Experimental Design
The primary sample of 230 schools is divided into three groups by school level randomization, and stratified by baseline implementation of differentiated learning: (1) Treatment 1 – DL In-Person Training (90 schools), (2) Treatment 2 – DL Digital Training (90 schools), and (3) Control (50 schools). In both treatment groups, teachers are provided with refresher trainings on differentiated learning developed in partnership with the Ghana Education Service (GES).
In Treatment 1, this training is provided in person – teachers will meet over the course of five days for a classroom-based DLE training. This training will follow the traditional cascade module of teacher training by GES, which has long been used by GES in training teachers, especially for large programs. In this model, a group of master trainers is trained on DL, then they train smaller groups of District Teacher Support Teams (DTST) on the same topics. The DTSTs further train teachers who have been selected based on the placement of their schools on DL Experimentation. During the training, participants will receive a succinct resource manual on how to properly implement DL in schools.
In Treatment 2, the training is provided via a digital training platform developed by the National Teaching Council (NTC) . The digital course will be composed of six different modules including an introduction to DL, Resources for Teaching and Learning in DL, an Introduction to DL in Mathematics Lessons, an Introduction to DL in English Lessons, and assessment of learners in English and Mathematics. Participants will be required to study the modules and implement them in their classes for lesson observations. Additionally, participants will be required to record parts of their lesson deliveries in their classrooms on videos, for panel discussions via zoom meetings at the district levels.