How can teachers leverage emerging technologies to make science teaching more practical, interactive and competency-based?
On Thursday, 5th November 2026, UPSTU hosted Joseph Tibakanya, Senior Curriculum Specialist – ICT at the National Curriculum Development Centre (NCDC), and Google PhD Fellow for an insightful ProDev Hour session exploring practical approaches to integrating ICT, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital resources into science teaching and learning.
The session highlighted several important areas:
🔹 The Changing Role of the Teacher: Despite advances in AI, teachers remain indispensable as guides, facilitators and designers of inquiry-based learning experiences.
🔹 Technology Integration Frameworks: The TPACK and SAMR models were introduced to demonstrate how technology can move beyond simply replacing traditional teaching tools to enhancing and transforming learning experiences.
🔹 Digital Learning Resources: Teachers were introduced to practical tools, including:
- PhET Simulations for visualising scientific concepts and phenomena.
- GeoGebra for interactive mathematics instruction, including geometry and vectors.
- Kahoot for interactive quizzes and assessment.
- Canva for developing instructional and visual learning materials.
- Mentimeter and Slido for learner participation and interactive classroom discussions.
🔹 AI for Curriculum Interpretation and Lesson Planning: A practical demonstration showed how ChatGPT and generative AI can support the interpretation of curriculum learning outcomes and the development of instructional materials.
🔹 The GCSE Prompting Framework: Teachers were introduced to four elements for developing effective AI prompts:
- Goal
- Context
- Source
- Expectation
🔹 Technology in Low-Resource Schools: Discussions explored challenges relating to internet access, infrastructure and limited resources, with emphasis on exploring smartphone-accessible and offline technology solutions.
🔹 Responsible AI Use: A key reminder was that pedagogy must come before technology. All AI-generated content should be verified for scientific accuracy, curriculum alignment and contextual relevance before classroom application.
Resources and Opportunities Highlighted
Teachers and education stakeholders were encouraged to explore:
- PhET: https://phet.colorado.edu/
- GeoGebra: https://www.geogebra.org/
- Kahoot: https://kahoot.com/
- Canva: https://www.canva.com/
- Mentimeter: https://www.mentimeter.com/
- Slido: https://www.slido.com/
- Mastercard Foundation Hive Collab: https://hivecollab.com/
The session also highlighted opportunities for engagement with educational technology innovators, including the exploration of offline AI tutoring solutions and emerging innovations showcased at the NCDC conference and Uganda Innovation Week.
🎥 MISSED THE LIVE SESSION? WATCH THE FULL RECORDING HERE:
UPSTU remains committed to strengthening teachers’ professional capacity through practical, relevant and collaborative learning opportunities.
Join us every Thursday, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM for UPSTU ProDev Hour – Professional, Economic and Social Empowerment for Teachers!
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