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

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!