Extending and Embedding Tessa Open Education Resources (OERS) in Teaching at Primary School Level in Laikipia County, Kenya

This study investigated extending and embedding Tessa Open Education Resources in Teaching at Primary School Level in Laikipia County, Kenya. The study was qualitative and survey designs.Two primary schools within Laikipia County were purposively sampled and all the twenty teachers participated using multistage sampling technique. The project was in three phases; introduction phase where a 2 day workshop was organised and experts well versed with TESSA OERs facilitated round table sessions on how to teach practical/creative thinking skills to primary school learners using TESSA methods. The training aimed at improving teachers probing skills, cooperative learning and forming a community of good practice. The second phase was implementation while the third phase involved collecting feedback from teachers. 400 pupils from the two participating primary schools were expected to benefit once the teachers embraced TESSA methods which advocate for active learning. Project outcomes included changes that teachers made in their lesson presentations in line with the CBC curriculum and completion of 2019 TESSA MOOC ,hence enthusiasm for online learning and continuous professional teacher development. The outcomes of the project may inform the Ministry of Education in Kenya in effective implementation of the new CBC as far as online Teaching/learning is concerned. Recommendations made by the project include: need for continuous ICT support for the primary school teachers and engaging the teachers in continuous teacher development courses especially those offered online.