Report Evidencing Area of Activity 1 (A1) Design and plan learning activities and/or programs of study

 

Introduction of Evidencing Area of Activity 1 (A1) Design and plan learning activities and/or programs of study It started when I was a student at Michigan Technological University (MTU) doing my B.S and M.S degrees, most of the courses I had during my studies were using traditional teaching methods except two courses which change my thinking and understanding of education and developed my love to education and teaching which lead to my path to what I am now as an assistant professor in one of the educational institution in Saudi Arabia: CE 4506 “Application of Environmental Regulations – Spring 2008” and ED 5100 “College Teaching International – Fall 2010”. The first course was different from the remaining courses I took at MTU and utilized different approaches in teaching which is mainly focused on active learning. Then I wanted to explore more about active learning and I took CE 4506 which enriched my knowledge and skill on the theoretical and practical parts of active learning. For the first time, I loved my courses and education I felt the level of satisfaction and understanding as students were high. I found that in these two courses I was passionate and eager to attend the lecture, you simply cannot find in traditional learning which not only enhanced my level of understanding of the course outcome but also helped me personally (e.g. my self-confidence). When I took the second course, I learned that active learning is a teaching science with several research that has been conducted proofing that this technique is valuable to plan, deliver, and assess students in higher education which makes lectures effective for student learning. The third course was ENV 5306 "Municipal Refuse Disposal – Fall 2011" when I was a Ph.D. student. The instructor sent the lecture materials with his voice on it a four days before the actual class then during the class it is simply dividing the class into groups with constructed discussion which translates the slides into a more in-depth understanding of the outline of the lecture.   I finished my Ph.D. then started my work as an assistant professor at Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University in 2016 where I taught my first course “Fundamental of Environmental Engineering- ENVEN 311". I started planning the learning activates using what I believed in the correct method when developing and planning for the course with several benefits such as: -       Engaging the students -       Improve critical thinking -       Enhancement of motivation to love and be passionate with the course -       Improve the transfer of knowledge -       Decrease dissatisfaction of the course (Prince 2004)   I developed this course with the idea of transferring knowledge to the freshman students will be in a one-day Environmental Engineer using the well-known technique I learned during my studies as well as I wanted the student to be proud and love with their major. At the same time when I developed and planned this course, the department was planning to pursue accreditation from Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) therefore all courses in the department followed ABET learning outcomes. At the same time, I was the chairman of the department and all final decisions came to me for approval. Numbers of program educational objectives need to be met such as : -       Use modern knowledge, sustainable engineering solutions, and communication skills to further advance their careers in the environmental engineering domain. -       Pursue graduate studies, research, and life-long learning in environmental engineering and related fields. -       Work in multidisciplinary teams to serve the community per standards and professional ethics. The PEOs of the department are focused on key elements of the IAU's mission by delivering the students with essential knowledge, tools and skills of science and technology to meet the key requirements of public and private organizations and enhance knowledge and skill-based culture to serve local, regional and global communities while positively impact the environment. Strong co-relations are developed between the department's PEOs and the elements of IAU's mission to improve the social condition through scientific and technological augmentation by providing knowledge and skill-based workforce willing to handle tasks for innovation, nurturing new knowledge and skills and serving its community by the utmost scientific knowledge available. The student outcomes (SO) along with program criteria constitutes a predetermined set of competencies that students should demonstrate at the time of graduation. These competencies are accomplished through various courses taken by the students during the program. However, performance measures would have to be specified for all SO to make them measurable and relevant to the Environmental Engineering program. These outcomes were enhanced by implementing active learning in all courses I planned in the department. In this, I am playing the role of chairperson of the department which impacted me by some of my staff members in the department the teaching techniques which has been resulted as in the form of enhanced level and learning module, moreover, general learning and some of the aspects which is related with specific programs and some modules as well. As well as the role which I have been playing in the department and there I have been playing the role of lecturer of various courses (take one thing into consideration that department was accomplished in 2008 and cannot be run through main developments which have been made till 2016. These modifications bring the ultimate change and have given a potent influence on the number of enhancing the satisfaction of learners with their courses.EVEN 311 I re-designed all the modules related to this course as well as changing the way the course is delivered from traditional to active learning. Students in the past provided negative feedback related to their understanding and the heaviness of information they have to learn as well as they felt board with the class teaching method. I chose to adopt active learning where students were engaged in groups and where each student acted live they are in real life (some groups were presenting the government, some of them the companies, some of them the consumers). Despite this, a module has been desired for the reflection of students and its deepness and has been presented the appreciation of the different learning techniques which have been mentioned.The changes in a context which involve the center of the action and all over the advanced teamwork, societies. In addition to that, I introduced Blackboard to the department since I used to use it when I was a student in the USA, even though Blackboard has existed but it was activated by faculty members nor the students. I shared my knowledge with the department faculty members and I introduced that into all the courses I taught. The feedback I received from faculty members and students were satisfactory which helped me with my leadership role in the department (K4, V1)

