Teachers now techno-savvy

TECHNOLOGY IS PLAYING a greater role in the programmes being offered by Erdiston Teachers’ Training College.Things such as video, projectors, tape recorders and CDs/DVDs are being used to develop a better instructional approach.“Technology is driving society and if we don’t have a teaching force competent in it, then the children will either leave us behind or they in turn would not be prepared for the world,” said Dr Patricia Saul, acting deputy principal of Erdiston Teachers’ Training College.Saul was speaking to the DAILY NATION yesterday after the opening ceremony for the Diploma in Education (primary and secondary) and the Certificate in Educational Management and Administration courses at the college.She said Erdiston had started to take this approach ever since Edutech began and a separate course had been put into place specifically to show teachers how to deliver courses that reflected technological advances.As for the enrolment at the college, Saul said this had been on the increase ever since the Ministry of Education started trying to ensure that all appointed teachers in the system received training.“There is a big demand now. Three years ago the ministry asked us to train appointed teachers, so we have been placing priority on them, particularly in the Diploma in Education primary course,” she said.Saul added that there were still those who had not been appointed (were acting in their respective roles) who were taking part in the Diploma in Education secondary course. (CA)