This article was first published on KENET’s website.
KENET launched the remote teaching pilot project in 2017 aiming at exploring the possibility of using the KENET web conferencing platform to reduce the cost of teaching multiple classes through remote teaching. KENET partnered with three (3) universities to pilot remote teaching classrooms reducing the need for faculty to teach multiple satellite or rural campuses of the same university. The participating universities include University of Nairobi ( 3 remote teaching classrooms at main campus, Mombasa campus and Kisumu campuses), Catholic University of Eastern Africa (2 remote teaching classroom at main campus and Eldoret campus) and Daystar University (2 campuses at Athi River and Nairobi campuses).
In 2022, KENET established another four (4) remote teaching classrooms for St. Paul’s University (2 classrooms – Limuru main campus and Nakuru main campus) and at Technical University of Mombasa ( 2 classrooms – Mombasa main campus and Kwale main campus) in a bid to encourage adoption of educational technology innovations. KENET equipped the classrooms with web conferencing equipment such as sound system (microphones), video capture devices (cameras) and video display units (television or projectors). KENET also set up a web conference system suing Big Blue Button system enabling lecturers in the participating universities to teach more than one class simultaneously. The Big Blue Button is an open source web conferencing system which is based on GNU/Linus operating system and it has integration for many of the major learning and content management systems. The KENET Web Conference System is an online service for organizing collaborative activities such as webinars, webcasts and meetings. The system can also be extended to teaching through the setup of appropriate audio-visual infrastructure. It offers data streams of text-based messages, presentations, voice and video chat to be shared simultaneously across geographically dispersed locations.
The St. Paul’s Remote Teaching Classroom project aims to enhance teaching by seamlessly integrating education with technology using different instructional methods, both virtual and face to face-to-face instruction methods. The project was officially inaugurated in March 2023 and comprises the twin interconnected facilities located at the Limuru and Nakuru campuses thus enabling lecturers to conduct classes simultaneously with students from both campuses.The initiative marks a new era of technological progress and educational innovation enabling the University to host an average of ten (10) hybrid classes weekly consequently positioning the facility as a central hub for class utilization and e-learning. The implementation of the remote teaching project has enhanced the University’s appreciation of the significance of integrating technology into teaching and learning practices indicating.
Speaking about the project, Ms. Grace Kinyanjui, Director Virtual Campus highlighted how the Remote Teaching project has enhanced the multimedia facilities at the University addressing the essential need for 21st century education standards to empower both the learners and the educators.
“By integrating technology into teaching and learning, the project meets the evolving needs of education ensuring learners are equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to thrive in a digitally driven world. The project has also played a vital role in building the capacity of educators empowering them to deliver engaging and interactive lessons that resonate with modern learners,” noted Ms. Kinyanjui.
The capabilities for both instructional methods of learning promote equity and inclusivity for all learners, enabling students to benefit with the added advantage of being able to replay previous lessons’ recordings for reference thus enhancing the learning experience. This versatility is crucial as higher education transitions to full integration of technology, fostering a culture of adaptability and flexibility in line with the changing times promoting a deeper understanding of course materials. Mr. Edwin Wanjiru, Lecturer, Department of Computer Science emphasized how the project has seamlessly combined online and in-person learning methods. “The setup provides a welcoming environment for discussions, fostering meaningful interactions among students and educators. The ability to teach students in two different locations simultaneously enhances collaboration and engagement, breaking down geographical barriers and promoting inclusivity,” noted Mr. Wanjiru. Mr. Richard Muchoki, a fourth-year Computer Science student, highlights the importance of interactive sessions led by lecturers in the learning process providing an engaging and dynamic learning environment, fostering active participation and facilitating deeper understanding of course materials.
“Learning alongside peers from different campuses enriches the learning experience by us to a broader range of perspectives and ideas, fostering collaboration and expanding our horizons,” said Muchoki.
To ensure optimal utilization of the facility by the University Community, the ICT support desk, in collaboration with the multimedia specialist, developed an online automatic booking system to facilitates seamless booking and optimization of the usage of the facility. Operational guidelines have been established to ensure proper usage, along with media consent forms to comply with data protection regulations. Additionally, CCTV cameras have been installed to enhance the security of the facility. The support provided by the virtual campus teams, including dry runs for preparation ahead of learning sessions, ensures smooth operation and maximizes the effectiveness of teaching and learning activities.
The facility has spurred positive transformations across various dimensions of partnerships and collaborations bolstering eLearning capabilities, facilitating seamless hosting of professional events and offering additional benefits such as global outreach, heightened research output, student engagement and faculty development. In addition to facilitating hybrid classes the facility serves as a venue for official meetings and training sessions. Noteworthy events include training sessions conducted by EDULAB for people with disabilities, seminars led by professors from Kamuzu Banda University in Malawi and the St. Paul’s University Annual International Research Conference (SPUAIRC) held in 2023. Furthermore, the facility is a hub for benchmarking sessions for university visitors and partners such as Adventist University of Africa, University of Pittsburgh, Nelson Mandela University and Harvard University. Mr. Eliud Owalo, CS, Ministry of Information, Communication and the Digital Economy lauded the University for its facility development highlighting its alignment with the Government’s digital strategy. Moreover, the facility serves as a focal point for faculty development providing training sessions and workshops which equip educators with the latest teaching methodologies and technological tools.
To ensure the effective operation of the remote teaching project, it is imperative to establish a robust power backup system for uninterrupted operations and deploy stringent cybersecurity measures to safeguard sensitive data and user information. Regular assessments should be conducted to gauge the facility’s scalability in meeting the growing user demands, coupled with continuous staff training programs to enhance skills in managing and troubleshooting advanced technological systems.
