Author: Ross Chrichton | Based on case studies by: Salome Ikokoyo (Nigeria), Elsie Enanga (Cameroon), Victor Kibaba (Kenya), Geoffrey Makau Mutungi (Kenya) – from Teaching and learning with technology in Sub-Saharan Africa: Case studies of practice (British Council) | Published on 9 March 2026
Question: How can technology encourage learners to attend and participate?
Answer: By using simple technology to make lessons interactive, interesting and participatory.
Attendance and engagement can drop in busy schools, especially after breaks or when the commute to school is long. Teachers have successfully used videos, recordings and AI-generated materials to motivate learners and improve attendance.
Recommendations:
- Use activities that spark curiosity: short videos, recordings or story-based tasks (even without technology) can make learners look forward to class.
- Audio or video examples can help learners practice skills in new and engaging ways. They become interactive when learners respond – for example by repeating, predicting or answering questions.
- Reinforce learning with visual support, such as classroom displays, so learners feel progress is visible.
- Highlight and celebrate participation: learners who see their work showcased (through recordings or group presentations) are more motivated.
Key Takeaways:
- Using technology like short videos, story recordings or AI-generated examples can spark curiosity and improve attendance and engagement.
- Meaningful interaction with technology can boost motivation and encourage language practice.
- Seeing and hearing examples helps learners remember and understand new content.