ULMEC Organises a Four-day UEW-LMS Training for Lecturers
The Monitoring and Evaluation Committee (ULMEC) of the University of Education, Winneba-Learning Management System (UEW-LMS) has held a four-day comprehensive LMS workshop and training for all Lecturers in the University.
The workshop, which started on Monday, 4th and ended on Friday, 8th January, 2021, took place at all the three Winneba sites (Central, North and South campuses) of the University.
This was to prepare Lecturers for the use of the hybrid approach (face-to-face and online modes), for all teaching and learning activities during the 2021 academic year, as directed by the Management of the University.
The training exposed academic staff to some online teaching methods and strategies using the tools available on LMS. Participants were taken through hands-on practical training during the workshop. As a result, ULMEC expressed confidence in the effective roll-out of the hybrid mode as the dominant approach for teaching and learning for the 2021 academic year.
Speaking at the workshop, Prof. Andy Ofori-Birikorang, conveyed the appreciation of Management to all Lecturers for the roles they played over the past nine months since COVID-19 struck.
“As an institution, our resilience was put to test, and we are happy that you played your part in the successes we have chalked. As we are all aware, COVID-19 hit us without prior warning, plunging the whole world into a state of uncertainty, anxiety, fear, sadness and hopelessness. Here in Ghana, we have had our fair share of job losses, increased poverty, as well as disruptions to social and economic life. Amidst all these accounts of gloom has been opportunities for innovation,” he noted.
He urged participants to utilise the opportunity to upgrade their skills as extremely pertinent to furthering the UEW agenda of training internationally reputable teachers. “Academia is transforming so fast in recent times. Lecturers, therefore, need to be masters of their content and have some pedagogical skills. It is now imperative that we have technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK) to be able to effectively deliver in the 21st-century classroom.
“Possessing skills in online teaching is no longer an option, it is now a requirement, not a given, in most progressive institutions. Per our mandate of training internationally reputable teachers, our students cannot be shortchanged because of our inadequacy in technological skills. I, therefore, see this as an opportunity for you to upgrade your skills as very much relevant to furthering the UEW agenda. Besides, it is also very important for your own professional development.”
Dedicated facilitators who engaged participants and also equipped them with all the skills they require to enable them to function effectively in the virtual environment were Dr. Hannah Acquaye, Dr. Richardson Addai-Mununkum, Mr. Raymond Boison, Mr. Humprey Pufaa, Dr. (Mrs.) Patricia Ananga, Ms. Latipher Osei, Mr. Daniel Essel, and Dr. Jones Apawu.
Content for the training included “teaching online with Moodle, conducting assignments, conducting quizzes, and managing your courses in Moodle”.