Adapting To Change
Covid-19 outbreak and the sudden closure of schools meant we could not do most things we have always done while at school. This includes interactive learning activities such as online symposium, contests and seminars that bring together students and teachers from different schools to learn together and engage in positive competitive activities.
United by a common purpose
As a group of passionate educators, united by our love for Geography, we saw a need to create a platform for both students and educators to share ideas. Being an interactive subject there is a need for a space to converse and perhaps even shift students’ perception and mindset on the subject.
The Nova Pioneer Geography Department which comprises Geography teachers across all our High Schools from Nova Pioneer Tatu Girls, Tatu Boys, Eldoret Girls and Eldoret Boys, decided to bring together teachers and students using online platforms. “Power is gained by sharing knowledge, not hoarding it”.~ Anonymous. It is our hope that this will be a platform where knowledge is shared with stakeholders.
Empowering Our Teachers & Students
To start us off we began with an online forum for teachers where we launched Geography Teachers Open Mic Forums on 31st July 2020, with an objective of sharing ideas on how to enhance teaching and learning of geography. During these sessions, we have two to three facilitators who take the teachers through various topics. As it is also important for teachers to feel empowered in their craft.
Having successfully hosted the teacher forums, we saw the need to launch an online symposium and mini-contest that will bring together students from different schools. The objective is to have our students learn from each other, with guidance from teachers. We will be hosting our first Nova Pioneer Geography Online Symposium and Mini-Contest on 25th of September 2020. This will be a first of many as we aim to have these sessions at least once a month.
The main activities during this first symposium include:
- Quiz for all student participants
- Group discussions on set questions and guided by teachers.
- Talk from Ms. Scholastica Muchagi, The Head of Geography Subject at Baricho High School, Kirinyaga County.
Registration and participation in the virtual symposium is open to all geography teachers and high school students from any school.
Our Goal
Through this platform, we aim to have the students acquire a deeper understanding of the subject and develop their content mastery. The learners will gain effective answering skills that will help them score highly in an exam set up. The event will expose the students to creative ways of learning and thus foster a positive attitude towards the subject and infuse the joy in learning.
For teachers, the Symposium will create a platform where they can build a strong network that will provide great inspiration, encouragement and professional growth.
There will also be awarding certificates in soft copy in the following categories: Top four students per Form in the quiz, Top two students overall in the quiz, Most active and impactful students in each group discussion, and Teachers will get a certificate for participation and leading discussion.
We take this opportunity to invite all students and teachers to join us in our online symposium and Mini-Contest.
You can register to join the symposium by clicking on this link here
