The Africa Federation Education Board in collaboration with the Madrasah Centre of Excellence (MCE) and the Africa Federation Tabligh Board (AFTab) organized and conducted Six Teacher Development Programs; Neuro-Psychology of Learning for 80 Personnel of Jaffery Academy and Jaffery Institute of Professional Studies in Mombasa.
The Programs were conducted by the MCE Neuro – Psychology of Learning Facilitators Br. Shabbirhussein Khalfan, Sis Sukaina Jafferali and Sis Shama Dewji as follows:
- 21st & 22nd October 2014
- 27th & 28th March 2015
- 10th & 11th April 2015
- 13th & 14th April 2015
- 12th & 13th June 2015
- 24th & 25th July 2015
The programs were 2-day facilitative workshops beginning at 8.00 a.m. and ending at around 6.00 p.m. at the Multi-Purpose Hall of Jaffery Academy.
Objectives of the Teacher Development Program – Neuropsychology of Learning:
At the end of the program, participants:
- Experienced a comprehensive self-assessment covering key psychological frameworks involved in learning.
- Reviewed in detail the learning needs, energies and thinking approaches for different students.
- Identified the inherent strengths and challenges they might face as teachers based on their needs, energy andthinking approach.
- Learned how to adapt their style to teach more effectively.
- Established an action plan to apply these skills and techniques in everyday situations.
What the Participants Liked the Most:
- The comprehensive self-assessment – Knowing “why” and “how” we do things
- Activities – Drawing, Discussion, Role-play – a lot of variety, all of which reinforced the areas of learning. The flow of activities was awesome, participants were put on-toes and attentive throughout the training.
- Getting to understand the differences in Temperaments and Interaction Styles as well as how to adapt to individuals with these differences. (Everything was of importance) J
- The facilitators were quite warm, clear, approachable, and at one point I wished I would have the same energy as they had. I have really grown from this session. I am a better me. I have understood myself; can work towards improving myself and my learners.
- That I was able to acquire new skills in a different field (Psychology). This is a life changing training that I will apply in all levels of my life and pass on the message to the rest to make a difference.
- The freedom of expression allowed in the Session. The fact that writing materials, reading materials, refreshments and food was provided accordingly; so that our concentration is fully on the training
- Teach to motivate. Teach to Engage. Increasing Teacher Effectiveness
Benefits of application of Neuropsychological approaches in Academic learning:
- It supports students to improve their learning and attain higher retention levels.
- It facilitates effective learning activities that enable higher engagement and involvement in the learning experience.
- It builds a two-way learning relationship between the teacher and the student that ensures student development is at the level of the student taking into account different stages of the child’s development.
- It enables the teachers to ensure the right processes are used for the different types of content being learnt in the madrasah and ensure it is child specific.
- It helps the teacher to avoid “labeling” learners by showing greater understanding of the child’s personality in the learning process. It gives the teacher the ability to make constructive use of differences and capitalize on all talents.
Below, are statistics of the level of Organization and Content as perceived by the Participants of the Neuropsychology of Learning Programs. The ratings of 4 and 5 stand for Excellent.
On behalf of Africa Federation Education Board (EB) Chairman, Samir Habib, Tabligh Board (AFTab) Chairman, Sayed Hasan Naqvi, I extend my appreciation to Africa Federation for supporting the program, Jaffery Academy of Mombasa for hosting the event, CBG Coordinators Sis Neelam Jiwa and Br Mujtaba Peera for taking care of all the logistics, the Facilitators for their valuable time once again to reach out and the Teaching Personnel for attending and contributing positively during the session.
AFTab Secretariat.