Motivating, co-creative and educational are some of the words participants used to describe the 2nd EduHack that the TTE project launched in May and June 2021 to consolidate and strengthen practices of academic management by Teacher trainers in the 5 National Teacher’s Colleges (NTCs). The series which is an initiative supported by Enabel and the Ministry of Education and Sports in Uganda implemented through the Teacher Training Education (TTE) Project, aimed at bringing NTC lectures in contact with digital and innovative solutions and approaches to promote the sustainability of hybrid education.

Following the tremendous setback on the education sector worldwide because of the COVID-19 pandemic and closure of schools in Uganda, there was a need for an adjustment in the teaching and learning experience to suit the new circumstances. The Teacher Training and Education project (TTE) seized this opportunity and introduced ICT in teaching and learning in the 5 National Teachers’ Colleges (NTCs) for the continuity of studies during and after the lockdown and to address pedagogical challenges in our education sector.

The 1st EduHack conducted in May was centered on collaborative and interactive workshops in which teacher trainers were tasked with identifying an appropriate Learning Management System (LMS). This exercise was geared towards equipping NTC college lecturers with the skills to manage their students digitally and conduct online trainings through user-friendly and manageable platforms. Through a user-centered approach, the teacher trainers were commissioned to assess the selected Learning Management Systems in order to gain in-depth experience to effortlessly use it to manage their students remotely.

The 2nd EduHack gave an opportunity to 65 Lectures to participate in a co-creation workshop to create an online course on Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL). Here, teacher trainers worked on the design of active e-learning content which was aimed at facilitating creative and innovative ICT tools in study sessions. Modules developed using the Sandbox strategy were turned into e-learning material as a way of equipping NTC staff and later NTC students and partner secondary schools with digital skills for ICT in Teaching and Learning. As a result of the 5-day undertaking, all participating teacher trainers were awarded for their submissions of e-learning content to the TEL. Some of the active e-learning activities that were designed and ready to be piloted in the 5 NTCs included 10 podcasts and 10 screencasts.

The hands-on workshops were not only filled with capacity building but also peer support and knowledge sharing which encouraged the NTC ICT champions to learn and incorporate this new knowledge into practice. Martin from NTC Kaliro, who managed to hack 3 digital tools including Anchor said that the EduHack series empowered him with scripting, voicing, editing and coordinating skills. Suzan from Kaliro NTC hacked the podcasting tool from which she learnt about timing, voice projection and structuring of content. She said, “I intend to use these skills to create podcasts that educate, motivate and inspire others.”

The TTE project will run the 3rd EduHack on Instructional Design in August to provide skills to Teacher Trainers on creating and conducting online lessons for students.  This is part of Enabel’s efforts to support the continuity of learning during the closure of schools and support the adoption of hybrid education post-COVID-19 pandemic.  

Click for more on the EduHack:
Podcast on the EduHack series: https://anchor.fm/dorothy-kyamazima/episodes/EduHack-e13pigq
Digital Heroes testimonies from the EduHack: https://padlet.com/telsubmissions/Bookmarks