Ahmed Bin Hanbal Independent Secondary School and Supreme Eucation Council Curriculum Standards

Today Monday 27 September, 2010 was the second day of the “Induction Week” this year. The topic I handled this afternoon is of great importance to all the teachers as it discusses mostly the Supreme Education Council Curriculum Standards and how they can used in schools.

In our school Grade 10 students study the advanced level of the four main subjects: Arabic, English, Science and Mathematics. Grade 11 students have two levels of study: Foundation and Advanced within three different pathways: Medicine, Engineering and Business Administration. Grade 12 students still use the Ministry of Education curriculum, but teaching should follow the same modern trends applied in Grades 10 and 11.

The discussion was based on how teachers can change SEC Standards into curriculum, make lesson plans and create content material that helps achieve the standards. The discussion also elicited the various teaching resources including textbooks, worksheets, handouts, PPT presentations, flashes, the Internet and other online resources.

Evaluation and assessment tools and techniques were briefly discussed and how teachers can benefit from this in planning for their teaching, identifying the different levels of students and their learning needs and designing programs for future teaching.

The main Target of the school is “To improve learning through improving the quality of teaching”.

Teachers mentioned how they derive objectives from the standards and then create the content that would help achieve those objectives in the light of the SEC performance standards (Key Standards and Non-Key Standards) and schemes of work.

I think have benefited a lot from this presentation and promised to do their best to promote teaching and learning in the school.

Best wishes to all colleagues.

You can easily download this presentation by clicking here.

Policies of Ahmed Bin Hanbal Independent Secondary School for Boys

First of all I would like to congratulate all colleagues and students on coming back to school. It is a good chance for me to thank all the people who have given a hand in the process of moving to the new school building for their great efforts.

On Sunday, 26 September, 2010 the “Induction Week” started with an important topic which I presented. The topic is entitled “Policies of Ahmed Bin Hanbal Independent Secondary School for Boys“. The main points of the presentation focused on the following:

• Introduction to school vision, mission and philosophy
• Code of work and conduct
• School Calendar
• Semester, Unit and Lesson Plans
• Assessment Policy

Vision

To graduate students who stand out by their unique scientific and social skills in a learning environment characterized by dedication to the national and social sense. This educational environment should be equipped with modern technology and open to others, preserving the teachings of Islam and respecting the customs and traditions of others.

Mission

• Adopting an educational approach characterized by modernity and achieving the national standards
• Developing students’ creativity
• Ensuring that the students take pride in their country by preserving it
• Instill the teachings of Islamic and the preservation of customs and traditions
• Respecting the views and beliefs of others, being open to other cultures and most importantly engaging the community

Code of Work and Conduct

• Commitment to school policy and applying administration instructions
• Punctuality and carrying out all tasks assigned by school authorities
• Self-respect and respect of others
• Cooperation with colleagues and working as a team

All subject teams have been invited to develop schemes of work, semester plans, unit plans and lesson plans for the school year based on the Supreme Education Council Standards and work hard on achieving them. I advised the audience to use the same template used last year and the three parts lesson plan including: starter, main activity and lesson plenary.

I also discussed with the teachers the different types of assessment and tests and the purpose of each type:

• Diagnostic Tests
• Formative Assessment
• Summative Assessment
• Self Evaluation

Then I moved on to clarifying the school assessment policy which is clearly shown in the presentation provided. All the coordinators and teachers were enthusiastic and eager to participate actively in the discussion.

You can easily download this presentation by clicking here.