Abstract Bio: 17 Nov 2011
The Learner Centered Classroom:
Taking Content Beyond the Course, Across the Curriculum, and Into Life-long Learning.
What promotes learning? How can we promote independent and self regulated learners? How can our teaching affect outcomes in the classroom, across the curriculum, and have influence throughout our students’ lives? Workshop participants will create the answers to these questions and more as they are led through a series of discussions and activities. They will engage in critical analyses of their own teaching pedagogies which will be shared through a dynamic and creative approach. Effective teaching strategies will be shared allowing everyone to walk away with something new to add to their teaching toolbox.
The workshop will culminate in a reflective take away assignment, for those who are interested, which will enable the discussions and ideas to continue.
Presenter Brief Bios:
Ms. Renata Ruff holds a Bachelor of Arts, Magna cum Laude, from Portland State University-USA. She has nineteen years experience in ESL and English language teaching and experience in training and supervising English language teachers and coordinating curriculum. She has presented teacher training workshops at conferences in the Dhahran/Dammam area. Ms. Ruff was a director at an English language center in Khobar before moving to her current position as an English language instructor in the Prep Department at Prince Mohammed University.
Name: Fatima Mansoor
Education: Masters in ELT (A.M.U. India),TEFL diploma, Master level (BridgeTEFL, US)
Experience: More than 4 years of English language teaching experience.
Teaching English in Saudi Arabia for two years. Currently working at PMU as an English Language Instructor, teaching intermediate and beginners Writing and communication courses.
Earlier worked at KFUPM schools for a year teaching English Language.
Earlier in India worked at an MBA university as a Soft Skills Trainer, and at a language center as a language instructor.
Also worked as an Academic and administrative advisor to Director of a school.
Abstract Bio: 13 Oct 2011
Testing Composition Writing
Once you have given your students the task of writing a paragraph or essay, what are your parameters for grading their work? Are you focused on the grammar, vocabulary and the mechanics of capitalization, punctuation and spelling or do you have a more global view of the students' work? The workshop will be discussion based and start with these questions. For teachers who are new to grading student compositions and those who want to review how they grade, the workshop will present a four category graded matrix that they can use in their classes. We will study examples of student writing and rank / grade them in terms of the matrix provided. Strategies for dealing with plagiarism may also be covered.
Presenter's Biography
Ralph Kraft has a BA and TESOL Diploma. He has a workplace background in customer service in industrial distribution and graphic design and 17 years teaching experience most of which has been in ESL / ESP. Before coming to Saudi Arabia, he spent 2 years teaching customer service, cultural awareness and pronunciation at Call Centres in Madras (Chennai) India. He has been in KSA for 5 years working at KFUPM where he teaches two writing courses, Introduction to Academic Discourse and Introduction to Report Writing.
