Move to gamify learning in schools

The Ministry of Educational Transformation is preparing to modernise Barbados’ education system by integrating technology, culture and entertainment into how young people learn.

Speaking at the St George Ideas Forum on Monday night, held at The Glebe, Minister of Educational Transformation, Chad Blackman, endorsed Echoes of Bim, an immersive mobile game developed by Barbados Community College students Keneisha Hunte and Shameka Burnett, as a timely innovation aligned with national reform goals.

“The ministry right now is in the process of a transformation exercise, reforming the curricula, and part of that requires us to reimagine how we teach education in a modern Barbados…. You’ve outlined in a very clear way how you can do that,” he said.

Blackman said he was especially encouraged by the game’s blend of historical education and entertainment. “Entertainment, of course, is part of who we are as a people, and therefore the education system and the ministry—I want to work with you to see how we can build it out.”

Echoes of Bim is a mobile-friendly, gamified learning tool that uses virtual reality, character building, and historical quests to teach Barbadian history in a format that appeals to Gen Z and Gen Alpha users. The game is aligned with the Caribbean curriculum and designed for students, educators, cultural enthusiasts and tourists alike.

He added that the initiative supports the ministry’s goal to bring education not only “into the 21st century” but “to where our young people are.”

Blackman also said that a partnership with the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology would be explored, with a view to advancing the project.

“Over the next few months, I think something like this should really be rolled out once we can have all the necessary checks and balances,” he said. “It would be good for us to have a teletext to see how we can try to roll it out.”

Echoes of Bim’s developers are positioning the project for regional expansion and educational integration. They hope to use digital platforms and cultural events to reach schools, tourists, and the wider diaspora—redefining how Caribbean history is experienced and passed on.

(SZB)