SPH Holds Training Programme on Use of Sakai E-Learning Platform

The School of Public Health (SPH), University of Ghana, has held a 3-day training programme to offer faculty hands-on training in the use of the Sakai e-learning platform.

In his opening address, the Dean of the School, Prof. Richard Adanu, thanked faculty and resource persons for responding positively to his invitation to the training at a time they were expected to be marking examination scripts and getting their results ready. He noted that the SPH,in its resolve to utilize the Sakai platform in its teaching and learning, had a similar training in January, 2014 where a team of instructional designers from the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health took participants through instructional design and use of ICT in teaching/learning. The team introduced faculty to the Sakai platform which was then at the trial phase.

The Dean, Prof. Richard Adanu delivering his opening address

He disclosed, that, the objective of the 2015 retreat was to provide faculty with a hands-on training in the use of the Sakai platform and acquaint themselves with its multiple functions. This, the Dean noted, was critical at a time the university is deploying the Sakai on a large scale to enhance teaching and learning. He was hopeful that the School would be able to fully utilize the Sakai platform in the second semester of the 2014/2015 academic year.

Speaking on the topic, “Advantages and Challenges of on-line teaching and learning”,  the Dean of the School of Continuing and Distance Education, Prof. Yaw Oheneba-Sakyi, mentioned that over the last couple of years, the use of ICT in education and training has become a priority for the University of Ghana. He outlined some advantages of using ICT in education and training as making students less dependent on the lecturer, enhancing meaningful interaction with lecturers and students; as well as counteracting heavy reliance upon lectures, notes and memorization. The challenges on the other hand, included; unstable power supply; social media interference and poor internet connectivity.

Prof. Yaw Oheneba-Sakyigiving a lecture in one of the sessions.

Prof. Oheneba-Sakyi impressed upon the School to consider rolling out some of its Masters programmes through the distance education platform as the University has fully equipped its regional learning centres to facilitate teaching and learning. He expressed his appreciation for the readiness of faculty to acquire the skills in using Sakai. Other resource persons were Mr. Francis Awuye-Kpobi, Mr. Emmanuel Arthur, Mr. Eric Kemeh from UGCS and Mrs. Theodosia Adanu from the Balme Library. Additional topics discussed were: features of Sakai, turnitin plagiarism software, working with tests & quizzes tool; working with lesson tools.

Facilitators offering assistance to faculty during one of the practical sessions.

 

In all 27 faculty members from 6 departments of the School participated in the training.

In his closing remarks, the Dean, implored faculty to develop the interest of utilizing the Sakai platform to justify the investment the School has made into the training.He again, thanked all for their commitment to learning new skills.

A group photograph of participants and resource persons at the retreat.