Training of Trainers (TOT) on Audio-visual Techniques, Digitization of Modules and Applications of E-learning Platforms is delivered by a collaborative effort of Sasakawa Africa Associations (SAA)/SAFE and College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Bahir Dar University.
By Mulugeta zeleke
The training which focused on training of twenty seven instructors for them to be able to be trainers themselves on Audio-visual Techniques, Digitization of Modules and Applications of E-learning was held on 22th and 23rd of September 2020.
Dr. Asaminew Tassew, Dean, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Bahir Dar University delivered welcoming speech. In his speech, he acknowledged SAA/SAFE and the commitment of the College’s management to provide full support and proactive collaboration in actively implementing the pilot project. He added, the College is ready to leverage resources, such as staff, space, and general infrastructure for the success of the pilot project.
Dr. Mercy Akeredelou from SAA/SAFE remarked that COVID 19 pandemic has impacted the whole world including academia. This was made evident to SAA from the rapid rural appraisal study conducted immediately after the spread of the pandemic in Africa. It was evident from the results of the study that all training institutions were under lock-down with students sent out of the University/Agricultural College campuses and training programs Also, the SAFE Demand driven curriculum content could not be delivered because its main mode of curriculum delivery was the face to face modality which required students’ physical presence in the classroom setting.
It was among the recommendations of this study that training institutions need to complement the face to face delivery with the e-learning mode of delivery so that lectures could go on even at difficult times like now and in the future. SAA, therefore, decided to implement a pilot E-learning project in two training institutions in Africa, one in francophone countries and one in Anglophone countries. College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Bahir Dar University is selected to implement the pilot project from Anglophone African countries due to the commitment of the University’s Management and staff.
Apart from the equipment already delivered to set up the e-learning platform, a series of TOTs are planned to be implemented with the Staff of the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences of the University to equip them with the knowledge and skills required to operate the e-learning platform and one of it is the skills in e-learning platform management, audio visual techniques and photography. The training is believed to enable instructor trainees to develop modules in very attractive and interactive ways that will not be boredom for students. It is also hoped to make the module delivery on the e-learning platform to be close to real life situations. It has been understood that the participants of the training will master the key concepts very well so that they can be resource persons for other Universities and training institutions in Africa.
In his closing remarks, Dr. Asaminew extended his huge gratitude to SAA/SAFE for the provision of equipment for the e-learning platform and for organizing the TOT. He also acknowledged the active participation of the instructors in the TOT.
