Due to COVID-19, teacher candidates in the 2019/20 Bachelor of Education program have had to quickly adapt their teaching and learning styles through the use of online platforms. We are showcasing some of the wonderful examples of projects created by them as part of the community field experience.
Ann Yi-En Lee & Sebastien Ragache
BEd Elementary & Middle Years (French)
- What is the name of the community partner or group you are working with?
- Edward Angola
- What is your project’s subject area(s)?
- English, mathematics, science, social studies
- Tell us about your project!
- Due to the pandemic, students in Kenya are required to stay home. Unfortunately, there was not enough time to prepare and provide term 2 learning content to students before the stay-at-home order was implemented. We are working in a team to create learning resources for 8th grade students in Blessed Sacrament Academy. We are helping to prepare them for their national exam in September. We will be creating lessons, sharing resources and corresponding with students and teachers to support their learning. Our focus is to create learning resources for term 2, which has not yet been covered in school.
Our team in Vancouver is composed of myself, Sebastien Ragache (teacher candidate, French cohort), Trista Yuan (3rd year BSc Dietetics) and Oliver Yam (PhD candidate in physics). We are working closely with the teachers in Kenya composed of Edward Angola, George Ndiko, Handy J, P.J and many others to help support student learning.
- Did you face any particular challenges in the planning, making or delivery of this project?
- Initially we had many questions with regards to the course content, learning objectives, and exam content. Our correspondents in Kenya have been working diligently to provide us with electronic copies of sample exams, course content, textbooks and teacher guides/learning objectives. We have to be conscientious that the students have limited access to physical education, health education materials. Furthermore, they have limited access to the internet and data, and experience electrical outages. Unfortunately, there are students who have limited access to electronic devices and have not been able to access the online resources on a frequent and consistent basis. Furthermore, we have to be mindful that we were educated in Europe/North America, and that it is important we try our best to contextualize the information to the context of life in Kenya.
- How was the project received? Did anything surprise you about the outcome?
- We have been creating study slides based on their curriculum content and learning objectives. Furthermore, we have been providing them with exercises and activities. Students have been sending us their work through WhatsApp, and we have been responding to their work as well as providing feedback. Aside from submitting the work, students are fairly quiet on the WhatsApp group page, so it can be somewhat challenging to gauge the helpfulness of the exercises, activities as well as student comprehension.
- Can you tell us about a highlight of creating this remote lesson plan?
- We are able to help students abroad continue their learning and education during a critical time in their schooling. We found this to be a very meaningful project, and it is heartwarming to receive the kind words and feedback from teachers and students in Kenya. It is also an enriching experience to learn about the curriculum and education system in Kenya, if only through our limited exposure.
- What media did you use to create your project?
- We have been communicating through WhatsApp groups.There is a group for the teachers, as well as groups by subject. The students are added to the groups by student, alongside their teacher. For example, there are groups called “Blessed Sacrament Science”, “English Language- Blessed Sacrament”, etc.
- Where can we view your project?
- N/A