The Sixth ASSET Olympiad on Saturday, February 4, 2012; Topic “Gender Responsive Citizen”

Dear Head of Institution/Individual Member,

Happy New Year!

It gives me a great pleasure to inform you that our team is organizing The Sixth ASSET Olympiad on Saturday, February 4, 2012 at AKU-IED. The topic of the Olympiad is “Gender Responsive Citizen”.

The Olympiad has been designed with the aim to explore the perception of children about gender (rights, responsibilities and role of girls and boys), break myths related to gender and develop among them a positive, healthy and realistic attitude towards each other. Through this platform, the participants (students and teachers) would be given an opportunity to learn and express what they feel about it and what their views are about it.

This event has been designed to ensure a stimulating experience for all the participants. The students will prepare posters and prepare and deliver a speech focusing on the given motion statement, while the teachers will attend an informative session on the topic.

Participating students will be briefed and facilitated in the preparation of posters and in the preparation of speech. The details of the programme are as follows:

08:30 a.m. - 09:00 a.m. -   Registration
09:00 a.m. - 09:05 a.m. - Tilawat-i-Quraan-i-Pak
09:05 a.m. - 09:10 a.m. - Welcome and Introduction of the Guest Speaker
09:15 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. - Information session by Guest Speaker on:
• What is gender and what are gender issues and their implications for society.
• What role students can play in creating gender balanced society?
• Sharing concept paper and guidelines to prepare the poster and speeches
10:0 0 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Information Session for teachers on the topic
Time for students to prepare the posters and speeches on the topic
11:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. - Tea Break
Exhibition of the posters prepared by students
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. - Speeches by Students
12:30 p.m. - 01:30 p.m. - Concluding the activities

Who should/can participate?

• The contest is open to all schools of Pakistan

• Each school will be required to select and send two students from Classes VIII to X

• These two students must be accompanied by one teacher from the school

What preparations should the participants undertake?

• Students selected must primarily possess good comprehension and presentation skills with one to be expert in the preparation and delivery of speech while the other must be an expert in preparing poster on a given topic.

• All necessary stationary and work materials will be provided by ASSET-PTAN Team for the development of the posters and preparation of speech

• A panel of judges will evaluate the group outputs and decide the winners

• The decision of the panel will be final and undisputed

Event Date and Venue:

The Sixth ASSET Olympiad will be held at The Institute for Educational Development (AKU-IED) on Saturday, February 4, 2012

• Participants will be required to arrive latest by 8:30 a.m.

• Attendance and related formalities will be completed by 8:55 a.m. to ensure that the event starts on time at 9:00 a.m.

• The event will end at about 1:30 p.m.

Last date of registration:

• Schools are requested to send in the duly completed registration form (attached) latest by January 31, 2012.

• The registration form must be completed in all respects and the names of the students nominated by the schools must be clearly spelled and presented in CAPITAL letters.

• The forms must be submitted along with the registration fee at PTAN Office, AKU-IED.

Registration Fee:

A token of Rs.1200/- is payable as registration fee and must be attached to the registration form either in cash or in the form of a pay order in the name of AKU-IED.

 We urge you to take part in this novel event and contribute in its success. Please feel free to contact PTAN Office if you have any query or require clarifications. Looking forward to your continued support and cooperation

Yours truly,

Dr. Huma Ghaffar

Chairperson ASSET

AKU OPEN HOUSE 2012 on Saturday, January 21, 2012 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM

AKU OPEN HOUSE 2012

AKU OPEN HOUSE IN KARACHI

SPORTS AND REHABILITATION CENTER, AGA KHAN UNIVERSITY STADIUM ROAD CAMPUS

Saturday, January 21, 2012
 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Learn about Aga Khan University programmes offered in the UK and Pakistan

Programmes Presentation

Details on academic programmes will be provided

Food Court, Games, Poster Presentation and other activities

For details: email: openhouse.reg@aku.edu; human.development@aku.edu call us at: 34864410

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APT - “Learning MATTER with every day materials/objects and toys" on Saturday, January 28, 2012

This month’s APT session will be conducted by Ms. Umme Farwah Halai on “Learning MATTER with every day materials/objects and toys".

Abstract:

In science, learners need multiple modes and opportunities to explore and understand complex science concepts such as matter, energy, forces and many others. Moreover, learners also need to relate and make connections of already learnt science principles and concepts with the outside world. What’s more natural than using everyday materials/objects and toys as learning resource to make science more engaging and relevant with the outside world for elementary students. This workshop is designed to help teachers guide their students toward exploring and making everyday connections of science with outside world through fun, hands-on activities using inexpensive, readily available common household objects and toys.

