Introduction
Welcome to Building a Teaching and Learning Centre in Kenya: A Guidebook for CBET Educators. This guidebook is a resource for TVET institutions in Kenya interested in building a teaching and learning centre (TLC) to support pedagogy and practice across their campuses. This resource is an open educational resource (OER), digitally available and free to everyone in order to maximize its accessibility and provide support wherever it is needed. This book has grown out of a collaborative relationship between Kisii National Polytechnic (KNP), Keroka Technical Training Institutie (KETTI), Bondo Technical Training Institute (BTTI), and Vancouver Island University (VIU). The authors share a passion for teaching and learning and supporting excellence in pedagogy and practice. We wanted to share our experiences, expertise and resources with emerging TLCs in Kenya and elsewhere, wherever educators needed ideas, support and resources. Specifically, as competency-based education and training (CBET) takes on a greater role in post-secondary contexts in many countries in the Global South, we hope this OER will provide support and inspiration for educators supporting this shift in pedagogical practice.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
About the Authors
John Gekonde, Kisii National Polytechnic
John is a trainer at the Kisii National Polytechnic (KNP) with a teaching career close to three decades now (20 years in high school and 9 years in TVET). He also doubles up as the Institutional Program Lead for the Kenya Education for Employment Program (KEFEP) since 2017 and Young Africa Works in Kenya –TVET (YAWK-TVET) since 2021 under the auspices of Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan). From KEFEP and YAWK he has gained diverse skills and competencies in leadership, marketing, monitoring & evaluation & learning (MEL), gender mainstreaming, reporting, curriculum development, environmental sustainability, industry collaborations, among a wide range of abilities.
He has diverse interests in academia and life in general. He has presented several research and project papers in both local and international conferences. His passion for professional teacher training led him to pioneer the establishment of Teaching-Learning Centres (TLCs) in Kenya’s TVET institutions as from 2017 by working with VIU to initiate one at the Kisii NP.
Finally, John has passion for family and believes in nurturing holistic children, for it’s from them that he gets a lot of inspiration.
Caroline Nyabwobi Masara, Kisii National Polytechnic
Caroline Nyabwobi Masara was a trainer and is currently an administrator at Kisii National Polytechnic Teaching and Learning Centre. She has a bachelor’s degree in public health from Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology and a diploma in Environmental Health Sciences from Kenya Medical
Training College. In the center she has been designing and delivering workshops on a variety of topics.
She played a major role in implementing the Young Africa Works and Kenya Education for Employment Program projects within the institution through capacity buildings, development of open educational resources, and implementation follow-ups. She was a leader in the implementation of online programs within the institution. This included the management of the learning management systems. She has expertise in curriculum design and delivery and is a leader in mentoring the mentee institutions to adopt and implement CBET Curricula. She was selected as an outstanding staff who attended the CBET training in Canada in March 2022.
Geoffrey Nyachiro, Kisii National Polytechnic
Geoffrey Mariita Nyachiro has a Master of Science in advanced manufacturing and automation engineering from Kimathi University of Technology. He holds a bachelor of industrial technology from Egerton University, and a diploma in technical education in mechanical engineering production from Kenya Technical Teachers College (currently Kenya school of TVET- KSTVET) and a diploma in mechanical engineering from Kisumu Polytechnic. He also trained on CNC machinist and machine tool maintenance from Central Toolroom Training Centre (CTTC) in Bhubaneswar, India. Geoffrey is a mechanical instructor and also heading the curriculum development and CBET programmes unit at Kisii National Polytechnic. His driving force is the aspiration to see youth gain skills for life, skills that will make them meaningful in society and globally.
Zablon Osinde, Keroka Technical Training Institute
Zablon Osinde Ongoro is from Nyabiosi Village Rigoma in Nyamira County-Kenya. He graduated with a bachelors degree in Education Technology (Bed Tech) from Moi University in 2006. He also graduated with Master of Science in Entrepreneurship from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) in 2013. He has served in various capacities at Keroka Technical Training Institute (KETTI) from 2010: research coordinator, management representative, performance contract coordinator, and institutional liason representative for CICan projects. Zablon is also a trainer in the Mechanical and Automotive Engineering department, handling engineering mathematics and other engineering courses. He is also working on the establishment of TLC in the institution with the support from Vancouver Island University (VIU) under leadership of Dr. Bortolin from VIU.
Violet Atieno, Bondo Technical Training Institute
Violet Atieno is a Gender Mainstreaming Champion and a Senior Vocational and Technical trainer at Bondo Technical Training Institute training Information Communication and Technology courses. As the Deputy HOD in the ICT department and the Gender Focal person for the institution, Violet leads a team of trainers and trainees in developing and delivering innovative and transformational ICT solutions and Gender Mainstreaming activities that ensure equity, diversity and inclusivity. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Violet found inspiration by focusing on how ICT could be used to help end poverty. Over the course of three years working with a local Non-Governmental Organization as the administrator, she developed a deep understanding of the possibility that young people especially girls and young women could be empowered socially and digitally to become independent.
