March 10, 2016

The Teacher Training Program conducted an inservice teachers training at Idetemya Secondary School in Mwanza last November and December after a conducting a training needs analysis exercise with the school in August 2015. This analysis aimed to identify the target participants’ training needs. As The Foundation For Tomorrow believes in the power of quality education, our Teacher Training program dedicates time, effort and resources to shape the landscape of education in Tanzanian schools.

The workshop covered three topics: planning for effective instruction, participatory teaching techniques, and formative assessment. These themes were selected based on our analysis of training needs.

 

Melissa Queyquep and I co-facilitated the sessions. I was very much inspired and excited by the active participation and readiness of these teachers throughout the sessions. The workshop was full of energy and movement, engaging everyone in training activities.

This engaging and stimulating training began with the sharing of objectives, overview of the 9 days training, expectations, and goals. Planning for effective instruction was our first touch. At this stage, the participants were taken through planning processes using the backward planning model.

Participatory teaching methodologies was another topic; I am convinced that students learn more if they demonstrate active participation in the lesson. As an educator, understanding how and when to use the collaborative teaching approach helps to inspire students to learn, encourage creativity, and stimulate critical thinking among the students. Above all, I am very pleased with the teachers of Idetmya Secondary School, as they are now in a better position to change teaching practices by implementing participatory teaching approaches gained from the workshop.

Teachers were able to harness the power of assessment (through giving exams) to improve student outcomes. The workshop focused on how assess learning through interpreting a student’s knowledge. Teachers were able to see that not only is pen and paper testing a reliable, traditional assessment method, but also that activities-based assessment tools give appropriate feedback to improve the teaching and learning process.  

We were all amazed with the workshop! All participants were required to design and deliver a 20- minute presentation on learnings from the three topics covered—planning for effective instruction, participatory teaching techniques, and formative assessment. The presentations were very dynamic, engaging everyone throughout each sessions. The creativity these teachers geared in the plan and presentation sessions was eye-opening, and a testament to the success of the workshop.

As a last activity, the participants were grouped according to subject areas to discuss and develop action plans based on identified points for improvement surfaced during the workshop. The action also provided follow-up by the school management team.