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Digital Champions begin training in Kigali

At the end of 2024, Jamk designed and implemented a very successful digital pedagogical training in Kigali, Rwanda. Before starting the training with Digital Champions, our teacher educators - Mari Petäjä, Henna Pernu and Siru Lehto- had the opportunity to visit campuses of the College of Education and Rwanda Polytechnic. They explored digital facilities and met with staff members of both organisations. The photo below, featuring a group of local teachers and Jamk educators was taken at the College of Education in Kigali.

Group of people outside the College of Education

Digital Champions

Both the College of Education and Rwanda Polytechnic aim to develop digital skills and competencies on multiple fronts. One of the initiatives is to establish a group of Digital Champions. In alignment with the HEP-TED project activities, both organisations identified staff members for those roles, resulting in 20 enthusiastic teachers participating in the training in Kigali.

Digital champions are individuals dedicated in helping their colleagues develop digital confidence. They have many tasks that were discussed and aligned with their respective organisation’s strategy on the first day of the training. Generally, their role is to encourage the integration and effective use of technology in teaching and learning. Digital Champions will help incorporate digital tools and resources into the curriculum, making learning more interactive and engaging. They will provide training and ongoing support to other teachers and staff members, helping them become comfortable and proficient with new technologies. At the College of Education and Rwanda Polytechnic, Digital Champions are advocates for the use of technology in learning, highlighting its benefits and potentials to enhance learning experiences.

In a photo below a group of Digital Champions are working on a learning task.

A group of Digital Champions working on a learning task

Cross-institutional collaboration and learning circles

Participants were encouraged to learn together by creating so called learning circles, which involved forming small group of learners from both organisations. Working in learning circles further promotes cross-institutional collaboration and broader knowledge sharing. Working in mixed groups also fosters self-directed, innovative, and collaborative learning.

Various topics were discussed and explored during the training days, including:

Learning Design was discussed to ensure that learning experiences are engaging, inclusive, and impactful.
Psychological Safety in Online Learning Environments encouraged open communication learning.
Considering Artificial Intelligence in Education covered the use of AI to enhance teaching and learning processes.
Hybrid Teaching was tested to equip Digital Champions with the skills to effectively design and deliver hybrid courses that maximize student engagement and learning outcomes.

The Digital Champions also started modeling the use of Moodle for training and teaching. This platform is used during their own training to support ongoing self-directed learning and to provide a structured space for course materials, assignments, and interactions. The training continues with self-directed studies and online mentoring session offered by Jamk. The next workshop will take place in April 2025, facilitated jointly by TAMK in Kigali and Jamk online.

Text by Eila Burns, photos by Siru Lehto, Jamk