From August 29th to 31st, 2023, the Pamitouch Foundation organized a three-day training program titled “TTAG goes digital” at the Accra College of Education. The program’s primary objective was to harness technology for more effective teaching and learning, while also addressing challenges and opportunities within the education sector.
The inaugural day of the program witnessed a substantial turnout of distinguished individuals, including Miss Pamela Aboagyewaa Mantey, the founder of Pamitouch Foundation, the Director of Corporate Affairs and Media Relations at the Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT, the National President of the Teacher Trainees’ Association of Ghana, Nana Kwame Jeph, the Principal of Accra College of Education, and representatives from the Open Foundation West Africa. The core focus of this training initiative was to deliver comprehensive instruction in various ICT courses, encompassing Wikipedia, Kiwix, Creative Commons, and Microsoft Suite, as well as online safety and cybersecurity.
During the first phase of the program, Miss Pamela Aboagyewaa Mantey underscored the significance of educators acquiring digital skills in the 21st century. She expressed her conviction that technology and innovation could drive the transformation of Ghana and Africa.
The President of the Teacher Trainees’ Association of Ghana also conveyed appreciation for the opportunity and stressed the training’s importance for teacher trainees across the 46 Colleges of Education.
The second phase of the program involved practical skills training, commencing with Wikipedia and its associated tools. The Open Foundation West Africa provided an introduction to Wikipedia and its supplementary resources, guiding teacher trainees through topics such as Wikimedia Commons, Wikidata, Wikibooks, Wikiquote, and Wikiversity.
Day two of the training was centered on the hands-on application of Wikipedia and its associated tools. Teacher trainees acquired knowledge on creating, editing, uploading, and managing content on Wikipedia.
The third day of the program centered on Microsoft Suite, online safety, and cybersecurity. Instructors from the Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT delivered lessons on Microsoft Word and Microsoft PowerPoint, covering the basic features of these applications. Additionally, teacher trainees received comprehensive training on essential aspects of cybersecurity, emphasizing internet safety.
In summary, the program aimed to equip teacher trainees with essential digital skills and empower them to leverage technology for more effective teaching and learning. It encompassed various ICT topics, including Wikipedia, Microsoft Suite, and cybersecurity, providing teacher trainees with valuable knowledge and practical skills for the digital age.
The phase awards and closing ceremony marked the culmination of this intensive three-day training program, focusing on Wikipedia, Microsoft Suite, and Creative Commons for teacher trainees. During the ceremony, awards were presented to recognize exceptional performance and contributions from the trainees. Miss Pamela Aboagyewaa Mantey praised the trainees for their dedication and commitment to acquiring digital skills.
Special awards were granted to students who demonstrated outstanding dedication and excellence in various aspects of the Wikipedia training. Categories included the most active Wikipedia editor, highest number of articles created, most innovative student, most interactive student, and many others throughout the training.
The closing ceremony featured speeches from various stakeholders expressing gratitude for the program’s success. Pamitouch Foundation, in particular, delivered a closing speech, expressing appreciation for all the stakeholders involved in the program’s success.
In her final remarks, Miss Pamela Aboagyewaa Mantey encouraged the participants to aim beyond the sky, emphasizing that the sky should not limit them but rather serve as a starting point for further exploration and continuous learning. Her speech aimed to inspire and motivate the trainees to continue building on their newfound knowledge and skills in the digital realm.
The awards and closing remarks provided a sense of achievement and recognition for the teacher trainees while also offering inspiration for their future endeavors.