Date: 2016-08-12

The University of Ilorin has commenced training for members of the academic staff and IT officers on the use of Google Apps for Education in order to increase efficiency, collaboration, and engagement in the classrooms.

The two-week training programme, which commenced last Monday (August 1, 2016), was organised by the Committee on e-learning in conjunction with the Training, Research and Development (TRD) Unit of the Directorate of Computer Services and Information Technology (COMSIT), and facilitated by the Centre for Research, Development and In-House Training (CREDIT).

Speaking at the commencement of the training, the Chairman of the e-learning Committee, Prof. (Mrs.) F. A. O. Olasehinde-Williams, described the training as "crucial and important", adding that the University must demonstrate that it is part of the 21st century as she called on the lecturers to domesticate the knowledge.

She noted that the training is the first phase to kick-starting e-learning and e-teaching in the University, admonishing the participants who were selected from all the Faculties to be the arrow heads that drive e-learning in the various departments.

In his welcome remarks, the Director of CREDIT, Prof. B. S. Alabi, enjoined participants to take full advantage of the training, stressing that the University is investing heavily on training and updating of teaching skills. He said that the Centre, which is a training arm of the University, has ensured that every facility needed for the success of programme has been put in place while thanking the COMSIT directorate for providing capable resource persons for conducting the training and saving the University the cost of outsourcing the training.

The COMSIT director, Prof. M. I. Ahmed, praised the vision of the University management to drive teaching, research and community development through Information and Communication Technology, submitting that the University has a robust partnership with the Google.

Prof. Ahmed stated further that the TRD unit of the COMSIT has qualified personnel to facilitate such training, justifying the investment of the University in the unit as he commended CREDIT for organising the training.

One of the resource persons, Mr. Monsur Raji, explained that the training is interactive and practical by design as participants and resource persons are all connected real-time to the internet, which according to him enables the participants to apply the knowledge practically as they watch their instructors demonstrate the Apps.

Mr. Raji submitted that the Apps, when fully operational, would greatly improve efficiency in teaching and learning, stressing that the Apps are not aimed at putting an end to traditional means of teaching but rather to make it more friendly and effective. The training team included: Mr. Yusuf Ali, Mr. Musa Abubakar, Mr. Saka Bolakale, and Mr. Olusegun Mokuolu.