Teacher Training via Radio/Formation Interactive par la Radio (FIER)
I) What is the « FIER » (Formation Interactive des Enseignants par la Radio) Program?
• An AEI-financed program that began in 2004 and is scheduled to conclude in 2008, with an anticipated funding ceiling of $4,895,555.
• A teacher training program that focuses on the use of radio and computer technologies to enhance teachers’ instructional skills.
II) What are FIER’s objectives?
• To build the capacity of ministry actors at the central and decentralized levels to create technology-based professional development for teachers
• To create on-air teacher training broadcasts of various types to enable the ministry to evaluate the kinds of radio-based training support most appropriate for Mali
• To train teachers to use the “virtual training centers” (VTCs) in the pre-service training institutes.
III) What are FIER’s major accomplishments to date?
• The creation 30 broadcasts for supervisors, and 110 broadcasts for listening groups of teachers
• The creation 80 broadcasts for use by 3rd and 4th grade teachers during school hours
• 2,724 teachers trained and 181,029 students reached
• The acquisition of 130,000 US dollars in ministry financing for training additional teachers and school directors to use this programming
• The completion of 4 virtual training centers (Tombouctou, Nara, Tominian, and Niono)
• Training courses for IFM professors developed and delivered on computing, computer maintenance, internet research, using the TTvR-produced digital modules, and microteaching
• 250 IFM professors and 320 3rd year students reached
• The acquisition of 80,000 US dollars in ministry financing to expand training to Mali’s other pre-service institutes
• The integration of technology-based modules in Mali’s new curriculum for pre-service training.
IV) What have been the results?
• 77% of teachers in the in-service component use student-centered instructional practices in their classrooms
• The % of IFM professors able to use a computer has gone from 7% to 91%
• The % of IFM students (in the four institutes) able to use a computer has gone from 10% to 72% • Close to ½ (41%) of all IFM teachers and students sampled now use the internet regularly for course-related research.
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Last updated: Monday, October 20, 2008