To keep the quality of education at Daraja in top shape, our teachers are often going through professional development exercises – either with other Kenyan teachers, or with volunteers that visit campus.

Volunteer Sue August worked with the teachers early this year to help them identify their learning styles. She provided questionnaires which the teachers used to determine whether they learn by doing, experiencing, watching or conceptualizing. It helped the teachers to see how different students may need different approaches in the classroom.

Teachers Charles and Carol both said that it helped them to see not only how their students’ learning can be affected by this information, but also how different teachers’ methods in the classroom could be affected by their learning styles.

Teachers from Marin Academy in San Rafael, CA, worked with the Daraja teachers on building a supportive and constructive community of educators. And English teachers Colleen and Karen Lafferty worked with the Daraja faculty on preparations for the final Kenyan secondary school exam, the KCSE.

Teachers Mercy, Doreen, Carol and Joseph in a professional development workshop

During the term break the teachers also had some follow up training sessions with Teachers Without Borders where they had more opportunities to explore different learning and teaching styles.