Integrating Technology Education in Kenya’s Competency Based Curriculum

#Learning2Code Programme

​

George Kiruja–CEMASTEA, Training Programme Coordinator

​

​

STEMtastic Adventures! Africa

ISO 9001:2015 Certified

#Learning2Code

The Learning2Code programme was done in two project phases:

Phase 1 - Research on the gaps in coding activities in primary schools in Kenya - 2022

Phase 2 - Evidence-based implementation in 2023-2024

ISO 9001:2015 Certified

Project Goals

Contribute toward greater employability of young women and men in Kenya in the digital technologies sector.

• Spark the interest of learners in coding and computational thinking skills
• Create awareness of technology applications in everyday life and demonstrate how science works in solving problems in society.
• Lay a foundation for young Kenyans, particularly girls, to pursue STEM learning areas in secondary schools and universities with the aim of choosing careers in the growing tech sector and securing employment.
• Complement Kenya’s competency-based education by enhancing the teaching of the competencies through coding
• Equip educators with skills to teach basic coding skills, in a gender-responsive pedagogy, and to set up and facilitate vibrant school-based coding clubs.

ISO 9001:2015 Certified

Three stages to gather evidence

1. Secondary/desktop research - a database of coding programmes
2. A learning session with key stakeholders of coding in schools
3. Primary data collection - Interviews & Focus Groups with school communities

ISO 9001:2015 Certified

Highlights of Primary Research

• Many programmes already exist focused on the learners, but very few focus on building the capacity of teachers.
• Teachers show interest in using technology and specifically coding, but do not yet feel they have the right capabilities or opportunities to engage fully.
• Essential digital infrastructure is in place but support systems need to be enhanced.
• No clear metrics exist to measure impact beyond reach; new assessment approaches and tools are required.

ISO 9001:2015 Certified

Learning2Code Phase 2 Goals

• Empower teachers, especially female teachers, to lead coding activities in schools.
• Extend the capacity building process to include training, opportunities for practice, and Communities of Practice at a school and zonal level
• Involve pedagogical leaders in the process, and ensure they also have the competencies and resources they need to support teachers
• Leverage existing digital infrastructure (devices, human resources, etc) to support implementation and improve maintenance processes
• Define new metrics to measure success that include behaviour change and shifts in teacher practice

ISO 9001:2015 Certified

Research Questions

1. What are the characteristics of the teachers and pedagogy who attended the Learning2 code program?
2. What is the quality of the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) in achieving the project goal?
3. What coding knowledge and skills did the teachers acquire through the training?

​

ISO 9001:2015 Certified

Target Population and Sample

Target Population

• Primary schools in Kenya
• Pedagogical Leaders (Sub- County Directors, Sub-County Quality Assurance Officers, Curriculum Support Officers(CSOs), and school head teachers))
• Science and technology primary teachers

Sample

• Primary schools from five hard-to-reach counties
• 1285 primary teachers
• 256 champion teachers
• 224 head teachers
• 49 CSOs
• 16 QASOs
• 13 sub-county directors of education

ISO 9001:2015 Certified

Implementation process

Stage 1: MVP co-design

Three Approaches

• Iterative Approach
• User-Centered Design Approach
• Holistic teacher learning approach

​

Stage 2: Product testing/pilot

​

Stage 3 : Roll Out (School based training)

ISO 9001:2015 Certified

1. Introduction to Coding
2. Pattern and Games
3. Overview of Scratch
4. Animation using Scratch
5. Games and graphics using Scratch
6. Scratch Project

​

The Training Content

ISO 9001:2015 Certified

Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Support

​

Six tools were developed and used

​

a) Pre and post-training evaluation questionnaire

b) Training content process evaluation tool

c) Coding activities implementation observation guide

d) CSO/Sub-County Directors’ questionnaire,

e) Champion questionnaire

f) HOI interview guide

​

​

​

​

​

ISO 9001:2015 Certified

Feedback Data

ISO 9001:2015 Certified

Feedback Data from the Training of Teachers (School-Based)

Entry-level digital skills for teachers

The findings showed the majority of the teachers have basic digital skills, and are able to:

Type, edit, send, download using the internet, project and print teaching and learning resources

use phone for communication and can open a tablet and use it

Opening a laptop and saving a document.

