WISE Cafe is an engaging event that seeks to showcase and promote the Wise Network of Schools, a collection of educational institutions committed to excellence and innovation in education. The event provides a platform to explore various schools within the network and delve into their unique features and achievements.
During the Cafe, attendees will have the opportunity to learn about different schools within the Wise Network through pre-recorded interviews with their respective administrations. These interviews will cover a range of topics, including each school’s background, facilities, funding sources, enrollment trends, teacher training programs, teacher evaluations, teaching standards, student growth data, parent involvement, and more. The administrators will share insights and best practices, offering advice and inspiration to other schools within the Wise Network.
In addition to showcasing individual schools, the Cafe will feature segments highlighting exceptional educational approaches, innovative programs, and successful strategies for student engagement and learning within the Wise Network. These segments aim to inspire collaboration and foster the exchange of ideas among educators, administrators, and stakeholders.
WISE Cafe will be recorded and edited into a concise and informative episode, enabling a wider audience to benefit from the knowledge and experiences shared during the event. It serves as a platform for networking, learning, and promoting excellence in education within the Wise Network of Schools.
Now, let’s introduce the panelists who will be participating in WISE Cafe:
These panelists, representing different schools within the Wise Network, bring a diverse range of experiences and perspectives to the table. They are dedicated professionals who are excited to share their knowledge, best practices, and success stories with the wider educational community.
WISE CAFE July 28th
Recap of WISE Cafe Events
Event Report
Educators Converge in WISE Café to Discuss Innovations Within WISE Network of Schools
DATELINE: The inaugural WISE Cafe event was held on November 13, convening educators globally to explore best practices in teaching and learning. Seeking to showcase the Wise Network of Schools, the virtual meeting provided insights into member institutions’ unique features and achievements.
Opening proceedings, facilitator Nauman Zaidi emphasized WISE Cafe’s collaborative ethos. Initial surveys revealed substantial interest in analyzing instructional strategies – the first topic examined via videos from Network schools. Resources like a teaching principles guide informed discussions on approaches observed.
The initial video depicted a California elementary instructor’s usage of differentiated and active learning. Students worked actively in groups while she circulated monitoring comprehension. Key practices included appealing to interests/prior knowledge, strategic questioning, proximity to reengage pupils, and positive reinforcement. This demonstrated the power of varied techniques to maximize engagement.
Next attendees viewed an exemplary Iranian K-12 school. Its science teacher explained his emphasis on making content practical using humor/storytelling, noting engaged students demonstrate greater receptivity. His cell unit had students map school structures onto cell parts, enabling tangible understanding. This spotlighted the value of resonant lessons versus standardized delivery.
Following each video, robust discussions analyzed instructional practices seen. Maximizing student engagement via differentiated techniques, balancing explicit direct guidance with open-ended discovery, emphasizing relevance/meaning, and enabling children’s holistic development emerged as key themes.
In addition, school leaders were interviewed on backgrounds, facilities, funding, enrollment trends, training programs, evaluations, standards, data, and parent involvement – offering peers advice. Further segments explored exceptional approaches within the Network, highlighting its commitment to learner-centered education.
Panelists introduced below brought diverse expertise into WISE Café:
Khadija Alaouie has taught K-12 since 2015. Her classroom favors exploration/discovery via hands-on lessons relating subjects to students’ lives. She aims to provide wholistic education incorporating spiritual enrichment.
Dr. Leila Mouhanna has over 20 years experience across educational levels. Currently Head of Primary at Al Zahra College, she has taught in Australia and the UAE. Her distinguished background enables impactful contributions.
Marina Haider holds degrees in English/Primary Education, with a Master’s in Leadership. She has worked across educational settings and founded a platform integrating Quranic values into mainstream curricula. Her inquiry-based teaching inspires students.
Sabaah Asghar is a decade-long second grade teacher respected for her enriching learning environment. Her objectives include guiding students to self-regulate and apply 7 habits. She brings diverse interests and passion for religious studies/history.
Taghred Najdi has 18 years experience teaching primary students. Currently a learning support coordinator, she has also taught at universities. She is completing a PhD on evidence-based Arabic instruction.
These experts brought multifaceted perspectives, helping detail innovations within the growing Wise Network during the inaugural WISE Cafe – promising future events that unite voices shaping modern education.
Ultimately, the inaugural WISE Cafe marks the beginning of a united community where fellow educators converge to share best practices, exploring new techniques collectively. By enabling schools to detail innovations, exchange insights openly, and build upon expertise, the Cafe fosters an ecosystem of continuous learning and refinement. The event serves as a launch pad for advancement, harnessing synergy across institutions committed to nurturing generations equipped to address modern challenges with wisdom and compassion. As the Network grows, so too will this platform for collective growth through collaboration. WISE Cafe plays a vital role in helping schools progress expediently by connecting stakeholders in Islamic education focused on shaping the future auspiciously. The Cafe exemplifies the Islamic emphasis on the pursuit of knowledge, intellectual discourse, and community collaboration to drive positive change – providing a forum where educators can support one another in the sacred mission of empowering our youth.