3RD ANNUAL E-LEARNING WORKSHOP HELD AT MARSHALLS

In keeping with the objective of providing world-class learning standards, Marshalls has held a day-long workshop to instruct Faculty members on the apt utilization of E-learning resources. It was the third workshop of its kind since Marshalls announced its commitment to world-class learning in March 2014. The workshop was held in the Amenumey building situated on the Marshalls premises here at Odorkor, Accra.

The session was held to aid faculty to familiarize itself with Marshalls’ e-learning features, and its usage and rewards. Even though most faculty members used the e-learning platform for teaching and learning to some extent, it was discovered that most of its features were under-utilized. The findings, based on internal research work by the Marshalls Academic and Research Unit, revealed the need for faculty to be reoriented in order to exploit the platform appropriately.

Mr. Dickson Omari Osei, webmaster at the Department of Information and Communication Technology at Marshalls, led the workshop. Using a combination of video tutorials, power point and practical demonstrations; he elaborated the character of all e-learning resource utilities available to Marshalls, the learning preferences available and their usage. He urged faculty to take advantage of the numerous advantages the facility has to offer in order to meet the demands of contemporary teaching and learning standards.

In attendance were scholars from the various schools under Marshalls. The schools are the J.S. Addo Business School, the School of Technology, the School of Modern Languages and the School of Arts and Social Sciences. The faculty members shared their experiences with the facility highlighting their challenges, successes and frustrations.
Dr. Tetteh Nettey and Mr. Mike K. Arthur, the President and Vice President of Marshalls respectively, also took turns to address the workshop. They spoke about the institution’s projections for the Academic year and the need for the workshop. Along with Mr. Dickson Omari, they also answered questions relating to the Workshop and the general academic vision of Marshalls.

It will be recalled that in March 2014, Marshalls announced the adoption of the UNESCO standards of teaching and learning. Consequently, the institution launched its own Virtual Learning Environment [VLE]. The facility, completed as an academic project by the School of Technology, became necessary after Marshalls recognized the need to improve its existing learning tools to satisfy the growing needs of its teaching and learning community. The facility was specially developed to encourage learning beyond the lecture hall in order to facilitate scholarly processes.

The features of the Marshalls E-Learning Tool include a Programme and Performance Evaluation Index, a Customized calendar, Timed Trial Exercises, Course Catalogues, Assignment platforms and much more. These features enable course instructors monitor academic progressions, disseminate information, assist students outside the lecture hall, provide supplementary teaching materials and evaluate both courses and student performances. For the student, it provides a less formal environment for learning and interaction with the instructor, as well as an environment for acquiring knowledge beyond the lecture hall.

Mr. Dickson Omari, who also doubles as the e-learning Resource Handler, expressed his satisfaction with the response of faculty and noted that an exclusive Workshop for faculty was a step in the right direction. “We are still building on the foundations that were laid a couple of years ago. We are persuaded that our faculty members are now well-equipped to instruct our students using the tool. Our instructors are now better equipped to use the resource. That’s why we are all upbeat about our academic trajectory”, he remarked.

This is the third e-learning workshop to be held in Marshalls since the launch of the facility in March 2014. Both previous events were held once each in 2014 and 2015, albeit the 2016 session was the first time it was exclusive to faculty. Most faculty members endorsed the workshop, noting the potential of the tool to yield greater academic gains.