A unit of study for teachers to understand how to use activities in the classroom in a way that will motivate learners, and help them to achieve worthwhile learning outcomes. The objective is for teachers to go about developing relevant and engaging learning activities.

The Kenyan ICT CFT Course is directly aligned to the UNESCO ICT Competency Framework for Teachers (CFT). This theme has been designed so that participants can master the following competency drawn directly from UNESCO framework:

"Teachers must have an in-depth knowledge of national policies and social priorities, and be able to design, modify and implement classroom practices that support these policies."

As teachers, we are able to use a variety of ICT tools in our classrooms. Many of us have access to computers, whiteboards, tv, tablets and cellphones. These digital resources can all be used for teaching and learning. But, how do we protect expensive technology but also serve the syllabus requirements in the best way possible? How do we organise digital resources in the classroom so we get the most to support and reinforce learning activities and social interactions?

This unit will look at these issues and policies around them.

A unit of study for participants to find, summarise, and review appropriate resources available on websites. The objective is for participants to learn how to apply the skills and knowledge developed in order to search for educational websites and summarise the services available.

Melinda dP. Bandalaria (Ph.D) from the University of Philippines Open University (UPOU) lectures on how ICT provides high levels of flexibility for learning. She also looks at collaboration, synchronous vs asynchronous learning, improved access to learning materials via OERs and MOOCs. She calls for teachers to use a 'Flipped Classroom'.

The full course of the Rwanda ICT Essentials for Teachers Course. The materials covered include:
Unit 00: Orientation & Baseline Survey

Unit 01 - Hardware
'Describe and demonstrate the use of common hardware' is the competency of this unit

Unit 02 - Troubleshooting ICT
Demonstrate ability to perform basic maintenance and repair on hardware and assist in software troubleshooting.

Unit 03 - Educational Internet
Describe the functions and purposes of internet in the classroom and demonstrate the capability of using internet.

Unit 04 - Word Processing
Describe and demonstrate the basic tasks and uses of word processors, such as text entry, editing text, formatting text and printing.

Unit 05 - Record Keeping (Spreadsheets)
Use ICT to support class administration through the keeping of a digital class record system using a spreadsheet package.

Unit 06 - eMail & Social Media
Describe the functions and purposes of internet in the classroom and demonstrate the capability of using internet including e-mail, search, and social media functions in classwork.

This course has been developed to support the training of teachers to integrate ICT into their teaching practices. The materials, guides and activities are strongly aligned with the UNESCO ICT Competency Framework for Teachers (CFT).
While the course embraces the role ICT can bring to the classroom it is also not held prisoner by the need for high end or sophisticated technology platforms. The course can be deployed in areas of limited or no connectivity via CD ROM or memory stick as most of the resources have been previously downloaded and collected. There are also web and paper based versions of the lessons and guides.
This course uses materials that are Open Education Resources (OER) or free to use for educational purposes, allowing the use and distribution, and in some instances the repurposing of the materials, at no additional cost. (See the Open License tab for more information).
But most importantly we hope the lessons are fun and engaging enough to introduce new possibilities and refresh the participant's passion for teaching and learning.

Technology in education has ushered in a whole new set of responsibilities for teachers. Yes, ICT can bring benefits to teaching and learning but ICT also brings new challenges and issues. A teacher needs to be sensitive to the impact ICT has on our learning environment and teachers need to be alert to their social, ethical and legal responsibilities. In this MOOC we will look the social, ethical and legal issues relating to ICT in education in some detail.

Grace Javier Alfonso, Ph.D, Professor Emeritus University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) lectures on 'Teaching, Learning, Research and Extension Through ICT in the Digital Era'. She advocates Open, Distance e-Learning (ODeL), Learner-centered education, continuing professional development, lifelong learning and the sharing of open resources. Her lecture investigates OER and MOOCs and their significance for the Philippines.

The latest version of the UNESCI ICT Competency Framework for Teachers published in 2018

UNESCO’s Framework emphasizes that it is not enough for teachers to have ICT competencies and be able to teach them to their students. Teachers need to be able to help the students become collaborative, problemsolving, creative learners through using ICT so they will be eff ective citizens and members of the workforce. The Framework therefore addresses all aspects of a teacher’s work:

Understanding ICT in Education
Curriculum and Assessment
Pedagogy
ICT
Organisation & Administration
Teacher Professional Learing

The Framework is arranged in three diff erent approaches to teaching (three successive stages of a teacher’s development). The first is Technology Literacy, enabling students to use ICT in order to learn more effi ciently. The second is Knowledge Deepening, enabling students to acquire in-depth knowledge of their school subjects and apply it to complex, real-world problems. The third is Knowledge Creation, enabling students, citizens and the workforce they become, to create the new knowledge required for more harmonious, fulfi lling and prosperous societies.

The Zimbabwe ICT Essentials for Teachers Course is avaiable as an App for Android phones and tablets. The original course has been reformated to fit on screens of different sizes! The full course is available.