01-03-2018
On Saturday, 13 January 2018, the Educational Research and Development Programme (ERDP) of the A. M. Qattan Foundation (AMQF) launched the events of Winter Courses in Jericho. Held over three days, 13-15 January 2018, Winter Courses brought together 83 male and female teachers from Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Nazareth. The event was supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).
Cultural and art products, integrative interactive learning, and drama in a learning context were three fundamental themes covered by three main courses. Titled Education Based on Culture and Cultural Products, the first course targeted early childhood educators and primary education teachers. The course used the mantle of the expert and learning through the project techniques as two contexts of socially visible, cultural learning. The course was delivered by Malik Al-Remawi, Manager of the ERDP Languages and Humanities Track, and Vivian Tannous, ERDP Researcher.
Titled Drama as a Context of Learning through the Curriculum, the second course was informed by art, science and technology in a social context with a view to building experience and generating knowledge. The course targeted primary education teachers of 4th through 10th grades. It was taught by Wasim Kurdi, ERDP Director.
Including a practical application, the third course, Integrative Learning through Interactive Science Exhibits, aimed to engage teachers in building and developing science exhibits and designing related activities. The course was delivered by Nader Wahbeh, Science Studio Manager, and a team of science exhibit developers and researchers at the Science Studio.
As a complement to learning in cultural contexts, events featured an evening programme of film screenings and discussions, which were produced by the Culture, Art and Community Participation project implemented by the AMQF with co-funding from the SDC. Over almost two years, the project involved teachers, artists, and community activists in several areas across Palestine. Spaces of the Picture by Bilal Al-Khatib and The Crossing Point by Bassam Jarbawi were screened.
It is worth noting that, over the past few years, Winter Courses were a complementary part of the AMQF Drama in Education programme. This year, these courses have taken a new direction, prioritising and furnishing an opportunity to teachers, who have not had a chance to attend intensive training events. To this avail, 83 out of 304 male and female teachers were selected from among those who applied for Winter Courses. These have never engaged in any of the AMQF-offered courses of over 18 training hours. Teachers showed considerable interest and capability of commitment in their applications.
Every course brought together a number of teachers, who were already involved in the Culture, Art and Community Participation project, promoting their experience and encouraging them share it with other teachers.