Training Report

on Syllabus Division & Time Tabling

with the Teachers of Unilever School RYK for the next Academic Year 2007 – 2008

Whole School Improvement Program in District Rahim Yar Khan

in Collaboration with Unilever Pakistan Ltd.

Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi Center for Education & Consciousness

49-A Jail Road, Lahore

Tel: (92-42) 7535270 Fax: (92-42) 7535271

Website: www.itacec.org

Two Days’ Training Session on Syllabus Division & Time Management

Date: - 17th -18th August 2007

Time: - 9:00 am to 4:00pm

Venue: - Govt Elementary Unilever School Rahim Yar Khan

No of participants/Teachers:-

Day 1 =26

Day 2 =30

ITA’s Representatives:

Mr. Akhtar Mirza District Teacher Educator (DTE) RYK

Ms. Razia Mughal Trainer & Material Developer (T&MD)

Ms. Saima Ahmad ITA’s Coordinator for RYK

Mr. Abid Jamil Honorary Resource Person for the training

Mr. Saeed ul Hassan Manager (WSIP)

Objectives of the Workshop

§  To Identify and share the professional strengths, areas of improvement, opportunities and challenges of Unilever school teachers.

§  To share the definition, significance and good practices of syllabus division.

§  To practice the Integration of the same themes and concepts of all the subjects in syllabus division.

§  To facilitate teachers to make their academic calendar of 2007-2008

§  To facilitate them to manage their time table for next academic year

§  To introduce the concept of SOLO taxonomy as prescribed by the Punjab Examination Commission.

Synopsis of two days’ sessions:

The session started with the recitation of the Holy Quran by one of the teachers of Unilever School. Saeed-ul-Hassan (Manager WSIP) welcomed the participants and shared the objectives of the workshop. In a cordial atmosphere, participants and resource persons were introduced to each other. SWOT Analysis was the first activity introduced by Razia Mughal (Resource Person ITA) that helped participants share their professional strengths, expertise and opportunities. They also pointed out their weak areas and certain threats they face in their day to day teaching affairs. Their responses were noted on the charts. Before getting into the activities regarding syllabus division, the resource person briefly shared the difference between curriculum and syllabus. After a brief brainstorming by the participants, they were shared the definition, need and significance of syllabus division. All the participants were divided in groups according to the following levels:

  1. Lower primary
  2. Primary
  3. Elementary

In order to incorporate and highlight the importance of co-curricular activities, various enrichment activities, celebrations, festivals and important days were enlisted on the board for the preparation of academic calendar. Sets of new text books were distributed among the teachers for syllabus division. The facilitator then made the following grid on the board as “lesson blocks”.

English / Urdu / Science / Social
Studies / Maths / Arabic / Islamiat / Art/
Tech.

The participants were asked to search out the lessons which have the same or matching concepts from all the books and collect them into block 1, then 2, 3 and separate in 4.

Semester wise blocks

Block 1 / Block 2
Block 3 / Block 4

After this, they were asked to count their working days month wise and divide their work load/syllabus according to the time in order to balance their time & work. Mention the names of lessons in terms and assessment dates in the division. To make it more attractive for the students, teachers can write names of lesson regarding in the form of terms in different colors instead of numbering for example yellow term, blue term and pink term which can be displayed in the classroom.

Term Division

Months / 1st semester / Test / 2nd semester / Test / 3rd semester / Revision / Exams
Lesson’s name / Assessment / Lesson’s name / Assessment / Lesson’s name / Assessment

It was quite encouraging that all the teachers took keen interest in the group work and shared their hands-on experiences. After this intensive exercise of syllabus division, representatives from each group were invited to give presentation about their assigned tasks. At the end, one of the participants recapitalized the proceedings and learning of the day 1.

The next day started with the re-cap of day 1. The main activity of the day- 2 was the composition of time table for the complete academic year. This session was very focused but lively as the suggestions and ideas of all teachers were welcomed. They specifically added library, computer, art and technical periods in the time table which is quite heartwarming as far as govt. teachers are concerned as they are usually tagged as passive players in the classrooms.

At the end, Mr. Akhtar Mirza took a session on solo taxonomy and shared its whole concept which is as under:.

S structure of

O observed

L learning

O outcomes

The theory of solo taxonomy is

based on:

Keeping in view the new examination system based on SOLO Taxonomy for primary and elementary levels introduced by Punjab Examination Commission in all schools, the need for such informative session was acute which was responded very positively as almost all the teachers asked questions and shared their ideas regarding new examination system. During the session, Syed Rashid Latif, DEO (EE) and Mr. Farooq Baig Dy.DO (EE) visited the school and appreciated the interest and participation of the teachers.

SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGMENT:

ITA is so grateful to Mr. Razi ur Rehman Cheema who helped us a lot in organizing this two days’ training session. Above all, we are particularly thankful to Mr. Akhtar Mirza and Mr. Abid Jamil for participating in the training as ITA’s Resource Persons. Both of them helped us in facilitating and coordinating training sessions. They shared their valuable teaching experience with full passion which made the training interactive and meaningful.

Annexures

Date - Time / Program Contents/Activities
Day - 1 / Methodology / Trainer/
Facilitator
Session - 1 / Registration/Recitation
Introduction -- Participants/Trainers
“Who we are? ..What do we do?” / “Its all
about me” / Razia Mughal
Saeed ul Hassan
9:00-9:30
Session - 2 / What is syllabus division
Importance of syllabus division
Importance of co-curricular activities / Brain storming / Razia Mughal
9:30- 10:30
10:30-11:30 / ·  Issues regarding syllabus division
·  How we can resolve it / Presentation / Razia Mughal
11:30-11:45 / Tea Break
Session - 3 / ·  Integration of assessment with syllabus division / Group work / Razia Mughal
11:45-01:30
01:30-02:00 / Lunch/Prayer
Session - 4 / ·  Role of management in syllabus division / Group work
Transparencies handouts / Razia Mughal
02:00- 02:15
Session - 5 / Practice on syllabus division with Primary and Elementary level / Group Work
Presentation by the participants / Razia Mughal
Mr.Akhter Mirza
School team
02:15- 04:30
04:30-04:40 / Wrapping up/ open discussion
“Learning?” / Participants
Date - Time / Program Contents/Activities
Day - 2 / Methodology / Trainer/
Facilitator
Session - 1 / ·  Review & presentations of previous day
·  Importance of time tabling
·  Objectives of time tabling / Group work
Brainstorming / Ms.Razia Mughal
Mr.Akhter Mirza
09:30:10:30
10:30-10:45 / Tea Break
Session - 2 / ·  Effective use of time table / Group Work / Ms.Razia Mughal
Mr.Akhter Mirza
10:45-12:30
12:30-01:30 / Lunch/Prayer
Session - 3 / ·  Proper time management
·  Practice on time table with Primary and Elementary level / Group work / Ms.Razia Mughal
Mr.Akhter Mirza
Ms.Saima
01:30- 03:30
Session - 4 / Session on solo taxonomy / Mr.Akhter Mirza
03:30-04:30
04:30-04:40 / Wrapping up/ open discussion
“Learning?” / Participants