Wikimedia Foundation Trains 63 Teachers On Digital Education In Onitsha
By Julie Sylvia, Onitsha
Atleast 63 secondary school teachers in Anambra State, were on Thursday, at Dennis Memorial Grammar School, DMGS, Onitsha, trained on digital education by Wikimedia Foundation, a free online encyclopaedia,.
The training which centred on using Wikipedia to foster media and information literacy skills in the classroom for junior and senior secondary school teachers and students.
According to Mrs Obiageli Ezeilo, the Lead facilitator for the Wikimedia education team, “that the aim was geared towards teaching teachers on how to access and improve their media and information literary skills in classroom.
Ezeilo said that the programme was a free online training programme designed for teachers to learn how to integrate Wikipedia as a learning tool in the classroom.
“This will teach them how to access information, evaluate information and use these informations effectively in teaching and learning.
“If they are able to learn it very well, it would improve the students information and communications’ Technology (ICT) skills.
“Teachers should start using Wikipedia, it is a reliable tool for teaching, it will help them in their research ability, ICT compliance, digital compliance, it will help them equip as in 21st century teachers”, she said.
In her contribution, one of the resource person in Wikipedia, Dr Perpetual Osuchukwu, Department of Library Science, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, said that learning had actually taken place between them and the teachers, saying that they are responding well to the assignment given to them.
Osuchukwu said that they looked forward in collaborating with the state government in expanding the process to other parts of the state and sustaining it for a long period of time.
Achukwu Onyinye Jane, another facilitator said that the programme was targeted only at post primary school teachers to assist them in digital education.
“It is our maiden project in Anambra and we will like to partner with the state government and we advise those that participated to retain what they were taught.
Mrs Joy Ifediegwu, an agricultural science teacher said that the programme is a good one, according to her, it has enlighten them on how to cope with their lesson plans and teaching materials, teaching students using wikipedia is easy and simple, very recommendable.