Details of the session are as follows:

Objective:
1. Develop an understanding of how everyday materials and toys can be used to teach science  concepts.
2. Experience some science learning using every day materials’ objects and toys
3. Plan a science activity to teach science concept using everyday materials and toys

Time:           9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Date:           Saturday, January 28, 2012

Venue:         AKU-IED, Karimabad

Ms. Umme Farwah Halai is a Professional Development Teacher at Aga Khan University-Institute for Educational Development. She is presently working in strengthening Teacher Education Programme (STEP) funded by Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and involved in science teaching and learning in primary education. She has a vast experience of developing science teaching/learning materials focusing National Science Curriculum (2006). She has also designed and offered various short courses and workshops under Continuing Professional Education at AKU-IED. Her research interest lies in ‘Role of Language in Science Education’ and has presented papers both at national and international level.
 Kindly confirm your participation latest by Friday, January 27, 2012 at registration@ptan.org or (36347611-14 or 36826991-94 Ext. 3203 / 3205), as this will facilitate us in organizing the workshop effectively.

Looking forward to your active participation in the workshop.

MAP- "Mathematics and Logical Reasoning" on Saturday, January 21, 2012

Dear Member,

On behalf of MAP Executive Committee, I would like to invite you for the MAP workshop to be held on Saturday, January 21, 2012. Details of the session are as follows:

Title:             “Mathematics and Logical Reasoning”
Day/Date:     Saturday/ January 21, 2012
Time:             9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Venue:           AKU-IED, Karimabad
Facilitator:     Ms. Saba Ishrat & Ms. Saiqa Ishrat, Executive Committee Members, MAP

We would like to iterate that in order to provide quality professional development to all valued members and to run this association effectively we need your full support and punctuality. Since seats for the session are limited, interested members are requested to kindly confirm their participation latest by Friday, January 20, 2012 at registration@ptan.org or (36826991-94/36347611-14 Ext. 3203 / 3205), as this will facilitate us in organising the workshop effectively.

Looking forward to your active participation in the workshop.

Best regards,

Abid Sohail
Chairperson, MAP

ASSET - "Home: Earth" on Saturday, January 21, 2012

Dear Member,

Happy New Year!

It is a pleasure to inform you that ASSET is organizing an interactive session on “Home: Earth” in the month of January 2012. The main objectives of this session are as follows:

• To understand the diversity of life on Earth.
• To recognize ‘delicate but crucial’ natural balance between all organisms and Earth.
• To chronicle the present day state of the Earth and its climate
• To comprehend how human activities are threatening the delicate ecological balance of our mother planet.
• To identify the current dilemma regarding cattle ranches, deforestation, food and water shortages, the use of non-renewable "fossil water", and the shortage of energy.
• To recognize global warming, leading to melting glaciers, rising sea levels and changing weather patterns.
• To be acquainted with what we humans can/are doing to combat and reverse the harm done by us on our mother earth.

 Topic : “Home: Earth”
Date : January 21, 2012
Time : 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Facilitator : Mr. Sadiq Merchant; Event Co-ordinator ASSET

Kindly confirm your participation latest by Friday, January 20, 2012 at 36347611-14 / 36826991-4, Ext. 3203-3205 (Tuesday-Saturday between 8:30 a.m. - 5:40 p.m.). Or register online at info@ptan.org or registration@ptan.org

With Regards
Dr. Huma Ghaffar,
Chairperson, ASSET

SHADE- "Professional Learning Communities – A Step towards School Improvement" on January 14, 2012

School Head Teachers Association for
Development of Education

- Are you struggling with some non coping teachers in your school?
- Do you believe in capacity building of teachers rather than hiring / firing policy?
- Do you want to learn about factors improving teachers’ practices and students’ learning?
- Do you wish to know the elements of an ideal learning environment in any school?
- Are you interested to design an effective school based learning forum for teachers?

If the answer of any of the questions is YES then this workshop is for you!!!!
Let’s join together to learn about "Professional Learning Communities – A Step towards School Improvement", a recent but very effective notion in education, organized by School Head Teachers’ Association for Development of Education (SHADE), on Saturday, January 14, 2012 from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at Aga Khan University, Institute for Educational Development (AKU-IED)

Brief Intro of the Facilitator:

Shairose Irfan Jessani, currently working as a Vice Principal – Academics at Aga Khan Higher Secondary School, Karachi. She has done Masters in Science (Chemistry) from Karachi University and Masters in Education (Teacher Education) from AKU-IED with distinction in course work. She has contributed both at school and community level as well as worked with organizations like PTAN, Edlinks, Ministry of Education and AKU-IED as a resource person. Her major interest areas are assessment, educational management, teacher leadership, environment, science education, ICT integration.

