Fostering Quality Learning In Classrooms And Beyond

The workshops included interactive discussions, presentations from participants and critical feedback from both peers and facilitators. December 14, 2014 As the examples of actual student responses to questions were being discussed, Saba Gul was comparing her own marking to the responses with the given marking scheme from the Board. This activity made her realise how important it was for the teachers to understand what was considered a better response versus a weaker one, and to understand the demand of the Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) correctly in order to help the students understand concepts accordingly.  

Saba is the Academic Coordinator at Sultan Mohamed Shah Aga Khan School, Karachi and not only teaches chemistry and general science but has also been a team lead of science subjects as well as a teacher trainer at her institution. She was one of the 374 teachers from 52 schools across Pakistan who received training during the series of Annual Teachers' Professional Development Workshops (ATPDW) conducted exclusively for teachers of AKU-EB Affiliated Schools from August through November 2014. Sukkur, Chenab Nagar and Gilgit were among the other cities in which the workshops were held.

The Workshops helped teachers to improve upon their teaching strategies in 9 subjects including Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, English, Urdu, Pakistan Studies, Business Mathematics and General Mathematics.

Saba, who has never missed any of the ATPD workshops in the past eight years, said that this year's workshop brought some new points of learning. "I could see myself and many new teachers in the group reflecting upon the errors that us teachers make in understanding the SLOs and in teaching and assessing the students based on that understanding," said Saba during the reflective session at the Workshop (ATPDW) on Chemistry.

Holding an experience of both a teacher and a trainer, she was of the view that the performance of students in the classrooms as well as in the examinations could be improved multi-fold if teachers themselves were clear on what was demanded.

"I think as a teacher, since SLOs drive the way I would teach in the classroom, it is very important for me to clearly understand the cognitive levels, the right use of command words and a proper understanding of how to assess an answer to a specific question," said Saba.

The workshops, while highlighting the significance of AKU-EB syllabus design, helped teachers to enrich their understanding of how to foster a learning-based environment in their classrooms through the implementation of SLOs, assessment techniques and productive feedback to their students. The discussions revolved around four components and linking them to teaching and learning:

• Component 1: In-depth study of syllabus design with a focus on SLOs, cognitive levels and command words; How do SLOs drive assessment? Feedback on science practical activities.

• Component 2: Review of examination papers and examples of better and weaker students' responses to MCQs and CRQs/ERQs in SSC and HSSC subjects

• Components 3 & 4: Review and discussion on Notes from the e-Marking Centre and benefits and use of School Performance Reports (SPR)*

The sessions included interactive discussions, presentations from participants and critical feedback from both peers and facilitators. 

"When we know and understand how to write quality questions through SLOs, our teaching strategies will automatically improve," Saba reflected.

While appreciating the counseling provided during the workshop, Saba said, "I learned that we are not here to penalize the students through making of difficult questions but to examine their level of understanding and application of the subject content – a key difference that drives quality teaching and assessment."

Ahmed Hammad, attending the workshop on Physics in Chenab Nagar appreciated the interactive learning and critical feedback from peers and facilitators. He said, "The open discussion and feedback really helped in enhancing my understanding of how to make quality and meaningful questions from SLOs reflecting the right cognitive levels."

Group and team activities allowed the participants to apply the concepts learned in the sessions. All participants received workshop completion certificates.

The Annual Teacher's Professional Development Workshops are held every year across Pakistan. If you would like to attend one in your region, please contact your school or write to us at examination.board@aku.edu.

* This report is aimed at indicating teachers how students in their schools have performed on each question and areas where they need to pay more attention and focus their teaching to enhance students learning.