Community Outreach toTaraz State Pedagogical Institute

(TSPI)

Report of the visit on 2/12/2014

By Victor Avasi, NIS PhM Taraz

Introduction

• In October 2014 students from the TSPI visited NIS PhM Taraz

• Were accompanied by their lecturer Mr. Ravil• They came to learn how we facilitate teaching

and learning• They spoke to administrators and teachers• Toured the school• Held discussions about work approaches.

Taraz State Pedagogical

InstituteRegistrationCertificate

Address of TSPI

• Address: Taraz, Tole bi str., 62 Email: targpi@mail.ru, targpi@ok.kz Tel/Fax: +7 (7262) 43 58 06 Web-site: www.tarmpi.kz Training Fields: Education, Arts, Social Sciences, Economics and Business, Services, Humanitarian Sciences Academic Degrees: Bachelor, Master’s, PhD Total Еenrollment: ~ 5400

Invitation

• On the visit to NIS PhM Taraz, Mr. Ravil extended a verbal invitation to Victor Avasi, Physics Teacher

• To address the students and staffs of the college in a seminar for 3 December 2014.

• I appreciated the invitation as an opportunity for Community Outreach by NIS

• I asked him to make invitation formally• He contacted the Principal, Mr. Arsen Baitukov.

Preparations

• In the intervening period several phone calls and meetings happened

• The theme was selected as Peculiarities of Active Learning

• The date was adjusted to 2 December 2014• We agreed that the seminar would be for the

afternoon and pro bono• TSPI would transport me to and fro.• I obtained permission from the Team Leader to carry

out this outreach visit.

The Visit• We set off from NIS at 12:45 p.m.• On arrival I was given a tour of the gymnasium

and administration block• Introduced to lecturers in their staffroom• Shown the seminar hall, fed on a light lunch• Taken to deliver and inspiring address to

students in the auditorium• Taken to visit the Vice Principal in her office• Taken do the seminar for on Active learning

Jannar, translator (L)and Ravil (R) during the light lunch

Photo by Victor

With some of the

Lecturers in the

staffroom

In the Auditorium

• I met with about 30 students and 4 adults• With the help of my translator, Ms. Jannar;• I did a humorous self-introduction to connect with my

audience• Talked about the strategic nature of NIS• About the work of teachers as contributing to the

development of human resource• About Teachers as leaders, influencing self, students

and peers• Maximizing strengths and minimizing weaknesses

With students in

the Auditorium

With the Vice Principal (VP)

• I visited the Vice Principal, Amandasova, Rasima Seydualkizi (PhD) in her office.

• The VP inquired about the purpose of my being at TSPI

• Sought clarification about process matters from the organizers

• Acknowledged the ongoing cooperation with NIS PhM Taraz

• Gave her blessing for the seminar to proceed• She later joined us in the seminar on Active Learning

Meeting the VP

L-R Dr. Seydualkizi, Ravil (back to camera), Victor

The Seminar for Lecturers

• The Seminar lasted for one hour and a half• The participants were animated as they acted out

the strategies shared• They learnt to use experiments, debate, Role

play, brainstorming, roundtable discussion etc.• The learnt about scaffolding as a teacher’s role

and the importance of divergent questions• They committed to write and email to me a

lesson plan for an active learning experience

Roundtable Discussions

Debate

Closing

• We had a photo shoot at the end• There were many voices of gratitude about the seminar• The Vice Principal awarded a Letter of Appreciation to my

translator and me• She appealed that the cooperation should continue• They appreciated that such quality work could be done pro

bono• I emphasized the need for more formal cooperation

between NIS PhM and TSPI• I was hosted to tea and left for NIS Taraz shortly thereafter.

Saying ‘Thank you’

Group Photo

Way Forward• The strategic importance of working with the

institute is in mutual honing of staffs skills.• We also get an opportunity to share the

mission and vision of NIS• The outcome of this visit is an opportunity for

further collaboration• Mr. Ravil has expressed interest in inviting a

team again soon• We have the platform to work towards a

memorandum of understanding TSPI.