In view of limited seats available, prior registration for this workshop is mandatory. Kindly confirm your participation latest by January 12, 2012 at registration@ptan.org or (36826991-4/36347611-4 Ext. 3203 / 3205), as this will facilitate us in organizing the workshop effectively. We look forward to your participation!

SHADE - "Understanding Early Years Curriculum for School Leaders" on December 10, 2011

Understanding Early Years Curriculum for School Leaders

Workshops Highlights:

1. Growth and Development of a child age 0 to 8 years
a. Brian Development
b. Stages of Development – Piaget and Vygotsky
c. Teachers’ role in supporting Children (Scaffolding/one of Proximal Development)

2. The learning Process – How children learn
a. Learning Modalities
b. Child’s Right and Inclusive Education

3. Planning for Integrated Curriculum

Date: Saturday, December 10, 2011
Timing: 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Venue: Aga Khan University, Institute for Educational Development (AKU-IED)

Facilitator’s Profile:

Nadya Akram works as an English Language Development Facilitator at Beaconhouse Regional office. She is an ECED graduate from Aga Khan University, Institute for Educational Development. She has extensively worked with young children in early years as a teacher and later as an academic coordinator at Al-Murtaza School. She has experience of developing appropriate learning material for young children. She has conducted various workshops on ECD. She is also an executive committee member of Early Years Learning Association (EYLA).

In view of limited seats available, prior registration for this workshop is mandatory. Kindly confirm your participation latest by December 9, 2011 at registration@ptan.org or (36347611-4/36826991-4 Ext. 3203/3205), as this will facilitate us in organizing the workshop effectively.

We look forward to your participation!

MAP-“Creative Pedagogies” on Saturday, November 26, 2011

Dear Member,

On behalf of MAP Executive Committee, we would like to invite you for the MAP workshop to be held on Saturday, November 26, 2011. Details of the session are as follows:

Title: “Creative Pedagogies”
Day/Date: Saturday/ November 26, 2011
Time: 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
Venue: AKU-IED, Karimabad
Facilitator: Ms Nimira Asif
Instructor, Aga Khan University, School of Nursing and Midwifery

We would like to iterate that in order to provide quality professional development to all valued members and to run this association effectively we need your full support and punctuality. Since seats for the session are limited, interested members are requested to kindly confirm their participation latest by Friday, November 25, 2011 at registration@ptan.org or (36826991-94/36347611-14 Ext. 3203 / 3205), as this will facilitate us in organising the workshop effectively.

Looking forward to your active participation in the workshop.

SAP - "Save Pakistan from Floods" on Saturday, December 24, 2011

Dear Members,

Recently we have been struck by torrential flood which has not only affected the rural population of Sindh but also has damaging cultural, social, and economic impacts. Whole nation in general and science educators in particular are trying to understand the causes and effects of this trauma.

In this regard teachers have to play an important role by introducing this issue in their classrooms and should try to build links between nature of science and torrential floods in Pakistan.

Therefore SAP has taken initiative to motivate teachers to work on inquiry based project ‘Save Pakistan from floods’. Interested participants have to act as a ‘scientist’ and explore the links between the nature of science and current issue i.e. torrential floods in Pakistan.
Participants have to do the following:

1. Frame the guiding question for investigation.
2. Describe the method with which they have approached the inquiry. It could be description of how they have collected and analyzed the data to answer the research question.
3. Use different sources to gather information like, books, newspaper, clipping of TV news, interviews of concern authorities, personal conversation and experiences, images, anecdotes from visit to effected areas, and information from some authentic web sites (give proper reference of the source of information).
4. Analyse and present the data as visuals (graphs, pictures, models etc) to showcase their indigenous work.
5. Discussion and conclusion.

Entries are open for all the teachers. Competition will be held on December 24, 2011. The winners will be awarded with shields and certificates and all the participants would be provided with certificates of participation.

Please fill the attached registration form and send it along with Fee Rs. 300/- (Cash or Pay – Order) in the name of AKU-IED to PTAN Office by November 26, 2011.
If you have any further query, kindly contact PTAN Office or email us at registration@ptan.org, sap@ptan.org or Phone # 36826991-4/36347611-4 Ext # 3203-3205.
For instructions please see attached.

ASSET: "Protecting and Empowering Children" on November 12, 2011

Dear Member,

International Children’s Day is celebrated in many countries of the world on November 20, the date when the convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) adopted by the United Nation’s General Assembly in 1989. The aim of celebrating this day is educating children about their rights, increasing their participation in decisions affecting them and encouraging the protection and provision of child’s rights in schools and in communities.

