Educational Communication and Technology
About Us
The Department of Educational Communication and Technology was established in 1986 as one of the departments in the then School of Education, making it one of the oldest of the five departments in the School of Education & Lifelong Learning. Since its inception the department has grown over the years with expanded programmes and increased number of students.
The role of this department as a pedagogical entity in Kenyatta University through the school of education is multifaceted and plays a crucial part in ensuring the effectiveness and quality of education.
The departments’ outputs include Curriculum Development, Pedagogical Research, Teacher Training and development, Educational Technology & Mainstreaming, Collaboration and related networking with others locally and globally in the promotion of desirable educational standards and for quality assurance.
VISION
To be a leading dynamic center of excellence in the provision of customer-driven educational development, research, training programmes, and quality service to community.
MISSION
The mission of the department is to mobilize resources to provide holistic skills in educational and instructional methodologies, by promoting professional leadership roles and provision of educational programmes and service to community through effective training, management and research.
TEACHER TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT
The Department provides training and professional development opportunities for educators. This includes workshops, seminars, and ongoing support to enhance teaching skills and keep educators updated with the latest teaching methodologies.
The department has focused on intensive training opportunities through online seminars for individuals and groups. Participated in the development of the Modern Competencies for Academic (MOCAT) platform that was created by members of COMTECH alongside eight (8) European universities and is accessible online.
Student and staff mobility opportunities in the department has enhanced capacity and focus through funding from USAID- HED, DPU/ERASMUS+ NRF and Linnaeus Palmer. The department is open to new collaborations that are related to teacher training and development.
The most recent collaboration has opened opportunities for expansion of understanding through targeted projects such as Association of History Education in Africa (AHE-Afrika) and African Languages Pedagogy and Development of Indigenous Languages, Africa Association for the International Congress of Mathematics Instructors- AFRICMA.
Other modes of professional development include cohosting international conferences such as the AHE-Afrika Conference, seminars, webinars and workshops.
The department is open to collaboration on grant proposal writing opportunities with other scholars locally and globally.
Expectations that innovations can be leveraged or supported by incorporating ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) into the learning and teaching process are widespread. Such innovations are fundamentally changing students' learning experiences.
activity, an increased volume of material studied per lesson, accelerated training, and more effective time management. Through collaboration with others the MOCAT:- https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED567059.pdf platform was generated for academic teachers has helped to build capacity at individual level.
In recent years the department has introduced other new areas which are Special Education Methods, Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) Methods, Counselling Psychology Methods and Film & Arts methods. The department is in the process of developing Islamic Religious Education Methods curriculum and PhD with course work programme.
LINKAGES
The department has established links with North Carolina Central University and Syracuse University in the USA in addition to Linneaus University – Sweden and South Africa Institute of Distance Education. Collaborative activities include research, organizing international conferences and seminars thereof.
We have joint publications, scholar exchanges and sandwich PhD programmes for Kenyatta University staff. The department has also benefited from resource materials donated by collaborating institutions.
COMMUNITY WORK
The department has been involved in carrying out community work. For example, in Kamanzi in Kangundo, primary school teachers on the effective methods of teaching various primary school subjects.
Through the English Literacy Norms project sponsored by the Rockefeller Foundation, about 40 disadvantaged primary schools were each provided with over 2000 books and resource materials.
These were meant to assist teachers and learners to teach and learn English language, which is Kenya’s medium of instruction. Lastly many of the members of the department are also members of various primary and secondary school boards of governors, throughout the country.
STUDENT DESTINATION
Our students are mainly prepared to be secondary school teachers. Some have found the courses useful in non-education sectors. Those with postgraduate degrees are hired by universities and educational sectors.
CHAIRPERSONS OF THE DEPARTMENT
The following chairpersons have headed the department of Educational Communication and Technology, since its inception as a department in the School of Education.
