The Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching at An-Najah University organized a seminar on creativity and excellence in learning and teaching which aimed to discuss creativity initiatives that are designed and executed by staff members at the faculties of Information Technology, Medicine and Health Sciences, Science and Arts.
Attendees to the meeting included Prof. Rami Hamdallah, President of An-Najah, Prof. Maher Abu Eid, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Allam Mousa, Deputy President for Planning and Development, in addition to a number of Faculties’ Deans and members of the teaching staff at the University.
Dr. Waleed Basha delivered the opening speech and spoke about the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching and its achievements. Prof. Hamdallah emphasized the University’s commitment to improving educational conditions and environment either through developing education’s infrastructure or by developing curricula in the different departments using teaching and evaluation methods that are based on providing the students with modern knowledge and build their capacities that would qualify them to excel in the work field.
This is also achieved through the University’s commitment to its strategic plan which is based on changing teaching methods, the content, and measurement and evaluation methods in order for the University to adapt to any new introductions in the field of higher education.
The lecturers presented their achievements which included many projects such as problem-solving based learning, re-designing project-based courses, electronic tests, and the expectations of learners and students. The presentations focused on the practical side of learning and teaching which include class participation, evaluation methods, as well as the integration and presentation of case studies in curricula.
Dr. Abdel Al-Razzaq Al-Natsha from the Faculty of Information Technology presented a paper in which he spoke about the use of problem-solving based learning in teaching the processing of digital photos and their applications. Another paper titled “Problem-solving based Learning” was presented by Dr. Aidah Al-Kaissi from the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences.
Dr. Ra’ed Al-Koni from the Faculty of Science and Mr. Maher Arafat from the Faculty of Information Technology co-presented a paper on electronic tests, while Dr. Imad Dawwas from the Faculty of Engineering presented a paper on learning that is based on connection with the society. Mr. Amer Awad from the Faculty of Arts spoke about the expectations of learners in their first year of study.
The establishment of the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching came to achieve a number of objectives including: Provide the academic staff with professional development training courses, facilitate the employment of technology in education, connect the University with the society and the work market, re-design some courses in such a way that they become centered on modern teaching and evaluation methods, secure a neutral discussion environment in which colleagues from different departments meet and share expertise and work on developing the outputs of teaching of the various courses and programs.
The Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching was established a year ago and since then, it has contributed to the promotion of the idea of the learner as the center of the educational process and has offered many modern models in learning and teaching through workshops and meetings administered by a group of experts.