Project News

2013-02-18~02-22

Lesson observation by the trainers

The First workshop was held at Savannakhet TTC from 18 to 22 February. This workshop consisted of Kick-Off meeting for this year, pre-test and lectures by Japanese experts, the preparation of Endline Survey, and making lesson plans. 10 education officers from Bokeo province also attended this workshop to learn ITSME activities.

1. Kick-Off meeting for this year

Directors and deputy directors at Department of Teacher Education (DTE), PES, DEB and TTC which are the organizations concerned were invited to the Kick-Off meeting. During the meeting, a representative from each target province presented their activities for last two months. Besides, the action plan for this year and the future plan after the termination of JICA's assistance were discussed. Mr. Chandy PHOMMABOUTH, Director of DTE, mentioned that ITSME materials are effective for teachers' study, and dissemination of the ITSME idea leads to a revitalization of IS. These comments showed high appreciation of the Project activities and willingness for the continuity.

2. Pre-test and lectures

In order to comprehend ITSME trainers' subject knowledge for lesson planning for this year, a pre-test was conducted. More than 70% of answers were correct in both Mathematics and Science. This result showed that they have a certain basic knowledge on those topics. Furthermore, Japanese experts gave explanation of the questions and answers of the test, and gave lectures on related knowledge to the topics with references. In terms of learning the electric circuit, trainers experienced the construction of circuits with real materials such as bulbs, lead wires and batteries. They actively tried to find the different connections of series and parallel circuits and the properties of those circuits.

3. Preparation for Endline Survey

From next week after the workshop, Endline Survey is being conducted at each target districts. Therefore, the schedule, survey tools and method of survey were confirmed. As the lesson observation skill is a useful skill for the trainers, the lesson observation sheet was discussed deeply, and a practice of the lesson observation was conducted at the primary school in Savannakhet TTC. After lesson observation, trainers shared their observation points one another. Through the explanations and practices above mentioned, trainers standardized the utilization of the survey tools and method.

4. Making lesson plans

Trainers prioritized the 15 lesson plans, 8 in mathematics and 7 in science, out of 30 lesson plans in order to complete them for the TOT in coming June. Trainers are divided themselves into small groups to make the lesson plans with advices from Japanese experts and references which were provided by the experts. The lesson plans were not completed yet in this workshop. Therefore, it will be discussed in the next workshop.

5. Presentation by Bokeo province

The representative of Bokeo province reported their activities in the province and their learning in this workshop. They are conducting Basic Education Programme supported by NGO, Plan International. The report said that they were searching for an effective way to improve teachers' abilities although they tried to do so. Then, they found that ITSME strategies must be functional in their situation to improve teachers' abilities. This is a good opportunity to disseminate ITSME idea and improve ITSME Project itself with the feedbacks of their implementation. We will contact each other to share information on the Project activities.