New case studies show immediate improvement in HE expertise in online teaching and learning in Kenya

The OU’s Institute of Educational Technology is working with partners to strengthen the capacity of online and distance learning for selected Public Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), in Kenya.

Funded by the UK Government Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), Skills for Prosperity Kenya is a programme working to help increase capacity for inclusive economic growth across the nation.

The programme aims to strengthen links between education and industry, develop an enabling environment for a strong skills ecosystem, and improve access to Higher Education (HE) and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) for marginalized and unemployed youth.

As a part of Skills for Prosperity (Kenya) consortium, the OU’s Institute of Educational Technology (IET) is leading the development and implementation of two key programme areas, one focusing on baseline capacity training in digital (online and blended) education for 29 public HEI’s staff, another focused on capacity building for eight selected Public HEIs to strengthen their existing digital education delivery, capacity and inclusivity.

How case studies show immediate improvements

Participants in the first programme completed their training between August-December 2021, with feedback showing reported improvements in a range of digital skills and capabilities for offering online or blended learning.

Reflecting on the impact of the training, Dr Fereshte Goshtasbpour, Lecturer in IET and member of the project focused on capacity development, shared: “One conclusion that we can make is participants’ increased confidence in supporting and delivering online learning”.

The pre and post-programme surveys showed improvements across four specific digital competencies, namely:

1. Information, data and media literacies  
2. Digital creation, problem solving and innovation  
3. Digital learning and development  
4. Digital communication, collaboration and participation 

Based on the responses from participants, ten case studies have been produced displaying feedback from participants of the programme which ran in 2021. These ten case studies, exploring views from individuals across various levels within HEIs, include a short biography of the participants, their self-reported scores for different digital skills (before and after the training), and a quotation from participants that reflects on the impact of training, and considers future plans to implement what they have learned.

Adding further, Dr Goshtasbpour shared on the future activities the Skills for Prosperity Kenya project will do to plot the impact of its capacity training. Dr Goshtasbpour added:

“Later this year, we will be contacting participants to examine whether IET training has had longer-term impact on their practice; and if so, in what ways. We are keen on understanding what participants have done differently during the past year as a result of our training.”

Access and download the ten case studies from participants in IET-led online education training