On the occasion of International Children’s Day, ASSET is organizing a special session on child sexual abuse in collaboration with Aahung (NGO) on Saturday, November 12. Aahung will sensitize teachers to develop their knowledge, comfort and skills on this topic. This will include developing essential communication skills amongst teachers to be able to communicate with children on this highly sensitive issue as well as teaching them techniques and strategies for preventing child sexual abuse. When children are not educated about their bodies or their rights they are left vulnerable to abuse.

Topic: Protecting and Empowering Children
Date: November 12, 2011
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 01:00 p.m.
Facilitator: Aahungh Team

About Aahung
Aahung is a Karachi-based NGO that has been working to improve the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) of men, women, and young people since 1995. The Aahung team works for capacity development to improve the quality of sexual and reproductive health services while advocating an enabling environment in which every individual’s sexual rights are respected, protected and fulfilled.

Kindly confirm your participation latest by Friday, November 11, 2011 (Tuesday-Saturday between 8:30 a.m. - 5:40 p.m.). Or register online at info@ptan.org or registration@ptan.org

PTAN Celebarting- World Teachers’ Day on Saturday, November 19, 2011

World Teachers’ Day
Date: November 19, 2011

Dear Member,

World Teachers’ Day Date: November 19, 2011 Dear Member, World Teachers’ Day is celebrated in many countries of the world on October 5, every year. The day came to be celebrated by UNESCO for the first time in the year 1994. The purpose of celebrating this day is to honor and recognize the services, devotion and dedication of teachers contributed towards education in general and development of children in particular. UNESCO signifies, “Teachers are essential and indispensible for the effective working of any society and for the building of progressive nations.”

All of us serving at PTAN strongly believe that teachers are central to the development of our future generations and therefore, Teachers matter! To pay tribute to the teacher community at large and to our member teachers in particular, we are celebrating the World Teachers’ Day on Saturday, November 19, 2011. Our objective in celebrating this day is to provide an opportunity to our teachers to come together on a common platform and share their valuable professional expertise with each other.

UNESCO’s slogan for WORLD Teachers’ Day 2011 is ‘Teachers for Gender Equality’. Recognizing the significance and relevance of gender issue in our socio cultural environment our theme of the “World Teachers’ Day” event is ‘Teachers as Promoters of Gender Equality in classrooms/schools’. We are particularly interested in exploring how gender issue is dealt with at different levels in classroom teaching and management i.e. Early Childhood, Primary and Secondary. To make this event meaningful and memorable, we hereby invite nominations of individuals or two-member teams of teachers for poster display on the theme. A brief write-up (introduction) with maximum 200 words related to the theme in the poster along with a 50 word bio data of the nominees is invited.

Instructions for Poster Making·
. Entries are open for all teachers.
· The deadline for the registration (form attached) is October 29, 2011 and the submission of the poster along with its write-up (introduction) is November 12, 2011.
· The poster should be linked to the real classroom/school practices (see the attached concept paper).
· Pencil colors, paints, crayons, pictures etc. can be used for making a poster.
· Participants should submit their entries in standard chart paper of size 22”x27½”.
· Participant name and institution name should be written on the reverse side of the chart paper.
· In recognition of their valuable participation, appreciation certificates will be awarded to the participants.

Criteria:
· Relevance to the theme
· Originality in the idea and presentation
· Self Explanatory
· Clarity and neatness in presentation.
· Text on poster should be between 5 – 15 words

Best regards,

Dr Sadrudin Pardhan Chairman, PTAN

SHADE- "Role of Head Teachers in Ensuring Gender Equality in Schools" on November 12, 2011

Role of Head Teachers in Ensuring Gender Equality in Schools

Why should I attend it?

- To clear my understanding regarding gender equality and its significance in schools
- To explore gender related issues in Pakistani context
- To promote gender equality in classroom practice, pedagogy, curriculum, text books and school environment in order to achieve the highest learning
- To use different framework for ensuring gender equality in schools

Date: Saturday, Nov 12, 2011
Timing: 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Venue: Aga Khan University, Institute for Educational Development (AKU-IED)

Facilitator’s Profile
Asifa Khanum has been associated with teaching profession for the last 15 years on different leadership positions in schools. She has a rich experience of working with different age group school going children. She possesses Master degree in Education: Educational Leadership & Management, which also included a specialized course on “Gender in Education” from Aga Khan University, Institute for Educational Development. She has facilitated and conducted various educational courses and also attended several seminars and workshops on educational issues.
In view of limited seats available, prior registration for this workshop is mandatory. Kindly confirm your participation latest by November 11, 2011 at registration@ptan.org or (36826991-4 Ext. 3203 / 3205), as this will facilitate us in organizing the workshop effectively.

We look forward to your participation!