{"id":905,"date":"2012-03-09T12:45:07","date_gmt":"2012-03-09T12:45:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.thinkingschoolsethiopia.com\/?p=905"},"modified":"2012-03-09T12:47:51","modified_gmt":"2012-03-09T12:47:51","slug":"ground-breaking-workshop","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.thinkingschoolsethiopia.com\/?p=905","title":{"rendered":"Ground Breaking Workshop"},"content":{"rendered":"

By: Edda Zekarias<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Eminence Social Entrepreneurs<\/strong> corridors were buzzing with the delighted sounds of enlightened education experts yesterday, March 8, 2012.<\/p>\n

Except the handful that already had had opportunities to attend Thinking Schools workshops or training, what to expect was clearly vague to some.<\/p>\n

The introduction by Dr. Hyerle highlighted Thinking Schools mission and goals supported by demonstrated successes achieved across countries in which the program has been implemented. \u00a0Thinking Maps concepts and practical application opportunities were also presented briefly through sharing examples of work done by students starting from Kindergarten right up to the advanced Sciences and even tertiary level education. Moreover, the presentation revisited information accessibility and utility while reflecting on how that factor affects teacher-student relations in contexts where the latter sustain traditional educating systems. This would mean that, teachers and educators in general would have to remember, acknowledge and accept that students have seemingly infinite sources of information at their disposal. Hence instead of seeing that as a threat, use it to their advantage so as not to stifle student quest for learning and earning knowledge.<\/p>\n

In seeking to move away from traditional methods of learning\u2014most notably, the lecture oriented, one way learning\u2014Thinking \"\"<\/a>Schools advocates for creating better thinkers, problem solvers, and much more. Rather appealing for Ethiopia considering, Dr. Hyerle had started off his discussion by sharing the infrastructural transformation he had seen upon his arrival to Ethiopia. In linking this transformation with the country, Dr. Hyerle brought focus on the Thinking Schools International \u2018more than training\u2026we transform\u2019 approach which left the participants analyzing those capacities in human skill development. Aside from just looking into the functionalities of a whole school system, documentation was another fundamental point that Dr. Hyerle raised. In this he noted that, the bi-directional experience sharing mode that TSI has used internationally would be used within TSE. Accordingly, videos and other documentation would be used to reach teachers in all corners of Ethiopia\u2014an approach he mentioned has greatly encouraged and enriched teachers and learners. For instance, imagine documentation going from successful Ethiopian classrooms as training materials in South Africa or Malaysia.<\/p>\n

Dr. Hyerle also noted that Thinking Schools and Maps are not limited to the schooling system but rather have been applied in big corporations around the world.<\/p>\n

Ato Bereket presented Thinking Schools Ethiopia (TSE) past achievements, present status (2009-2011) as well as future prospects. Embarking on years of research and successes achieved by TSI, he noted, TSE was modeled under the principles and approaches put forward by TSI but crafted for implementation in Ethiopia according to existing realities. Challenges, the good and the changeable were all covered in the presentation. Trainings and workshops thus far conducted were touched upon followed by brief breakdown of upcoming strategies and partnerships. Mentioning collaboration and support rendered by the Addis Ababa Education Bureau and the UNESCO-IICBA; Bereket thanked the organizations and also explained their interventions. Currently, TSE is working on a selection of 30 schools within Addis Ababa that will participate in the pilot training after which plans forecast summer\/ long school break\/ teacher training project and an Education Conference. Most importantly, he also added that TSE will consider learning among special needs students as well.<\/p>\n

In the discussions that followed, Ato Dilamo Otore (Addis Ababa Education Bureau) thanked Eminence for taking the initiative to\"\"<\/a> partner with TSI in the creation of TSE. He disclosed the teaching-learning approach changes that have been made available for government schools, adding that a number of trainings have been given to teachers. This however did not guarantee immediate positive outcomes, and hence TSE would serve as a medium to assist in filling the gaps still troubling the system. As part of the notable success in the new government undertaking, Ato Dilamo said that students are engaged in a group-thinking and working approach that is used both in and out of the classroom. He also pledged support to TSE throughout the coming endeavors and said that starting with leadership being key, the initial spark had been ignited through the diverse pool of decision makers that were present at the workshop.<\/p>\n

UNESCO-IICBA, Program Officer, Dr. Awol shared what he understood as immediate and long term benefits of incorporating Thinking Schools approaches locally, he outlined the disadvantages that come with what he called \u2018competition vs. cooperation\u2019 trends that dominate local school setups. Further, he stressed the need to build a common understanding around \u2018ideas that matter\u2019. In so doing he noted, diversity, cooperation, value(s), changing roles due to clear understanding and sharing of knowledge, etc would become more integrated and practiced in individual, human to human, human to environment and even national relations. \u00a0He also expressed contentment over the evolution of TSE, initially having focused on private schools, but now, the outreach having been extended to government schools.<\/p>\n

