MSEN Book Launch
The day provided the opportunity for the MSEN community of teachers to meet and learn first-hand about newly developed Islamic enriched curriculum and its comprehensive resource support package from the people involved with it at various stages from its inception through to editing and translating process. The event was chaired by MSEN head of PR and Communications Sr Safina Sadat who gave a brief introduction overview of the task that was undertaken by MSEN members, volunteers from all walks of life that were involved in bringing the editing part of the project to fruition. The audience was then addressed by the MSEN Head Dr Azhar Raza who talked briefly about the work MSEN does and the teacher training workshops that were successfully conducted in the past both nationally and internationally. On a more practical level Dr Raza gave examples of timetable structuring carried out in his school Luton MAEC to provide teachers with a clearer direction and guidance to plan their activities. He also succinctly summarized a novel feature of the curriculum called ELP (enjoy, learn and perform) designed to engage, educate and equip young students with new skills to promote creative learning.
Key address was by MSEN founder and Principal of The Islamic College, London, Sheikh Dr Isa Jahangir who introduced the innovative curriculum in more detail together with worked sample lessons. Sheikh Jahangir highlighted that curriculum can be easily adapted to the individual needs be their those of home-schooling parents or fully qualified teachers and that it consisted of modular units of Aqaid, Ahkam and history designed and developed to be taught in a holistic all-encompassing manner. Flexible and easily customizable the programme can be independently implemented using carefully planned and thought out set of Books to cover the whole age range of schooling from 5 years to 18+ years old. The curriculum sets out what children should be thought starting from Book 1 Teaching Quran designed for early years through to a set of Heavenly Gifts Books (Book 2 to 6) developed for use by children up to the age of 12 and finally a set of titled Religion and Life suited for the Islamic education of 12 to 18-year olds.
The teaching material was developed through the collaboration of leading Islamic scholars, child educationist and psychologists and translated and adapted to meet and respond to the specific needs and challenges of a Muslim child growing up in the west as well as to engage and nurture their natural curiosity and God conscious nature. The innovative curriculum utilises most current research of modern pedagogical approaches to combine teaching religion and ethics employing modern attractive methodology to fully involve the student. With this in mind the main goal is to teach the religion in the most child appealing and attractive way whilst retaining the sanctity of the message conveyed. Special attention has been paid to the presentation using child captivating illustrations, imagery and activities which are interwoven through engaging lessons. This was followed by a lively Q and A session moderated by Dr Jahangir. The questions considered the issues of additional teacher training provision and support, requirements for teacher self-development plans and ensuring continuity of teaching to name but a few.
Finally, the event was concluded with selected lessons presentations by teachers to showcase their abilities and provide the ideas on possible modes of lesson delivery. Teachers Sr Asma (MCE Quran Madressa), Sr Sakina Hamdani (AlQaim School Slough ), Sr Shaheen Heider (Masjid Ali Education Centre,Luton ) and Sr Nasira Moosa (Luton MAEC) each took turns to demonstrate examples of a positive and engaging teaching approach and how spirituality and ethics can be conveyed at a child level using indirect teaching methodology based on storytelling, real-life situation role play, use of toys and lesson props and carefully thought out activities. The book sets were on the display throughout the day for purchasing. Further purchase can be made by filling in the form at the following button.