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To enhance the quality of teaching and learning of pre-service training at the rural teacher training institutes in Liberia, the use of digital video was introduced at Kakata Rural Teacher Training Institute (KRTTI) by the Liberia Teacher Training Program in April 2009. GLP's Jodi Lis trained Liberian teacher trainers on how to integrate video in teacher professional development. As a result of the use of video, trainees were able to improve their teaching performances in areas such as classroom management, group work, motivation and presentation skills.

The objectives of the pilot were to train teacher trainees on how to use selected technologies, integrate use of video into practice teaching in teacher professional development and improve teacher trainee’s teaching skills.

The initial training consisted of technical and pedagogical sessions. The technology sessions were important to learn how to operate the technology, but knowing how to use the technology is only part of the process. Trainers also gained skills on how to make appropriate use of the technology in teacher professional development. Teacher trainers at the RTTI became skilled at using the technology, filmed trainees in their classrooms during their practice teaching and learned how to conduct sessions with the trainees to evaluate trainees' teaching performances using the videos.

The videos helped the trainees in the process of learning how to become teachers. The videos became like a 'judge' for the practice teaching. As one trainee said, "I do not recall any errors." Watching videos of their teaching, trainees observed themselves in the classroom doing some parts well and other parts not as well. This process of reflection using videos was "interesting and enjoyable to learn our mistakes from witnessing them." Another trainee explained the value of this method, "Each video is equivalent to a year’s experience. Five of my lessons were filmed, and from each one I learned as much as I would have in five years."

Trainees learned techniques and methods for classroom management, group work, teaching aids, chalkboard usage, motivation, pair teaching and clear presentations. Working in groups, for example, was a new concept of teaching. Trainees learned strategies how to organize the students in groups, give instructions that students can follow, keep them on track and provide processes for presenting the group work to the classroom. After hearing themselves speak, the students noticed how they mispronounced words and learned how to properly say them. They now look up a word in a dictionary if they do not know how to pronounce it when preparing a lesson. Watching themselves teach in front of the classroom provided the trainees courage, and they became more confident as teachers.

Visit the Liberia Teacher Training Program's videos on Vimeo to listen to trainers, trainees and administration speak about their experiences using video in teacher profressional development.