“Stay Home” – the slogan is omnipresent, even in Zambia where the COVID-19 cases are recently increasing. For our Impact Network teachers, our schools closed ten weeks ago under orders from the Ministry of General Education. Ever since, 170 teachers of Impact Network have been practicing physical distancing and staying safe. We recently launched Impact Radio to help keep our students learning, but how can we continue to engage our teachers in remote work?

No lessons to prepare, to resource, to hold and to evaluate, no exercise books to mark, no extra-curriculum duties – all regular fields of responsibility are omitted, apart from one. Professional development can be pursued and never before has time for it been so infinitely available. Free webinars, e-learnings and teacher training apps seem to make it fairly easy, too. The only requirement is a mobile device with decent internet connection – but this is hard to come by in rural Zambia, especially in some of the remote areas where our schools are located. For Impact Network, it was time to go back to basics for our teachers too, and we decided on the old paper and pen version.

A self-study training booklet tailored to the context and needs of teachers is helping us to ensure that our teachers can continue to grow. But, in the words of Albert Einstein: “Learning is an experience. Everything else is just information.” How can experiences be gained without students in a classroom?

First, past experiences can be identified, analysed, reflected, evaluated, and learnt from. For instance, we can investigate previous lesson plans, checking it against current theories and re-writing them when needed. Reflection on students’ personalities, abilities and behaviours combined with scientific treatise can raise awareness for alternative possibilities for action. And unmasking individual views on the components of the profession contributes to a better understanding of personal values. Second, new concepts can be introduced and immediate action can foster learning processes. For instance, a classroom can be transformed into a child-friendly learning space or learning resources like Alphabet books can easily be created. The self-study training booklet includes both past and present experiences in order to maximise the output for the teacher and the benefit for future students.

All so that when Impact Network schools are opening their doors again, everyone enters into an even more meaningful, conducive and exciting learning environment.

-Isabelle Hürst, Education Development Adviso

Isabelle was the chief architect of our self-study training booklets for our teachers and a huge thanks go to her on its development! We are excited for our teachers to start using them.