The TETFund Centre of Excellence for Technology Enhanced Learning (TeCETEL) of the Federal University of Education (FUE), Zaria, has organised a four-session workshop for student-teachers themed: “The Digital Teacher: Enhancing Classroom Teaching Practice with AI & EdTech.”
This was contained in a statement signed by Sani Lawal maqarphy media aide to the VC issued to newsmen.
Speaking during the opening ceremony, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Suleiman Balarabe, commended the Centre for sustaining its commitment to organising capacity-building workshops aimed at equipping student-teachers with modern digital teaching and learning skills.
Prof. Balarabe, stated that the university remains committed to producing professionally trained teachers capable of meeting the demands of the 21st-century education system.
“Our university is trying to produce international teachers that can work anywhere in the world,” he said, stressing that attaining such standards requires adequate knowledge of digitalisation and emerging educational technologies.
Representing the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Yahaya Isa Bunkure, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Suleiman Balarabe urged participants to pay close attention to the sessions in order to maximise the opportunities provided by the experienced facilitators.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Director of TeCETEL, Ilesanmi Ajibola, explained that the workshop was designed to train students undertaking teaching practice on technology-driven teaching methods and the effective use of digital tools in classroom activities.
According to him, the expected outcomes of the training include improved knowledge of digitised teaching toolkits, classroom confidence, and effective technology integration in teaching and learning.
Prof. Ajibola noted that artificial intelligence and digital tools can assist teachers in lesson planning, attendance management, assignments, and other administrative responsibilities, emphasising that AI has become an active agent in modern teaching and learning processes.
As one of the resource persons, he further observed that modern teaching now exists at the intersection of pedagogy, content knowledge, and AI literacy, stressing that effective teaching requires educators to understand what to teach and how to teach it.
He added that quality AI outputs depend on well-structured and contextual prompts tailored to the teacher’s role, task, constraints, and expected format, noting that high-tech preparation enables high-impact teaching delivery.
Another facilitator, Mal. Yussuf Yakubu, trained participants on the use of interactive teaching tools and multimedia resources for classroom engagement.
Also speaking, Mal. Muhammad Shittu Abubakar called on the trainees to take pride in the teaching profession, noting that it produces all other professions. He added that the institution has produced eminent personalities practising across the world.
Delivering the vote of thanks on behalf of the participants, Umma Nasir Isa appreciated the TETFund Centre of Excellence for Technology Enhanced Learning (TeCETEL) for providing them with the opportunity and platform to learn, improve, and strengthen their teaching skills through digital innovation.
