Nedbank Innovation Hub
Teacher Training

Empowering Educators: The Importance of ICT Integration in Teaching and Learning

February 11, 2025

Uncommon.org’s Teacher Training Program empowers educators with the skills and knowledge to seamlessly integrate ICT into their teaching. To date we have trained 20 teachers from Mbare and 30 from Warren Park 2 Primary School, providing ongoing support through computers, internet access, and instructional materials.

The ICT Integration Guide is one of the support materials that focuses on effectively incorporating technology into teaching and learning, using the SAMR model as a framework.

The SAMR Model (Peudentura, 2010)

The guide categorizes technology use into four stages:

  1. Substitution – Replacing traditional tools with digital alternatives for convenience (e.g., typing instead of handwriting, digital whiteboards).
  2. Augmentation – Enhancing learning with technology (e.g., using multimedia presentations, online research, gamified learning).
  3. Modification – Transforming tasks by enabling collaboration and interactive activities (e.g., creating podcasts, video presentations, using AI for research).
  4. Redefinition – Creating new learning experiences beyond traditional methods (e.g., global student collaboration, publishing work online, coding).

The guide emphasizes that technology should support learning rather than be used for its own sake, and highlights the potential of AI to improve education

By incorporating ICT into their classrooms, teachers trained by Uncommon.org can improve student outcomes, foster innovation, and prepare learners for a digital future. Technology has become not just an add-on but a transformational force in education. In the recently held Teacher Training workshop held from the 28th -30th of January, one of the key topics that we delved into was the integration of technology into teaching and learning. Through the Teacher Training Program, educators gain hands-on experience with:

ICT integration skills are important for teachers because they help them use technology effectively in the classroom, rather than just for the sake of using it. Here’s why it matters:

1. Enhances Student Learning

2. Supports Diverse Learning Needs

3. Encourages Collaboration & Creativity

4. Prepares Students for the Future

5. Improves Teaching Efficiency

6. Expands Learning Beyond the Classroom


conclusion

Integrating ICT empowers teachers to create dynamic, personalized, and future-ready learning experiences while making their work more efficient and impactful.

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This week, we welcomed our third cohort of teachers to the Uncommon Teacher Training Program at Warren Park 2 Primary School! Grade 4 educators from schools across the Warren Park cluster gathered to begin their digital skills journey.

During the intensive workshop, teachers learned essential skills including Microsoft Word and Excel basics, Scratch programming fundamentals, and an introduction to using AI tools in education.

Through this program, we're creating digital champions who will reach hundreds of students. Our teacher training initiative represents one of the most scalable approaches to achieving our mission of making Zimbabwe the most tech-literate country in Africa. 

When we empower one teacher, we impact generations.

#Uncommon #TeacherTraining

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