Violet’s accomplishments at Bondo Technical Training Institute as a Gender Mainstreaming Committee Chairperson include the development and implementation of gender policies and sensitization of trainers and trainees to ensure gender parity is achieved. More recently, she represented the institution as a Gender Focal person in a training and capacity building exercise in Ontario, Canada as part of the of the Young African Works in Kenya: Youth Employability through Technical and Vocational Education and Training that enabled her gain more insight on how gender can be mainstreamed to ensure more equality in both teaching and learning.
A believer in the power of technology to accelerate progress in teaching and learning, Violet is a member of the Teaching and Learning Resource Centre at the institution and a CBET tutor training Cyber Security at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology having trained and obtained a CBET Foundation certificate in Designing Innovative Learning Experiences from Humber College, Canada and a TVET Trainers pedagogy from the Kenya School of TVET. Violet’s international perspective gives her a deep appreciation of diversity in all its forms. She is committed to building an inclusive environment that reflects the staff and trainees BTTI serves.
Motivated by progress over perfection, Violet beliefs that small consistent efforts make a big difference and the secret lies in dominating the micro to help you dominate the macro. She is a last born in a family of three and draws great inspiration from her family, colleagues and close friends.
George Muga, Bondo Technical Training Institute
George Muga is a Senior Technical and Vocational Trainer at Bondo Technical Training Institute specializing in delivering ICT courses. George is an IT enthusiast with seven years of experience in the field focusing on Networking and Web development. He graduated from The University of Nairobi in 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science. While in his third year at the University, George got a recognition as an outstanding student-trainee at Huawei Tech. Company LTD-Kenya that saw him receive further training in Huawei Technologies at Shenzhen, China.
George is a notable force at Bondo Technical Training Institute where he uses his expertise to produce competent trainees with relevant ICT skills required in the current market. He also doubles up as the Teaching and Learning Resource Centre Coordinator in the Institution where he assists other trainers acquire the right teaching and learning tools for effective delivery of their training contents. Besides, George works as an associate tutor at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology where he trains ICT Level 6 Students on CBET units. He has a keen focus on Cyber Security in which he aspires to undertake a postgraduate degree as part of his professional growth.
George is inspired by his wife and their two sons with whom he spends most of his vacation time. He enjoys traveling, site-seeing and making new friends. At times, he dances to his local music as part of relieving tension when overwhelmed with work. He values integrity and rides on fidelity as a guiding principle in his life.
Kathleen Bortolin, Vancouver Island University
Kathleen Bortolin works as a professor in the Faculty of Education at Vancouver Island University (VIU), and previously spent over 10 years working at VIU’s Teaching and Learning Centre (TLC) as a senior educational developer. Kathleen has a PhD in Education from the University of Victoria (Canada) specializing in higher education curriculum design. In 2019, Kathleen was asked to support Kisii National Polytechnic (KNP) create a teaching and learning centre. She traveled to Kenya in early 2020 to support John Gekonde, Caroline Masara, Geoffrey Nyachiro, and other CBET champions in the strategic planning stage of their TLC, as well as with pedagogical training. Since then, Kathleen has continued to work with KNP, as well as support other institutions as part of the Young Africa Works Kenya (YAWK) initiative. Kathleen’s passion is mentoring others in being the most effective and confident educators and TLC-ers they can be. When not working, Kathleen swims in cold waters, hikes in deep forests, and spends time with her family in British Columbia, Canada.
About the Student Editors
This project was funded by a Vancouver Island University Global Engagement Grant. The grant money enabled VIU students to work alongside the authors to create this resource.
Ye Chen, Masters of Educational Leadership (MEd.), Vancouver Island University
Ye Chen is currently a student in the Master of Education in Educational Leadership program at Vancouver Island University in Canada. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Business English from Wuhan Design and Engineering College in China and has six years of experience in E-commerce marketing. With her four years of experience in project management and team management, Ye Chen has successfully built several websites and teams from scratch and led those projects to profitability. Her passion for learning new things, learning from people, and constantly challenging herself are driving forces in her career. After completing her Master’s degree at VIU in British Columbia, Canada, she aspires to continue to collaborate with talented individuals from around the globe on more challenging projects, such as this OER project, to further develop her skills and knowledge. In her leisure time, she indulges in reading and writing, while also engaging in outdoor activities like hiking, fishing, or just taking strolls in the park with her family. Additionally, she enjoys spending time with friends and exploring and enjoying diverse cuisines from around the world.
Amber Deakin, Graphic Design Student, Vancouver Island University
Amber Deakin is currently studying Graphic Design at Vancouver Island University. She was born and raised on Vancouver Island. Her favourite part about the island is the many trails to hike. She dreams of producing her own magazine and designing merchandise for her favourite bands and video games.
Austin Koevoets, Digital Media Studies Student, Vancouver Island University
Austin Koevoets is currently studying digital media studies at Vancouver Island University. Originally from Alberta, Austin now calls Vancouver Island home. Austin supported the creation of the videos included in this OER.
Acknowledgements
With gratitude to the above authors, editors, and institutions for their creativity, determination, kindness and support throughout the development of this resource. We would also like to to acknowledge support from VIU’s Global Engagement Grant program and VIUFA’s Assisted Leave Program for supporting the development of this resource.
Vancouver Island University
Kisii National Polytechnic
Bondo Technical Training Institute
Keroka Technical Training Institute
