Equipping Teachers With Digital Skills Using Chromebooks

Over the summer, Asante Africa Foundation embarked on a life-changing journey of training teachers on how to adopt the effective use of Chromebooks in various school activities in Tanzania. 

One of the key problems teachers and students face in Tanzania is the language barrier. In a project we conducted, for suggesting strategies in promoting teaching quality, it was discovered that the bilingual educational policy makes it difficult for the students to transition from primary school to middle school due to the language switch from Swahili to English. This switch requires all students to adopt the immediate use of the English language in their senior middle school. This challenge slows down the comprehension pace for the students, thereby making it difficult for the teachers to progress. 

Another significant challenge faced by teachers in Tanzania, is the scarcity of computers in classrooms, a problem that is especially crucial because of the world’s rapid shift toward digitization. The absence of these essential tools not only threatens to leave both teachers and students behind in terms of education but also diminishes their economic potential by depriving students the opportunity to acquire critical digital skills and perpetuating the cycle of low-quality education.

In addressing these problems, we organized an initiative that focuses on training teachers with digital skills specifically in the knowledge of using Chromebooks. The training was aimed at equipping the teachers with specific tools needed to enhance teaching curriculum and improve the learning experience of students. The skills included gaining knowledge in developing exam questions, inputting data, analyzing results, writing reports, and improving typing skills.

The training sessions were carried out successfully across 10 schools in rural Tanzania, equipping a total number of 82 teachers and one ward education officer in Lushoto. Teachers exhibited enthusiasm and eagerness during the learning sessions. They realized how digital tools could streamline their workloads and create a new and exciting learning environment for each student.

The effects of this training are evident. The teachers have shown a remarkable improvement in both their confidence and competence among their peers. We believe that the exposure to this tool will lay a solid foundation for an advanced and innovative learning environment where students will gain impactful knowledge and skills.

The achievement here will serve as a blueprint in guiding our plans as we expand our training sessions in Monduli and Kilimanjaro regions of Tanzania. By empowering the teachers with digital skills, we create a broader landscape of quality education. Impacting the lives of many students and transforming their lives in tremendous ways.

“I would first like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Asante Africa for providing us with these devices. We did not have a single device before, making it challenging to perform tasks such as typing, preparing results, creating exams, or sending government reports. However, now we will be using Chromebooks extensively for improving our processes and teaching techniques. Now we have the tools and the knowledge to use them. I am ready to lead my fellow teachers in utilizing these Chromebooks.” – Joyce Mbwambo, Heads of Mbwei Primary school