Abstract:

The Visual Communication team (VC) of the TEC Digital (TD) at the Technological Institute of Costa Rica is in charge to produce the learning materials for teachers within the virtualization process program. With the number of learning materials that have to be designed and the time it consumes, the VC team designed a new strategy that empowers teachers towards lifelong learning experiences with digital tools giving them the authority to create quality learning materials needed for the teaching-learning process and become more technology related.

Technology is rapidly changing, and higher education teachers must adapt and learn to meet the student's demands. Teachers must find a suitable way for training but usually are given outside the university campus, takes several hours per week, are expensive, and don't have the perspective wanted. TEC Digital plays an essential role in providing the motivation teachers need as part of their professional development to increase their abilities and self-directed learning through informal in-campus training.

So far, nine workshops have been taught by the VC team at TD with a duration of three hours each. The center topic of every workshop was created by the most requested materials that teachers ask to design for classes - online or not. Every workshop included an introduction section, a how and when to use it, and the final “hands-on-work” section were every teacher elaborated a learning material for their own guided by the VC instructor.

An inquiry method rewarding the implementation of the workshops was carried out by qualitative interviews and surveys sent via email to teachers attending the workshops as well as an observation process for gathering information about the teacher's reactions and doubts at all times. The results reflected that the “opportunity” of taking this workshops within the university campus is essential and provides awareness and motivation toward learning technologies to create learning materials and technology learning experiences.

Keywords:

Technology, workshops, higher education, lifelong learning experiences.