Charity Kokwi Amegavi, a Science Teacher at St. Peters Anglican Basic School in the Ga-North Municipal District, underwent training with PEN in 2022.

Before the PEN training, Charity employed the child-centered method but found the activities were not extensive enough.

The impact of the PEN training on Charity’s teaching has been substantial. It introduced her to a better teaching approach, emphasizing the ease of obtaining materials from the environment for practical lessons. The training has removed the fear of practical teaching, allowing for a more engaging and effective learning experience.

The performance of Charity’s students has now significantly improved. During class discussions, every student actively participates, bringing forth new ideas on the topic. This increased engagement has made teaching and learning more enjoyable.

For teachers new to hands-on learning, Charity advises them to involve students as much as possible in practical lessons, fostering a dynamic and interactive classroom environment.

Joshua Annan, a Science Teacher at Weija Presbyterian Primary “2” School benefitted from the PEN Hands-On Science Teacher training in 2022.

Before the PEN training, he relied on group discussions and the lecture method for teaching.

The PEN training has revolutionised Joshua’s teaching approach, steering him towards a more practical method. The lecture method is now a distant memory as he embraces hands-on teaching. Equipped with a manual, Joshua meticulously gathers materials in advance, ensuring a seamless and engaging teaching experience.

The impact on student performance has been remarkable since Joshua‘s lessons shifted to a more practical focus. The engagement and enthusiasm of students have translated into improved academic outcomes.

For teachers new to hands-on learning, Joshua highly recommends embracing the PEN initiative. He says, "it offers an excellent approach to easy and practical teaching and learning, requiring minimal costs for materials."

Emmanuel Kani teaches Science at Chantan Experimental Basic School in the Ga-Central District and underwent training with PEN in 2022. Before the PEN training, his teaching methods encompassed a mixture of the lecture method, field trips, discussions, and brainstorming.

The PEN training significantly transformed his approach, introducing dynamic movement-based learning techniques like the "4 corners". These strategies inject excitement into lessons, encouraging students to actively participate in hands-on activities, and fostering a deeper understanding of the subject matter. In this new teaching paradigm, Emmanuel finds himself talking less and guiding more, allowing students to create their own learning experiences.

The training not only positively impacted his teaching style but also empowered him to share these innovative approaches with his colleagues. The success lies in the evident improvement in Emmanuel’s students' performance. They have become more creative and expressive, moving beyond reproducing answers directly from their notes.

His advice to new teachers is that embracing hands-on learning lightens the teaching burden, allowing for less talking and more interactive lessons. Encouraging students to bring resources from home enhances the learning experience, fostering creativity and active participation in their educational journey.

Lydia Arhinful, a Science Teacher at Oblogo M/A Basic 2 School in the Weija Gbawe Municipal District, underwent training with PEN in 2022.

Prior to the PEN training, Lydia incorporated practical elements into her science lessons, utilizing materials for teaching. The PEN training significantly improved her teaching method, aligning seamlessly with her preference for practical teaching. She gained additional knowledge on effectively utilizing low-cost materials for teaching, which brought her great joy.

The impact on her students’ performance has been clear, with increased enthusiasm for learning science. Encouraging students to contribute materials from home has further enhanced their hands-on learning experience.

For teachers new to hands-on learning, Lydia’s tip is to embrace this approach wholeheartedly. It not only enhances the learning experience for students but also adds depth and engagement to the teaching process.

Climesia is a Science teacher at Weija M/A 3 JHS School in the Weija Gbawe district who participated in PEN’s Hands-On Science teacher training in 2022. Before the training, her teaching primarily relied on the demonstration and lecture method. Sometimes facing challenges in resource gathering, she utilised personal funds to purchase items.

However, the PEN training proved transformative, offering readily available local resources for practical and demonstrative learning in her classroom. She says the impact of the training has been remarkable. The enthusiasm for science among her students has substantially increased, leading to improved performance, particularly in practical exams. The shift to hands-on learning not only elevated their understanding but also enhanced their ability to apply knowledge in real-world scenarios.

