KNUST E-Learning Centre to retrain selected faculty on digital teaching before new academic year
The KNUST E-Learning Centre will run a four-day digital teaching programme in January 2026 for selected lecturers from all colleges as part of efforts to strengthen online and technology-supported instruction.
The decision was reached during a meeting between the E-Learning Centre and the university’s Instructional Design Unit. The training will target ten faculty members from each college, marking a shift from earlier large-scale training schemes that covered hundreds of staff.
Prof. Emmanuel Akowuah, Director of the E-Learning Centre, said the focus is on a smaller group who can apply the skills immediately in their teaching. “We need a model that allows us to build capacity steadily.
If we try to rewrite every course ourselves, the system will slow down. The better approach is to train people who already have the content and guide them to design for online use.” he said.
The Instructional Design Unit made up of Prof. Nana Ewusi Mensah, Dr Prince Edem Dzakpasu and Dr Linda Amoako-Banning, confirmed that earlier training cohorts funded under other initiatives had produced skilled participants, but many did not get opportunities to apply what they learned. Instructional Design support staff, including Samuel Selorm Anane Avotri and Nana Adwoa Kwabea Baidoo, were also present.
Dr Dzakpasu said, “We trained lecturers in past cohorts, but many have not been engaged consistently. We need an approach that keeps trained faculty active so the skills translate into teaching practice.”
The upcoming training will run for four days, covering instructional design principles, redesigning content for online delivery, digital tools, assessment for online learning, and basic media production processes. Participants are expected to bring existing course materials to be redesigned during the sessions.
Prof Akowuah said the smaller structure would allow for closer supervision. “We want to work with those who are ready to redesign their courses. When we develop this first group, they can also support their colleagues in the colleges.”
E-Learning Centre staff from production, studio and support units will also participate to build internal technical capacity. According to Prof. Akowuah, the aim is to create a frontline team capable of resolving basic instructional and technical challenges before escalating complex ones to the instructional designers.
The four-day sessions will include guided practice, peer review of redesigned materials, and hands-on demonstrations of the university’s online learning systems.
The colleges are expected to submit their nominees ahead of the start date. Prof Akowuah said the collaboration marks a shift toward a more coordinated approach to technology-supported teaching.
“We want to ensure the lecturers responsible for online delivery are properly equipped. When the colleges send the right people, the impact will be immediate.” he said.
The revised plan is expected to form part of broader efforts to strengthen online learning as the university expands digital delivery across programmes. A follow-up meeting is scheduled for next week to finalise the list of participants and prepare for the January start.
Published: 11th November, 2025 Source: KNUST E-Learning Centre