Digital Literacy Training Workshop for New Faculty Members

In collaboration with the Human Resource Department of the University, the KNUST E-Learning Centre organised a two-day workshop for the University’s new faculty members. The training program was held from Monday, 16th January to Tuesday, 17th January 2023 at the IDL Computer Laboratory.

In a welcome address, Prof. Eric Appau Asante, the Director of the KNUST E-Learning Centre, congratulated the participants on their appointment as lecturers. He emphasised the honour of joining a University that has been named the finest in Ghana and all of West Africa for the quality of its education. Prof. Asante continued by reiterating the work being done by the University to spearhead the development of online teaching and learning in the nation. He presented a succinct keynote speech outlining the history and facilities of the E-Learning Centre.

He continued to mention that each participant will receive a certificate of proficiency after the workshop was successfully completed. In order to realise the University's vision of creating a blended learning environment with 70% in-person and 30% online engagement, training and retraining of its community is required to ensure that all of its Faculty Members and Students are proficient in the online teaching and learning environment. Prof. Asante also highlighted that during the previous academic year, 15,000 students were able to take their mid-semester exams on the University's Learning Management System, and part of the ongoing supplementary exams were conducted on the V-Class. He, thus, continued to make a strong case that the Centre was in a good position to support online classes because it had 23 cutting-edge studios, each fitted with professional cameras, teleprompters, and wacom tablets. Dr. Samuel Antwi, the Centre's head of the Instructional Design Unit, led the first session. He facilitated conversations on online teaching techniques with a primary emphasis on developing a welcoming Virtual Learning Environment. In addition, the participants were shown how to handle large classes that required practical studio activities, as well as how to use appropriate multimedia teaching resources, differentiated teaching and assessment procedures, and other management techniques. He also spoke on what blended learning involves, how to prepare for teaching online in a blended setting, and how to adopt materials for face-to-face instruction to conform to online standards.

Dr. Ralitsa Diana Debrah, who is also with the Instructional Design unit of the Centre, led the second presentation of the first session on online supervision techniques. She trained the participants on methods and techniques for inspiring students, staying in touch with them, and monitoring their performance through both formal and informal communication channels. In her presentation, she advocated grouping students and promoting online self-directed and peer learning. In an effort to foster a synergistic and collaborative community, she emphasised that postgraduate students could be given the chance to interact and mentor one another, with the lecturer playing the role of facilitator in such engagements. She also advised participants to take breaks when they are worn out in order to be more productive as she concluded her lecture. She also encouraged them to listen intently and handle their students' problems with empathy.Four groups of workshop participants were led through the various studios by Mr. Ebo Arthur, Mr. Theophilus Abaka Aggrey, Mr. Isaac Newton Segbedzi, and Mr. Oscar Ousseni Ouedraogo.

The Registrar, Mr. Christopher Addo, in explaining the rationale of the program, admonished as many as possible to volunteer to become E-Learning Ambassadors as it will help in their career development. He noted that ambassadors champion the development of the Centre hence they get exclusive rights to programs, seminars and conferences organized by the Centre.

The second session was facilitated by Abeaku Badu Arthur and Foster Sedem Dedume, both staff of the UITS and members of the Systems Support Unit of the Centre. Mr Arthur guided the participants through cybersecurity fundamentals and internet safety buzzwords including malware, data breach, backup, and cloud storage. He emphasised the value of cybersecurity, particularly in the modern world when most of our activities take place online. Mr. Dedume led the second presentation of day one. He gave a lecture on passwords that covered both the burden of passwords and the risks of using weak passwords. He said in his opening remarks that the UITS’ system users were its biggest weakness. He guided participants through a series of exercises to evaluate the security of their email accounts, contacts, and passwords. tips and techniques for safe browsing and coming up with passwords that were secure.

Published:29th January 2023 Source: KNUST E-Learning Centre