Climesia advises new teachers to persevere and embrace the hands-on approach. She emphasizes that, over time, it brings about a significant positive change in classroom dynamics and enhances the overall learning experience for both teachers and students.

Augustine Ansah, a Science teacher at Afiaman Presy School Complex in the Ga-South district, underwent PEN training in 2022. Previously relying on the lecture method, the training brought about a significant positive change by shifting his approach to a more practical method.

Facing challenges, especially with a large class size that made him hesitant to incorporate practical aspects and difficulties in acquiring items for lessons, the training with PEN proved instrumental. Augustine learned to divide the class into various groups, facilitating practical lessons in batches.

The impact on student performance has been notable, with students showing eagerness to learn science, resulting in improved grades.

For teachers new to hands-on learning, Augustine recommends embracing this method as it not only benefits students but also enhances the teaching experience.

Daniel Effah Boateng, a Science Teacher at Amamorley Methodist Basic School 2 in the Ga-North district, underwent PEN training in 2021. Before the training, he utilized the group discussion method and the inquiry-based method of teaching.

The impact of the PEN training on his teaching has been profound. Daniel reports implementing strategies such as breaking the class into smaller groups and allowing them to take turns in conducting activities fosters a deeper understanding and makes teaching much easier.

The performance of his students has notably improved. Before the PEN training, their science results were stagnant due to the lack of a more practical approach. However, since the introduction of PEN's hands-on learning, there has been a significant positive change in both their termly examinations and the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) results.

For teachers new to hands-on learning, Daniel recommends adhering to the training provided by PEN, conducting personal research on assigned tasks, and integrating the PEN manual with the curriculum for effective teaching.

Before Agnes Commodre underwent PEN training, she employed a mixed teaching method, incorporating both practical and theoretical elements in her science class at the La Salem Presby Basic School.

The impact of the PEN training on Agnes's teaching has been substantial. Now equipped with a science box, she can easily access the necessary items for science activities, streamlining the preparation process for her lessons.

Despite the benefits, Agnes faced a challenge with the training content, as it was primarily designed for Junior High School (JHS) students, while she teaches at the primary level. To address this, she took initiative to adapt the lessons to suit the comprehension level of her primary students.

When asked about the improvement in her students' performance, Agnes affirmed that all her students now have a deep love for science.

For teachers new to hands-on learning, Agnes offers a valuable tip: take the hands-on training seriously, as it not only benefits the teacher but also enhances the learning experience for students.

Jacqueline Entsie, a Science teacher at Ayawaso Quarry School 1 in the Ga North district, used the lecture method predominantly before incorporating hands-on learning techniques from the PEN training in 2022.

The impact of the PEN training on her teaching has been overwhelmingly positive since she incorporated the PEN Teacher Resource manual as a valuable resource.

The performance of her students has witnessed notable improvement, especially at the Junior High School (JHS) level. The students are now eager to learn, actively seeking additional learning opportunities during free periods. This increased interest in science brings joy to Jacqueline as a teacher.

For teachers new to hands-on learning, Jacqueline advises them to embrace it as an easy and effective way to teach science. Hands-on learning encourages greater participation from students, creating a more engaging classroom environment.

Beatrice Logbah, a Science Teacher at Association Community Model Basic School in the La Dade-Kotopon Municipal district, first experienced PEN’s teacher training in 2020. Before the training, her teaching methods involved group discussions, dramatization/role play, and a bit of the lecture method.

The impact of the PEN training on her teaching has been transformative. Beatrice acquired hands-on learning techniques, and she now gathers materials from her environment, eliminating the reliance on pre-prepared Teaching and Learning Aids (TLAs). Additionally, she learned the importance of preparing resources for practicals in advance, ensuring materials are readily available at the start of the academic year.

Regarding the performance of her students, the previous school where she implemented hands-on learning witnessed a positive change. The students developed a love for science due to the engaging and practical approach.

For teachers new to hands-on learning, Beatrice highly recommends embracing this teaching approach, utilizing online resources to overcome challenges, as it significantly enhances both teaching and learning experiences.