- Mr. M. McDarmont (1972 - 1977)
- Prof. Henry O. Ayot (1977 - 1988)
- Dr. Anne Obura (1988 - 1990)
- Prof. Peter K. Mutunga (1990 - 1994)
- Dr. Ndichu Gitau (1994 - 1999)
- Dr. Wilson K. Kerich (1999 - 2002)
- Dr. Ndichu Gitau (2002 - 2004)
- Dr. John N. Maundu (2006 - 2007)
- Dr. Samson R. Ondigi (2007 - 2008)
- Prof. Agnes W. Gathumbi (2008 - 2011)
- Dr. Mueni Kiio (2012 - 2014)
- Dr. S. Ndethiu (2014 - Date)
Programmes
The department offers education course for both undergraduates, postgraduate diplomas, masters and PhD programmes.
The department has the following subject panels for both under graduate, Post graduate diploma, Masters and PhD programmes:-
- Social Science Education. (CRE, History, Geography, Business)
- Science Education. (Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Agriculture)
- Language Education.(English, Kiswahili, French)
- Mathematics Education.
- Technology Education. (Educational Technology)
- Creative Art Education. (Fine Art, Home Science, Physical Education, Music)
The department offers skills training to pre-service students. This is aimed at developing the student’s pedagogical knowledge with increasing focus on how to teach large classes, integrate ICT in Teaching and learning and support needs of diverse learners.
(a) UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMMES – REGULAR, CEP AND DIGITAL SCHOOL (VOL)
Program courses are offered through three modes of instruction.(1) Regular mode, offers face to face instruction (2) CEP ;Continuous Education program mode is blended and is for Part-time students and (3) DISVOL a fully online mode of study
Course structure for undergraduate level
- Communication & Collaboration skills (a unit done by all university students.) Contemporary pedagogies in Teacher education
- Introduction to instructional design and technology
- Teaching practicum 1 (Job shadowing)
- Media Practical and Peer teaching
- Instructional research and Practice
- Subject Methods ( for all school subjects)
Mode of study and duration
Full time and CEP and VOL by lectures and project. The course is done in four (4) years. Assessment Examination, project and Teaching practice supervision.
(b) POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA IN EDUCATION (PGDE)
Course structure Sixteen (16) Education units plus project.
Mode of study and duration
Full time and school based by lectures. The course is done in two (2) years.
Assessment is by Examination, research projects and Teaching practice supervision.
(c) MED – REGULAR AND CEP STUDENTS
Course structure
Ten (10) units (4 departmental core units, 2 school core units, 2 panel core units, 2 teaching subjects
and thesis.
Mode Study and Duration
By coursework, projects and thesis writing. The course is a two (2) year programme. Students have
access to the departmental resource Centre Library for reference.
Assessment
Written examination, proposal presentation and Thesis defense at school of graduate studies
(D) PhD.
Mode of study and duration
Dissertation Only
- Supervised development of study proposal and dissertation. The course takes three (3) years.
Assessment
Proposal presentation at the department and final defense at the school of Graduate Studies.
Conferences
The department has been able to organize International Conferences in education:
- Language Policies in Developing Countries” was held in June 2006.
- Innovations in Education in the 21st Century” was held in July 2009
- The department in collaboration with Syracuse University- USA and Makerere University-Uganda organized BI-annual international conference on education 2011 to 2015 hosted at Kenyatta University.
- MOCAT conference “Modern Competencies of academic teachers: 27 th – 29 th January, 2020
- AHE Afrika Conference History Education in Africa: “Politics, Policies and Practice” 2023
Research & Publications
The department has taken cognizance of the critical role that Technology is playing in enhancing teaching and learning in the 21st century. A lot of interest has been focused in recent years on faulty professional development especially in the area of ICT integration in Teaching.
A strategic linkage been Syracuse University (New York) and Kenyatta University has been greatly exploited to this advantage. Apart from several training workshops funded by USAID/HED through a partnership of project “Capacity Building for Quality Teacher Preparation” the department has provided a lap top for each teaching member of department.
Other technological digital compatible equipment available in the department includes computers, LCD projectors, digital still/video cameras, iPads and an interactive smart board.
Another research project is the HP catalyst project; “Science and Mathematics Technology Initiative” that focused on equipping science teachers with skills of integrating Technology in the Teaching and learning of Science and Mathematics in secondary schools.
Faculty Profiles
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