Download Essential Factors For Effective Islamic Teaching & Learning

Islamic Education
Essential Factors For Effective
Islamic Teaching & Learning
Professional development for teachers
Presented by Salifu Baba
20 August 2007
Effective Teaching &
Learning Principles
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At the end of this session, participants should be
able to:
Characterise Islamic education
Identify the mission of Islam
Identify the vision of effective Islamic teaching
and learning
explain the purpose of Islamic education
identify and explain at least 6 essential factors
underpinning effective teaching and learning.
Islamic Education
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The First World Conference on Muslim
Education held in Mecca in 1977, characterised
Islamic education as one that should:
“provide a balanced growth of the total
personality of man through training of the human
spirit, intellect, rational self, feelings and bodily
senses. The training imparted to a Muslim must
be such that faith is infused into the whole of his
personality and creates in him an emotional
attachment to Islam.” (Hashim, 1996, p. 87).
Islamic Education
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In Islam, the concept of knowledge is
inextricably bound up with its belief system,
particularly, al-tawhid (unity of God).
Islamic education integrates all knowledge
and disciplines with “Islamic ideology”.
In short, Islamic education recognizes the
“jurisdiction” of God Almighty in all
disciplines. In fact, God occupies a centre
court in Islamic education.
Islamic Education
In the past, Muslim scholars transformed
the form, content, and intent of sciences,
education, and arts into Islamic disciplines
by integrating intellectual and cultural
development within the Islamic worldview.
Islamic Education
However, many Muslim educators and
practitioners would acknowledge that
Islamic education, as it is taught today,
has been ineffective in teaching and
inspiring Muslim children to adopt and
adhere to Islam as a way of life and a
system of personal and social values.
Islamic Education
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The crisis of modern-day Islamic
education is rooted, in large part, in the
way we teach our children about Islam.
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This approach which focuses primarily on
conveying “information” about Islam, has
failed to capture the hearts and minds of
our youth.
Islamic Education
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A renewed approach is therefore needed –
one that addresses the real needs and
concerns of students themselves.
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The field of Islamic values education – with
its focus on beliefs, values, manners
feelings, attitudes, and moral literacy skills
– should be the focus of contemporary
Islamic education, as it was in the time of
the Noble Prophet (SAW).
Islamic Education
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Fortunately, a sense of renewal is in the
air today and enlightened Muslims are
eager to find real solutions to the
problems and challenges facing the
Muslim community and, if necessary, to
re-examine traditional paradigms within
Muslim society – including how and what
we teach our children about Islam.
Islamic Education
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To achieve this goal, a unified and concerted
effort is needed.
Muslim educators, practitioners and families
must increase and unify their efforts to find
creative solutions that will effectively bridge the
gap between values and practice in the
upcoming generation of Muslim youth.
Islamic schools have a crucial role to play in
developing solutions and programs that will help
foster this.
Effective Teaching & Learning
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Principle
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The vision of the an effective Islamic education
makes an important distinction between teaching
“about Islam” and teaching “about being
Muslims”
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Goals of Islamic education
The goal of Islamic education is not to fill our
children’s minds with information “about” Islam,
but rather to teach them what it means really to
“be” Muslims.
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Effective Teaching & Learning
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The vision of effective Islamic teaching and
learning being discussed is based on a
dynamic rather than static, view of Islam and
Islamic education.
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This view is rooted in the belief that the
mission of Islam is to positively transform
the world, and that the purpose of Islamic
education is to prepare young men and
women capable of carrying out this mission.
Effective Teaching & Learning
According to this view, effective
Islamic teaching and learning must
have the power to inspire and
transform students in the process of
Islamic tarbiyyah.
Effective Teaching & Learning
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Several factors are essential for effective
teaching and learning to occur.
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Islamic school teachers and practitioners
must become better aware of the important
role these factors play in effective instruction
and future programs in Islamic education
should be evaluated in the light of these or
similar principles.
Effective Teaching & Learning
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Some essential factors for effective
teaching and learning are:
1.
Meaningful
Integrative
Values-based
Challenging
Active
Instructional Standards
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Effective Teaching & Learning
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Meaningful
Students should feel that the content they
are studying is worth learning because it is
meaningful and relevant to their lives.
Students must see the usefulness and
potential application of this knowledge to
their everyday lives.
Effective Teaching & Learning
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Integrative
Instruction must be integrated –
encompassing and engaging the whole
child (spiritually, emotionally, socially,
intellectually and physically).
It must be integrative across time, place
and culture; integrative across the
curriculum; integrating knowledge and
values with action and application.
Effective Teaching & Learning
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Values-based
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The aim of Islamic education is to produce
“good human beings”.
Accordingly, instruction should focus on
values and considering the ethical
dimensions of topics. In this way, Islamic
education becomes powerful vehicle for
character development, thus achieving its
true goal.
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Effective Teaching & Learning
Values-based cont.
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Teachers must realise that every aspect of
the teaching and learning experience
conveys values and provide opportunities for
students to learn about values.
Effective Teaching & Learning
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Challenging
Students must be challenged to
thoughtfully examine what they are
studying, to participate assertively in group
discussions, to work productively in
cooperative learning activities, and to come
to grips with controversial issues.
Effective Teaching & Learning
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Challenging cont.
Such activities and experiences will help
foster the skills needed to produce
competent Muslims capable of presenting
and defending their beliefs and principles
actively.
Effective Teaching & Learning
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Active
Great deal is demanded from both the
teacher and students.
The teachers must be actively and
genuinely engaged in the teaching process
– making plans, choices, and curriculum
adjustments as needed, rather than
mechanically following a manual.
Effective Teaching & Learning
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Active cont.
Teachers must be prepared to continuously
update their knowledge, adjust goals and
content to students’ needs, take advantage
of unfolding events and teachable
moments, develop examples that relate
directly to students, and other practices that
facilitate active and meaningful instruction.
Effective Teaching & Learning
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Active cont.
Furthermore, effective instruction must
emphasise hands-on activities that call for
students to react to what they are learning
and to use it in their lives in some
meaningful way.
Effective Teaching & Learning
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Instructional Standards
Certain instructional standards must be in
place for meaningful and authentic teaching
and learning to occur.
Student achievement increases when these
standards of instruction are implemented.
Effective Teaching & Learning
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Task
Evaluate one of the topics you are
teaching currently in the light of
the 6 effective teaching and
learning principles discussed
today. What can you see?
Effective Teaching & Learning
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THE END
Question Time