|
Click to download full report in pdf format
(94KB)
Workshop on quality in education and the NCEP modules
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 24-28 October 2005
In March, PERHILITAN, UKM and WCS had cooperated to organise a
workshop at the Pan-Pacific Hotel in Kuala Lumpur with the title
"The Future of Nature
Conservation Education in Malaysia". At that
workshop, Dr Hans Mor้lis reported on some of the latest thinking
among educationalists on how students learn and how teachers can
most effectively support the learning process. Dr Madhu Rao
described the modules which were being developed by the Network
of Conservation Educators and Practitioners (NCEP) under the
aegis of the American Museum of Natural History. After the workshop,
lecturers from several institutions contacted the organizers
expressing interest in following up these topics.
The October workshop was an opportunity to work in more depth on
these important topics.
 |
The first two days were run by Dr Hans
Mor้lis of the National Institute for Curriculum Development in
the Netherlands,
on the topic of 'Improving Quality in Education'. This
covered:
Current trends in education worldwide, in particular the
move from passive to active learning on the part of students.
Managing the learning process with O-P-LA-R
David Kolb's work on learning styles and Howard Gardner's
multiple intelligences model
The range of possible teaching styles - instructor, guide,
coach or supporter - based on Hersey's work in industry
Leary's analysis of teacher-student interactions and the
profile of the 'ideal teacher'
Motivating students, using Keller's motivation model
Learning from colleagues (collaborative observation)
Approaches to problem-solving exercises
Assessing the quality of institutions and textbooks.
|
|
 |
Then we turned to the NCEP Modules,
with Dr Arlyne Johnson of the WCS Lao Program, who has been
working with the Lao National University to implement the NCEP
materials. The main activity was to work in groups on four of the
Modules, to discuss in detail how participants could use them in
their classes and to suggests modifications and additional
material which would make them more relevant to the local
situation.
The four modules discussed in detail were:
Threats to Biodiversity: An Overview
Threats Assessment
Fundamentals of Nature Interpretation
Introduction to Marine Conservation Biology
In addition, Arlyne used the Module "Ecosystem Loss and
Fragmentation" for demonstration lessons.
|
|
On the final morning,
we discussed next steps for active learning and in particular
for use of the NCEP Modules. The main points brought up were:
- A request for a web site to exchange ideas and to post
additional material on the Modules: you are now looking at
the result! WCS Malaysia will host the site for a trial
period of 6 months, and then assess how it should develop.
- Workshops such as this should be held regularly (once a
year) to exchange ideas and evaluate Modules. A residential
workshop at an out-of-town location was suggested, as it
would then be easier to concentrate and evening sessions
would be possible.
- The contribution of practitioners from PERHILITAN and
other conservation agencies is important, as they can
provide case material and comment on the relevance of the
material.
- A regular source of funding would be needed for ongoing
work and to finance the participation of experts from the
region.
|
|
| We are
grateful to the US State Department
for the funding for this
Workshop and the one-day workshop in March 2005, and to UKM for
the workshop facilities. The work of NCEP is
coordinated by the American Museum of Natural History
with
funding from the National Science Foundation and the
US Fish and
Wildlife Service. Dr Madhu Rao worked hard to prepare the workshop, although she was unable to attend herself. We thank Arlyne and the WCS Lao Program for
taking two days out of a busy work schedule, and especially Hans
for spending a large part of his holiday in Malaysia at our
workshop. |
|
|
wcsmalaysia.org home | universities home