another genre. Many famous musicians, composers have started this in St. Lucia e.g. Ronald 'Boo' Hinkson, Barbara Cadet, etc. I want to develop something that is St. Lucia.
There are more creative ideas but these I have started in some way and want to finish. Please any form of contribution will go a long way (finance, expertise, opportunities, links, etc.). Thank you for your interest.
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