Htqe.2023.37

https://doi.org/10.22364/htqe.2023.37 | 480-489 | PDF

Distant Hands-on Approach in ICT Teaching for Adults

Kaspars Kiris
University of Latvia, Latvia

Abstract. During Covid-19 pandemic ICT industry grew rapidly. This situation led to some positive aspects for teaching. Such technologies as virtual conference and classroom software made distant learning more possible than ever before. Faculty of Education, Psychology and Art of University of Latvia started further education courses in ICT for in-service teachers in June 2022. There were 3 pilot groups with 54 participants in total. A new program was developed according to the new curriculum of ICT subject in schools. Using the previously collected experience of distant teaching during Covid-19 pandemic, it was decided to use Microsoft Teams, Moodle and open source software to provide courses. Courses consisted of practical usage and teaching methodology of office, programming, media, computer graphics and web site development.
The purpose of this research was to find out the effectiveness of distant learning using the hands-on approach. The analysis of literature presented expectations of good results for adult teaching in subjects not demanding special equipment or laboratories. It was found that it was economy of resources such as time, money and special classrooms.
The target group was in-service teachers with pedagogical experience, learning to become teachers of ICT. Both sides: teachers and participants were warned to use the computer with at least 2 screens and a good quality internet connection. Teaching materials and assessments were placed in the Moodle system. Practices and trainings were recorded for later usage and study. Results of participants’ questionnaire showed that courses were highly rated. In addition, results of final report assessment were highly rated by teachers. As conclusion, it revealed that distant teaching for adults in the ICT field using hands-on approach has a high value from the viewpoint of participants and teachers and it is useful to provide next courses using the approach described in this research.

Keywords: adult teaching, distant teaching, hands-on, ICT teaching, educational courses, course planning, ICT education

In: Human, Technologies and Quality of Education, 2023. Proceedings of Scientific Papers = Cilvēks, tehnoloģijas un izglītības kvalitāte, 2023. Rakstu krājums
Riga, University of Latvia, 2023. 796 p. Ed. L. Daniela
https://doi.org/10.22364/htqe.2023
ISBN 978-9934-36-116-6