Southern/Eastern Africa Teacher In-Service Program Training Workshop
24-25 September 2010
Lusaka, Zambia
Evaluation Summary
Overview:
A one and a half-day Teacher In-Service Program training workshop for southern/eastern Africa
IEEE volunteers and invited educators was conducted on 24-25 September 2010 to encourage
their participation in pre-university education programs. 71 attendees participated in the event.
Activities and Discussions:
Eighteen attendees completed the workshop evaluation. Attendees rated program segments on
the following scale: 5=Excellent, 4=Good, 3=Average, 2=Could be Improved, to 1=Poor. 94.4%
of the respondents rated the overall event as excellent or good. Below is a breakdown by
activity/topic area.
Area/Activity
1) Why Are We Here? Presentation
2) TISP Activity: Working with Wind
Energy
3) Challenges & Opportunities in PreUniversity School Systems of
Southern and Eastern Africa
4) TISP Activity: Build Your Own
Robot Arm
5) UNESCO Support – Enhancing
Secondary School Science and
Mathematics for Engineering
6) How to Begin Presentation
7) Panel Discussion
8) Breakout Group Discussion
9) Overall Program
Rating 5 (Excellent) – 1 (Poor)
4.6 average
61.1% of the respondents rated this either
“excellent or “good”
4.7 average
88.9% of the respondents rated this either
“excellent” or “good”
4.7 average
88.9% of the respondents rated this either
“excellent” or “good”
4.6 average
88.9% of the respondents rated this either
“excellent” or “good”
4.3 average
88.9% of the respondents rated this either
“excellent” or “good”
4.4 average
88.9% of the respondents rated this either
“excellent” or “good”
4.3 average
88.9% of the respondents rated this either
“excellent” or “good”
4.3 average
83.3% of the respondents rated this either
“excellent” or “good”
4.6 average
94.4% of the respondents rated this either
“excellent” or “good”
1
The Overall Program received a strong rating with a 4.6 average response. Participants enjoyed
the Working with Wind Energy activity and presentation on Challenges & Opportunities in the
Pre-University School Systems of Southern and Eastern Africa the most (4.7 average
response). The next most enjoyable areas were the Why Are We Here? presentation and Build
Your Own Robot Arm activity (4.6 average response). The areas that appear least interesting to
the respondents were the presentation on How to Begin (4.4 average response), presentation
on Enhancing Secondary School Science and Mathematics for Engineering (4.3 average
response), and the Panel Discussion and Breakout Group Discussion (4.3 average response).
Effects of the Training
Engineers participating in the workshop were asked to answer the following questions with
‘definitely’, ‘maybe’, ‘no’ responses at the end of the workshop:
1. How likely were you to work with teachers/students/schools/school systems prior to this
training?
2. How likely are you to work with teachers/students/schools/school systems following this
training?
3. Did this workshop provide valuable information/resources to participate in pre-university
outreach?
4. Did this workshop contribute to your understanding of the impact engineers can make
through pre-university outreach?
5. Would you recommend this training to other engineers?
6. Should IEEE continue to conduct TISP training workshops?
A summary of the responses to these questions follow:
10. How likely were you to work with teachers/students/schools/school systems prior to
this training?
Definitely
Maybe
No
Not Answered
Totals
#
6
6
0
0
12
%
50%
50%
0%
0%
100%
11. How likely are you to work with teachers/students/schools/school systems following
this training?
Definitely
Maybe
No
Not Answered
Totals
#
11
1
0
0
12
%
92%
8%
0%
0%
100%
2
12. Did this workshop provide valuable information/resources to participate in preuniversity outreach?
Definitely
Maybe
No
Not Answered
Totals
#
12
0
0
0
12
%
100%
0%
0%
0%
100%
13. Did this workshop contribute to your understanding of the impact engineers can
make through pre-university outreach?
Definitely
Maybe
No
Not Answered
Totals
#
12
0
0
0
12
%
100%
0%
0%
0%
100%
14. Would you recommend this training to other engineers?
Definitely
Maybe
No
Not Answered
Totals
#
11
0
0
1
12
%
92%
0%
0%
8%
100%
15. Should IEEE continue to conduct TISP training workshops?
Definitely
Maybe
No
Not Answered
Totals
#
12
0
0
0
12
%
100%
0%
0%
0%
100%
The feedback received indicates that the Teacher In-Service Program training workshop for
southern/eastern Africa was a successful and valuable event. The most interesting results are
that 92% of engineers are more likely to work with their local school or school district as a result
of this training workshop. They also state they received valuable information/resources to
participate in pre-university outreach (100%) and have a better understanding of the impact
engineers can make through pre-university outreach (100%). 92% of engineers stated they
would highly recommend this training to other engineers and 100% believe IEEE should
continue to conduct future TISP training workshops.
3
The responses to open ended questions appear below* and can assist us in continuing to
develop TISP and address concerns and incorporate ideas of the participants. Follow up is vital
to insure that the engineers are now given a chance to work with teachers and education
programs to promote and enhance the understanding of engineering, engineering design and
technological literacy.
What went well?
 All went well
 Discussions
 The welfare and time management
 Communication back and forth regarding invitation, registration, travel accommodations
and programme. Airport pickup, food, accommodation and internet provision.
 Everything was excellent
 Discussions and contributions from participants
 Superb organization. Timetable well followed
 The practical exercises demonstrating principles of engineering/science & technology
 The organization of the whole conference was well conducted
 Being the first time, the whole event went well
 The entire organization and structure of the conference and the objectives thereof were
good
 Almost everything
 Organisation from teleconferences to logistics and final organisation
 The activities
 TISP activities and discussion between groups
What could we improve on?
 Discussions
 Displays should be included
 Tips on conversion of documents sent by email so that information can be printed and
left timely in relevant offices in the process of seeking permission to travel
 We need more days for such training
 We need to engage a number of stakeholders e.g. policy makers
 Awareness creation – let more people to know about all this
 Include more educators and teachers to make presentations at future workshops – to
hear their side too!
 These conferences should be held more often
 Invite more people
 Delivery of presentations
 Increase number of people attending such conferences
 Presentations – make sure the projector is bright enough and switch off the lights near
the screen
 Timing is too tight. Room for more questions
 CD
 More time for discussion
 The time of activities and discussions
4
Are there additional ideas/topics that would be helpful?
 Topics and plans mostly mechanical. Electrical/Electronics topics would be helpful
 Increase teachers’ knowledge base
 Seriously discuss broadening the teachers’ knowledge
 It would be useful to have a couple of presentations by teachers who have been
toughed in TISP, describing the before and after
 We need a lot physics practicals
 Exhibitions
 IEEE to link more with national professional associations
 Challenges of rural-area based schools. Changing pupils’ minds on sciences in Africa
 We should have workshops like this for teachers only
 To create and interface for the IEEE and the various engineering institutes and bodies
of the participant countries
 Exhibition, sample solution at the end, no self-introduction of participants
Do you have any additional comments?
 Teach in languages students can understand using materials available in the
environment
 Let us make this workshop annual and rotational
 To commend the commitment of the organizers, especially Yvonne
 The IEEE EAB must introduce and award system for Sections/Sub-Sections that
will effectively implement TISP
 I think the government has a major role to play, through the Ministry of Education,
because teachers and pupils belong to this ministry
 This is a very good idea to bring on board
 The conference was generally a success and a whole new and good way of
teaching TISP, which will lead to creating more engineering minds. Thank you
 Before the hands-on activity begins, just explain that no correct answer, only
creativity and teamwork
 Next place should be Windhoek, Namibia
 It was a great pleasure to be here
5