 
 
Evidencing Area of Activity 2 (A2): Teach and/or support learning
 

As I was exposed to decent education in top universities where I was exposed to several learning and teaching environments, I delivered this knowledge to the IAU body and students. Until now, I have been engaged in delivering lectures and laboratories to more than 500 students for both undergraduate and graduate levels. Where I used several constructed teaching techniques as my role as Chairman of the department, delivering lectures, tutorials after the business hours, supervising undergraduate and graduate students both in lectures and laboratories.   In some parts of my life, I was a student who struggled when I left Saudi Arabia to the US where my main language was Arabic. With a new environment, I found the best teaching techniques where I loved (not only because I felt so close to understanding the course materials but also I believed it will change the education practice in Saudi Arabia). I want my students to have the same teaching quality and enthusiasm as I had before. The students deserve more than a lecture, they deserve deep love and understanding of the course materials since they take the lead on several aspects of Environmental Engineering. If they love the course, they will deliver the knowledge to their family members and friends and it will be a huge impact on society.. I always send me PowerPoint slides in advance and I make sure they are constructed to critical thinking and clear knowledge of the module. Planning to design the course is not an easy task since I have ABET requirements I need to follow, I have my main target: the students who I want to interact and love the course materials and finish the course with positive satisfaction. I provide support for all groups, motivation, assist them in relating the required task with the outcome of the lecture and course, as well as helping students devise ground rules and policy statements. I also appreciate them making discussion which mainly emphasis involving students and making their efforts to involve a wide range of learners. (K3, V2).I believe that depending on the course outcomes; the learning method I am using for ENVEN 311 which I indicated in the previous paragraph fits well with the course outcomes and several of the department courses.  I believe active learning and peer learning and can be hugely effective. In this regard suggestions and feedback as been gained along with the reconstruction in which it has been recommended that students will explore better with their subject of interest and they also enjoyed attracted nature of lectures.

 
 
Evidencing Area of Activity 3 (A3): Assess and give feedback to learners
 

At the beginning of each semester, I upload the syllabus of the course in Blackboard. The syllabus contains all grading distribution of the course and I explain every aspect of it in the first lecture of the course and I answer to students questions and clarify anything for them regarding grading. As I stated before, the department received accreditation by ABET and I have to follow the outcomes and objectives and match that with the assessment strategy of the course. The university has its own rules when it comes to grading such as setting minimum grade distribution for the final exam. M.S degree courses can slightly different by adding more advanced assignments and tasks as well as deeper learning, critical thinking and problem-solving. For this particular assessment, I allow peer review grading where students evaluate each other (I provide a spreadsheet with a grading scheme for evaluation). I make sure students integrate many aspects of course outcomes in their final report (K1. In this regard suggestions and feedback has been gained along with the reconstruction in which it has been recommended that students will explore better with their subject of interest and they also enjoyed attracted nature of lectures. Giving feedback to students needs kind of clear and well-established rubrics where it is clear for me and fellow students to evaluate their peers. When I provide individual or group homework, I set the deadline to turn in the homework or assignment with the clear guideline to follow and grading distributing. For example, any assignment even it does include mathematical calculation needs to be addressed to me professionally; meaning organization and professionalism are a must. It is simple to me, I want to train the students on how to become professional as they are working in the real world. When I receive the assignment, I provide the student's constructive comments, also I meet with each student explaining how to improve. I even use WhatsApp to provide each student with valuable feedback and comments (V2) with a set of business hours for communication. Also, I run all tasks through one of the plagiarism checks; I believe that there is no room for cheating or any academic misconduct and students need have to understand this as the norm in real life. In case of assignment or exams, I always create an answer "model answer" and I distribute to students following the exams or assignment.    Recently, I taught a course in sustainability for B.S degree students, during the fifth week of the course, I provided the student's several topics to be their final project for the course (20%). One of the requirements of the course is to benefit the community as a community service projects. I provided them with a real project relating to the notion of sustainability with society.Before the end of the semester, students need to present in writing and orally their project. My feedback is always detailed and to the point where I highlight the strength and weaknesses of the project as well as advice for a room for improvements.   Next semester I am teaching a course in Environmental Law and Regulations, I am using the feedback the main instructor received and I will improve. Also, I will utilize all feedback I received from students and faculty members who peer-reviewed my teaching to improve (K6). We in the department allow the students to fill a survey and to evaluate us. We take this seriously as a form of improvements as well as comparing their grade and satisfaction with previous years

