IT - 2

Basic IT Skills Development Trainings to Primary School Teachers

PHASE 2

Program Timeframe:

October 2006 – February 2008

Funding: United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Human and Institutional Development Program managed by World Learning / Macedonia

http://www.usaid.org.mk and http://www.worldlearning.org.mk/

Implementing partners:

Bureau for Development of Education (BDE)

Program Overview

Through the first cycle of trainings implemented during the period March – September 2005, the total number of 4000 teachers had an opportunity to build basic IT knowledge and skills on how to use the computers, basic software tools and raising awareness on how to use computers in teaching various subjects through effective and engaging ways to introduce IT to students.

The IT Skills Development for Primary School Teachers training program intended to lead the effort to face with one of the weaknesses identified among teachers in primary schools in Macedonia, which is lack of capacity at using IT as an effective teaching tool. Considering the importance to provide trainings to teachers in basic IT skills, this training program insured that additional number of 5100 primary school teachers and school staff accommodate the information technology.

As continuation of this successful training program, the overall goal of this follow-up program was create an even-playing field in the area of IT skills among primary school teachers. To be effective in using information technology, teachers must be computer literate and most importantly they need to have knowledge and skills to integrate information technology in teaching and learning process with students.

Proposed training enhanced the participants’ knowledge of the subject matter and lead to the achievement of the training objectives fulfilling the following indicators:

- Participants completing the program overcame fear of new IT technology, and become familiar with basic usage of computers;

- Participants completing the program are able for basic usage of the Microsoft package, including: Word, Power Point and Excel;

- Participants completing the program in general, understand the range of IT usages for the sake of better teaching;

- Participants completing the program have a basic understanding how to integrate the use of software into their teaching.

Training Evaluation (results and achievements)

In the period May – September 2007, a total number of 249 groups completed the IT training for primary schools teachers in Macedonia. The total number of participants who successfully completed the training, passed tests and accordingly, received certificates is 4936. Relevant data about certified participants (name of the participant, school, position, region, place etc.) is recorded in the training database attached to this report as Annex 5. The percentage of participants who were certified is 98.74% out of participants who started the training and dropped out or didn’t pass the tests.

On a base of filled questionnaires by the participants at the end of the training courses, MCEC evaluated various elements referring organization of the training, implementation of training program, the level of the participants’ confidence for practical application of gained knowledge and skills as well as participants’ interest for future IT courses. The evaluation reports are attached to this report as Annex 8 where summary results from compiled questionnaires from all 249 groups are presented as charts. The analysis of results is made on a base of the processed data from 4,720 questionnaires submitted by the participants, which indicates that 94.42% of participants provided their feedback on above mentioned training aspects.

Also, the analysis of the data from the questionnaires presented in this report provided specific information about the structure of the participants referring their nationality, gender, age, position and location of the school where they work.

The general indications from this report are the following:

Organizational aspects of the training (ICT equipment in the training room, working conditions; content and design of the textbook) were evaluated as very good by 75% of the participants (as average for all 3 questions).

The total number of 50 class-hours was evaluated as sufficient for implementation of all program contents by 81.50% of the participants, while the remaining 18.50% considered it as not sufficient.

Evaluation of the content matters of the seminar and the methodology of implementation (Presentation of the program content, Methodological approach of the trainers, Opportunity for asking questions, trainers support during the classes) were evaluated as very good by 94% of the participants (as average for all 4 questions).

Level of confidence to implement the program topics aimed for IT skills development, the participants stated the following for the specific modules:

I feel completely confident: MS Word = 50.89%; MS Excel = 39.54%; MS P Point = 43.69%

I feel confident: MS Word = 41.85%; MS Excel = 49.58%; MS P Point = 46.14%

Somewhat confident: MS Word = 6.55%; MS Excel = 10.27%; MS P Point = 9.36%

I don’t feel confident: MS Word = 0.71%; MS Excel = 0.61%; MS P Point = 0.81%

Please click here for an Evaluation Report.

MCEC also developed the test questions for each module. Each test consisted of instructions for the trainer and instruction for the test items for participants. After the completion of the trainings, the testing was conducted by the end of each module as a tool for assessing the level of attained skills and knowledge of the participants.