ICT IS CHANGING ENGLISH TEACHING IN SCHOOLS - RWENZORI REGION

Teachers from the districts of Kasese under the Connect for Change (C4C) project run by RIC-NET had a field visit to schools in Kabarole. The visit took place on 19^th September 2014 with field visit at St.Leo’s college Kyegobe then to Canon Apollo PTC to look at the operation of the college English lab and Kyebambe Girls schools. The main objective was “to learn what the teachers in Kabarole have done and share lessons and experiences”. The main goal is to contribute to improved performance of students through effective teaching-learning process in Secondary schools in Kasese.14 teachers 6 female and 8 males representing 3 schools and 1 PTC participated in the field learning trip.Some of the benefits of integrating ICT into teaching and learning include the following; ICT caters for Different learning Styles of learners, ICT enables learners to play an active role in learning, ICT increases the attention span of learners; A lesson that incorporate ICT well has the ability of engaging learners and therefore tends to capture and hold the attention of the learners for a long time.ICT can provide real-life experiences; ICT can help link the subject taught to real-world situations or examples. For example watching news item on TV about flooding caused by climate change in one part of the world is a real-life, ICT encourages collaborative learning: learners can work in groups to achieve learning objectives. Instead of working alone on projects and activities, learners share ideas, learn team work skills and help each other to accomplish tasks, ICT improves presentation of work; use of word processors and presentation software enables neat presentation of work. This boosts self confidence among learners (and teachers).ICT offers flexibility of anywhere anytime learning.

The lessons learnt were; sharing skills and knowledge is more important. “Our success has largely depended on the support of the school administration” said Lillian of St.Leo’s college. The head teacher has supported us greatly. He appropriated us with the English room and supported us with training. “Adaptation to innovations depends on the person’s attitude to change” said Felix of St.Thereza. I therefore encourage other teachers to be positive to whatever changes and innovations in teaching that comes our way. “ICT innovation improves the teacher’s innovations in lesson preparation” said Edna of Kilembe SS. Preparing a lesson using ICT tools require that you spend good time preparing the lesson which improves the teacher’s creativity. Teachers are also learners all the time and learning is a lifelong process, we should impress this learning ability. “We are not paid in terms of money but the output to the community” Mr. Jobson. English labs are important for the improving the teaching learning ability and teachers promised to work with the administration to have these labs functional. “We are the ones to sustain the project and make it spread to other schools by showing high level of skills and being examples in our schools” Mr. Muhumuza of Kyebambe Girls. We should make proper use of the equipments.

From these lessons we can make difference and change the way English is taught in schools. In doing that the teachers pledged to form an association of teachers from 6 schools such that they can easily share the innovations and influence change of attitude towards the subject on the side of the learn and improve the literacy level.