 
 
Evidencing Area of Activity 4 (A4): Develop effective learning environments and approaches to student support and guidance
 

This is quite an essential part of one of my roles which s been attained for many years.As well as it can also be said that it can be implemented in a face-to-face environment. It has been explained through an examplein which it has been stated that working situations with some of the learning units along with my involvement within the departments which has been based on the practices of communities. In this regard blended learning environment which is not such complex to approach.Moreover,it has also been stated that it is significant to accept their strengths which are needed for the specific shift in the way how we perceive the concept of higher education and some of the learning spaces which have been presented in it. While in my career which I have been performed as an educational developer I’ve observed that blended learning environments hold the consistent thread. Here the overall discussion has been made which is a related wit learning environment in the all-inclusive path. This meaning has been taken as in the form that it has been taken as the formal learning according to my point of view. Despite from this if all of usget aware from the way that by having these learning environmentswould be effective for students that through this, they will learn in a better way and thus it has become one of the most significant factors in the creation of efficient and comprehensivelearning environment along with these efficient aspects for guidance and support of students which will help them to take consideration how formal learning environment which will control the overall learning environment of students. Despite form this I also want to mention one thing in this when I was in graduation at an institute my here the role which I have been playing mainly focused on the development of blended learning environment outside from university.While in my career which I have been performed as an educational developer I've observed that blended learning environments hold the consistent thread. Here the overall discussion has been made which is a related wit learning environment in the all-inclusive path. Despite this, a module has been desired for the reflection of students and its deepness and has been presented the appreciation of the different learning techniques which have been mentioned. The learning process has been beginning with the topic of the environment.Students with essential knowledge, tools, and skills of science and technology to meet the key requirements of public and private organizations and enhance a knowledge and skill-based culture to serve local, regional and global communities while positively impact the environment.

 
 
Evidencing Area of Activity 5 (A5): Engage in continuing professional development in subjects/disciplines and their pedagogy, incorporating research, scholarship and the evaluation of professional practices
 

Write your reflective commentary here and include any citations after the text:   The subject of this activity is based on the methods and the abilities that are required to perform better learning methods that you should adopt while teaching. In research activities there are chances to work individual or to work in the team to explore the better practice in the development of knowledge. As I am working in this department of pedagogy and feedbacks there are some responsibilities that are performed by me. I have presented conferences on higher level based on teaching and learning level. I have learned how to implement new approaches in the higher education and subject of learning with scholarship to gain own experience in the work. I chose to adopt active learning where students were engaged in groups and where each student acted in life, they are in real life. I have attended many workshops and training programs to learn about the procedures and techniques that are used in the teaching in higher education system. I developed my learning in teaching practice and I remember that the program is based on the learning of teaching methodology not on my research project therefore it is helpful in enhancing my knowledge and my capabilities in learning. The feedback I received from faculty members and students were satisfactory which helped me with my leadership role in the department. I also appreciate them making discussion which mainly emphasis involving students and making their efforts to involve a wide range of learners. While in my career which I have been performed as an educational developer I've observed that blended learning environments hold the consistent thread. Here the overall discussion has been made which is a related wit learning environment in the all-inclusive path. Despite this, a wide range of roles has been obtained by me along with the diversification which has been presented within the learning institution where the work has been done by me and there and I've completes my education from the world's most popular universities. As well as the role which I have been playing in the department and there I have been playing the role of lecturer of various courses. All feedback I received from students and faculty members who peer-reviewed my teaching to improve. We in the department allow the students to fill a survey and to evaluate us. We take this seriously as a form of improvement as well as comparing their grade and satisfaction with past years. In this, I am playing the role of chairperson of the department which impacted me by some of my staff members in the department where I have been holding some of the teaching techniques which has been resulted as in the form of enhanced level and learning module, moreover, general learning and some of the aspects which is related with specific programs and some modules as well. It is engage in the improvement in the professional development and scholarship in the higher education.