Our esteemed guests and partners from the Department of Education, Millersville University, Pennsylvania, USA

• Persida Himmele
• William Himmele
• Deborah Tamakloe
• Margaret Mbindyo

Members of Management, Kabarak University;

Ag, Director of DELT;

Deans of Schools;

Directors;

 Heads of Departments;

Members of Academic Staff;

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen;

Good morning!

It gives me great pleasure to welcome our esteemed guests and partners from Millersville University, Pennsylvania, USA.

Thank you for accepting our invitation to facilitate training on Intentional Teaching and Total Classroom Participation.

The mission of Kabarak University is to provide holistic quality education based on research, practical skills and Biblical Christian values. In line with this mission, we are hosting this training workshop this week to impart pedagogical skills to our staff as a way of improving the quality of education offered in this University. To us, the application of pedagogical skills is important for several reasons:

First, pedagogy emphasizes the importance of inclusive education, ensuring that all students, regardless of their backgrounds, abilities, or learning styles, have access to quality education. By studying pedagogy, educators learn strategies for differentiating instruction, accommodating diverse learners, and promoting equity and inclusion in the classroom. This enables teachers to create an environment where every student can thrive and reach their full potential

Second, pedagogy equips educators with a range of instructional strategies that have proven effective in engaging and supporting the learners. Pedagogical approaches such as active learning, differentiation learning, scaffolding learning, and collaborative learning can enhance student engagement, comprehension, and critical thinking skills.

Third, pedagogy provides educators with knowledge about learner development, including cognitive, social, emotional, and physical aspects. Understanding how learners learn and grow helps teachers create developmentally appropriate learning experiences and tailor their instruction to meet the needs of their students.

Fourth, pedagogy encompasses the design and implementation of curriculum and assessment strategies. Educators who study pedagogy can develop a deep understanding of how to align learning objectives, instructional materials, and assessments to create a cohesive and effective learning experience. They can design engaging lessons and activities that promote student achievement and monitor progress through appropriate assessment methods.

Last but not least, pedagogy helps teachers develop strong interpersonal skills and effective communication techniques. Teachers learn how to build positive relationships with students, establish trust, and foster a supportive learning community. Effective communication with students, parents, and colleagues is crucial for creating partnerships, addressing concerns, and facilitating collaboration in the educational setting.

Ladies and gentlemen, what we are going to do in this training workshop is also in line with the Competency-Based Education (CBE) which we have embraced in this country as the preferred mode of education. CBE is a set of skills, abilities, and knowledge that helps students to perform tasks individually. It allows students to advance based on their ability to master a skill or competency at their own pace, regardless of the environment. It focuses on the knowledge, skills, and abilities of students, which allow for self-paced progress and provides students with the support they need to succeed. It provides more specialised learning that allows one to progress as the students demonstrate mastery of the subject matter. Intentional teaching and total classroom participation are, therefore, critical elements of CBE. 

Our partnership with Millersville Univerity in facilitating this training workshop will certainly improve the quality of delivery of teaching and learning in the University. To this end, I encourage all our academic staff members to actively participate in this training and learn new teaching approaches and innovative ideas. The overall objective of this training is to afford all our members the opportunity for further professional development and growth.

As the saying goes, practice makes perfect. I wish to urge all members of academic staff to take this training session seriously and put into practice all the skills you will acquire during the training. Going forward, we will be monitoring the implementation of intentional teaching and total classroom participation by all the schools and departments in the University.

With those few remarks, I am pleased to declare this training workshop officially opened.

Our facilitators in this training workshop are associate professors in the Department of Education at Millersville University. They are:

• Persida Himmele,
• William Himmele,
• Deborah Tamakloe, and
• Margaret Mbindyo

It is my pleasure to welcome the team to conduct the training.