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Living in the Holy Land: Respecting Differences
Evaluation Workshop in Al Taibeh
11 – 12 /6/2007
Participants:
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15 teachers
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5
specialized lecturers
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2
administrators and one program coordinator
Aim of the workshop:
After 10 years
in the implementation of this program, and after
three years since the first evaluation workshop
of the curriculum and as a response to the
teachers, we decided to hold this workshop. The
aim is to evaluate the curriculum in the light
of the acquired educational experience.
The method used in the process of evaluating the
workshop:
1.
A
letter was sent to the participating schools on
31/3/2007 included 7 questions that deal with
the implemented curriculum and the teachers were
asked to send their comments on these questions
and topics. They were also asked to give
suggestions that may contribute in developing
the project so as to prepare for the workshop
and to send their comments to the specialized
lecturers.
2.
Three
specialists in the field of the three
monotheistic religions were asked to give their
remarks on the material mentioned. They were
also asked to check if the materials are in
harmony with the religious doctrines. They were
also requested to give suggestions and comments
that they may see appropriate. These specialists
are:
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Father Dr. Peter Du Bruel - a religious
studies teacher at Bethlehem University
who will deal with Judaism.
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Father Dr. Ra'ed Abu Sahlieh the
Christian thinker and parish priest of
Latin Church in Taibeh to talk about
Christianity.
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Alsheikh Maher A'saf a teacher of
religious studies at Terra Sancta School
and Islamic thinker to discuss Islamic
religion.
3.
It
was demanded from the two specialists in the
curriculum and methods of teaching religious
studies to look into the prescribed curriculum
and to give comments and suggestions to develop
it.
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Dr. Sami Basha, a teacher of educational
studies at Bethlehem University, was
asked to talk on ways and methods of
teaching.
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Mr. Tahseen Yakeen- head of the editing
department of the curriculum section of
the Palestinian Ministry of Education
was invited to give a critical study of
the implemented curriculum.
The implementation of the workshop:
The workshop
was divided as it is shown in the schedule for 7
sessions, where every session was led by a chair
from the teachers; every lecturer was given 25
minutes to present his paper and then 1 hour for
discussion and comments was given. The
discussions and communications were held in a
good atmosphere of frankness and freedom in
expressing opinions and ideas to achieve a
successful meeting.
The Evaluation Workshop:
1.
The
aim of this curriculum is to have knowledge in
the three monotheistic religions, so as to
develop and increase the spirit of tolerance,
love and respect among the three followers of
the three religions. There are many remarks on
the curriculum from the specialist's view which
require editing that agrees with the program
spirit which aims to know the other's religion
and respect of the differences, and to develop
the spirit of peace, love and non violence among
the followers of the three religions in the Holy
Land. It was decided to print out the
specialists papers and distribute them to
teachers, then to form a committee among
teachers to collect amendments and suggestions
hoping they will be accomplished in the next
year 2007/2008. We also have to print again and
to distribute it to the participating students
of the project.
2.
Printing out Dr. Sami Basha papers about the
methods of teaching, and Mr. Tahseen Yakeen
papers about the curriculum and to distribute
them to teachers and take their remarks in
printing out the new curriculum. Mr. Yakeen
advice was to reedit the prescribed curriculum
so as to be more developed and to take into
consideration the modern methods in printing out
the curriculum which combine language accuracy,
enjoyment and the depth of the subject. The
curriculum should require a lot of exercises and
questions that develop the critical thinking of
the student.
3.
Dr.
Sami Basha focused on teaching to be away from
lecturing and counseling. The importance of
connecting the curriculum to the realities, and
to take into consideration the environment. He
also focused on the importance of student's
participation and activation in the lecture and
the ideal method of teaching is discussion that
requires previous preparation from the students.
The participation of the students in discussions
is very essential and that shows various
creative opinions.
4.
The
last session of the workshop was allocated to
have general evaluation regarding subjects that
came out in the workshop and the level of the
papers. Part of the session was allocated to
evaluate the whole year regarding the level of
the relation and communication between the
institute and schools, training sessions, field
trips and relationship development.
As a
conclusion, all participants expressed their
feelings on the level of papers, nature of
discussion and dialogue. All the participants
agreed that the workshop added a lot of ways and
methods of teaching. It strengthened their
convictions and added new information. Other
participants exchanged their experiences of the
teaching methods implemented in their schools.
Most of the participants indicated that the
students in their classrooms went eagerly to the
joint weekly class sessions so as to add a lot
to their knowledge and values about the other's
religion. Some teachers pointed out that the
teaching method used has been left to the
students themselves. In other words the method
of teaching was a student centered one.
Other teachers
integrated the educational materials in the
examination or testing system in order to
motivate and encourage students to learn
seriously through this marking and assessment
system.
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