Browsing, and searching for information from internet

Some teachers stated that “they can use smart phones but not in coding,” while others said that they “have no idea in coding’’

​

ISO 9001:2015 Certified

Time of the training

• Most of the training took place in the afternoon (53.7%) and very few on Saturdays (5.6%). The trainers reported that all the teachers were comfortable with the meeting time.

Duration of the training

• Many schools trained for more than 4 hours (39.3%),. The hours were spread out across several days of the week. The schools that trained in less than 4 hours conducted the training only once. (Teachers requested for more time, as evidenced by the following responses extracted from their post training evaluation responses:
• Need more training. I need more training and practice
• The training to be given at least two weeks (face to face)
• More days are needed for training

Feedback Data from the Training of Teachers (School-Based)

ISO 9001:2015 Certified

Strategies used to ensure inclusivity and participation

• Champion teachers used several strategies to ensure inclusivity and active participation among the teachers, especially those who were slow to learn. These include:
• Working with teachers in groups
• Individual tutoring
• I attached them to a quick learner
• Encouraged new ideas ..Wi-Fi was provided and all teachers went online
• I made the coding activities and instructions short, clear.

Feedback Data from the Training of Teachers (School-Based)

ISO 9001:2015 Certified

Highlights of the Training of Teachers (School-Based)

In comparison to the entry-level digital skills of teachers, where some had reported having no idea of the concept of coding, feedback on school based teacher training showed that they acquired knowledge and skills

Acquisition of knowledge - 43% stated that they now understood the meaning of coding, and 43.3% were now familiar with Scratch 3.0 application.

Acquisition of skills – 41.83% acquired coding skills and could instruct the sprite in Scratch to perform a specific action (41.83%); create simple animations using Scratch (28.3%); and create games using Scratch (28%).

However, the percentage of teachers who had acquired the skills remained low. One possible reason for the small proportion of teachers with the necessary knowledge and skills could be attributed to insufficient time allotted for the training.

ISO 9001:2015 Certified

L2C Programme� Reflections

• Trainers demonstrated a deep understanding of the content and engaging delivery techniques.
• Sufficient devices during the training sessions: Although participants still shared the devices, the ratio was good enough to allow hands on training.
• Involvement of pedagogical leaders and heads of institutions: Good representation of county, sub-county education leaders from the Ministry of Education and Teacher Service Commission. Each school was represented by the head teacher or deputy head teacher.

ISO 9001:2015 Certified

L2C Programme� Reflections

• Special Needs Education: Headteachers appreciated being involved and requested to have teachers with special needs from their schools join the training sessions.
• Gender diversity in the training sessions: There was an observation of a gender gap among trainees in the Nyandarua County training session with 3:2 male to female ratio.
• Need to differentiate training of teachers and the pedagogical leaders since their coding knowledge needs are different.
• Time constraint in following the process proposed to differentiate the training process and content for each of the target audiences.

ISO 9001:2015 Certified

Lessons Learnt

• Establishing and building teachers' digital literacy levels is necessary before introducing coding.
• Co-designing of the training content with the users enhanced ownership and supported effective implementation of the project.
• To further promote inclusivity, SNE experts should also be included in the co-designing of the training content and implementation.
• Formalized school-based teacher professional development allowed for continuous capacity building among teachers

ISO 9001:2015 Certified

Recommendations

• Promote coding culture in both primary and junior schools
• Encourage teachers to embrace use of ICT tools in the learning process
• Strengthen continuous school based teacher capacity building on coding

ISO 9001:2015 Certified

Project Showcase

In the CEMASTEA Makerspace

ISO 9001:2015 Certified

Thank You

Questions?

ISO 9001:2015 Certified