Having spent the last couple of weeks on virtual training sessions with the teaching team at the Pakistan Higher Secondary School RAK, it was very special to meet them in person this week. Thanks Ms Reshma Ahmed for all the support organising this training programme. 💛🙋🏻♀️
I drew from two important documents in preparation of this workshop, which might be useful if you are involved in facilitating or teaching on the topics of Active Learning and Real Life Application of learning:
1️⃣ The first: An article by Cambridge on Active Learning.
💡 Key nugget: establishing what your learners already do (or don’t) know underpins what kind of ‘active learning’ experiences you’ll need to design for them. How are you going to figure out where they're at, before you start trying to teach them?
2️⃣ The second: a useful paper about Real Life Application of learning, by The Idea Center.
💡 Key nugget: there are four main things researchers found that contribute to students rating their teachers highly -
1) organisation 🏛
2) clarity🧘🏽♀️
3) perceived outcomes 🎯
4) stimulation of interest 🤩
I think stimulation of interest is underrated in how much creative energy and thoughtful planning it requires. Also known as 'shiny eyed moments', it’s about that something magical that happens when you capture the attention of learners and you can feel they’re invested. Quite hard to repeat regularly 😬 (Mohsin Memon - you’re good at these 😄)
Finally... I was extra grateful to be able to visit this school in person, meet some fellow Pakhtunas nestled in Ras Al Khaimah, enjoy a drive in beautiful weather… and of course, to see children riding their bikes after school, laughing their heads off, and running around outdoors, carefree. Just as they should be.🥰💛
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