In the end, concerns about coverage and ensured practical applications were raised for which it was responded that TSI experiences for pre and post implementation monitoring and evaluation would be used as lessons for implementing TSE. For instance, select \u2018best\u2019 teachers would be identified for training with the leadership team. These teachers would in turn be expected to train and also monitor implementation so that each school would have in-house expertise as opposed to external periodic supervision and monitoring. School leadership-teacher trainers-curriculum developers- teachers-students have been the foundation of the education system in Ethiopia. Using this as a guiding framework, training would be conducted by TSE to ensure all of the stakeholders understand and own the program and this would include the parents as well.<\/p>\n

In the closing, Dr. Awol and Ato Dilamo expressed great support and commitment towards TSE and pledged to render support as would be required. Dr. Hyerle was also thanked and applauded for coming to Ethiopia and sharing his vision for the program. In conclusion, Ato Bereket thanked all of the participants mostly highlighting the support given by Dr. Awol and Ato Dilamo in collaborating the presence of the experts at the workshop.<\/p>\n

The workshop was attended by delegates from several sub city education bureaus, AAEB, Save the Children Norway, UNICEF, IICBA-UNESCO.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Dr.Awol Endris Progam Officer,UNESCO\/IICBA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Opening the workshop, Ato Tesfaye Alemu CEO& President, Eminence SE<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Ato Dilamo Otore Addis Ababa Education Bureau Head<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By: Edda Zekarias Eminence Social Entrepreneurs corridors were buzzing with the delighted sounds of enlightened education experts yesterday, March 8, 2012. Except the handful that already had had opportunities to attend Thinking Schools workshops or training, what to expect was clearly vague to some. The introduction by Dr. Hyerle highlighted Thinking Schools mission and goals… Continue reading Ground Breaking Workshop<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-905","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","gallery-content-unit","entry"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7oKjh-eB","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1206,"url":"https:\/\/blog.thinkingschoolsethiopia.com\/?p=1206","url_meta":{"origin":905,"position":0},"title":"Growing Thinking Schools Training Addis Ababa Education Bureau Experts TeamAddis Ababa Ethiopia \u2022 27-31 August 2012","author":"admin","date":"September 16, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"The Addis Ababa Education Bureau (300+ government schools in Addis) Expert Team recently completed five days of training facilitated by\u00a0Robert Price (Thinking Schools International Global Trainer) and\u00a0Atsede Tsehayou (Thinking Schools Ethiopia Coordinator). The five day training included: Growing Thinking Schools 2 day training; Growing Thinking Schools - introduction to Facilitators\u2026","rel":"","context":"With 1 comment","block_context":{"text":"With 1 comment","link":"https:\/\/blog.thinkingschoolsethiopia.com\/?p=1206#comments"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.thinkingschoolsethiopia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/09\/collaborating-300x166.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1896,"url":"https:\/\/blog.thinkingschoolsethiopia.com\/?p=1896","url_meta":{"origin":905,"position":1},"title":"Upcoming and Recent TrainingsThinking Schools Ethiopia","author":"admin","date":"May 29, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Thinking Schools Ethiopia which is part of\u00a0Eminence Social Entrepreneurs\u00a0is now collaborating with three education bureaus in three Ethiopian regions: Addis Ababa Education Bureau (AAEB) in the capital city of Ethiopia; the Southern Nations State Education Bureau (SNNPRS) in the south; and a collaboration of the Tigray Development Association (TDA) &\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.thinkingschoolsethiopia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/09\/student-exercise-book31-300x231.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1252,"url":"https:\/\/blog.thinkingschoolsethiopia.com\/?p=1252","url_meta":{"origin":905,"position":2},"title":"Thinking Schools Ethiopia TrainingAddis Ababa Education Bureau Experts","author":"admin","date":"November 5, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"\"This training is a pilot project (August 2012 training with AAEB expert team), next we'll go to schools (December 2012). We will train teachers and principals. Gradually the program will be at a national level. Let alone your job or other businesses, it helps even in our day to day\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":2228,"url":"https:\/\/blog.thinkingschoolsethiopia.com\/?p=2228","url_meta":{"origin":905,"position":3},"title":"Ethiopia Education Strategy CenterEthiopian UniversitiesThinking Schools International & EthiopiaConcepts, Principles and Practice","author":"admin","date":"April 23, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"The\u00a0Ethiopia Education Strategy Center hosted a one day training for representatives from all Ethiopian Universities on Thinking Schools International \/ Ethiopia concepts, principles and practices. The participant centered training was facilitated by Robert Price (Thinking Schools International Global Trainer) and Dagim Melese (Thinking Schools Ethiopia co-lead country trainer). The Ethiopia\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.thinkingschoolsethiopia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/P1120558-300x200.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1362,"url":"https:\/\/blog.thinkingschoolsethiopia.com\/?p=1362","url_meta":{"origin":905,"position":4},"title":"Critically Rethinking Education","author":"admin","date":"June 10, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"As posted online on Capital News paper,March 2012 Despite the impact education has on the values of the young and the role it plays in economic growth, Ethiopia has faced historical and cultural complications that have limited its progress. According to UNESCO\u2019s reviews, most people in Ethiopia feel that work\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.thinkingschoolsethiopia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/banner2.png?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.thinkingschoolsethiopia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/banner2.png?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.thinkingschoolsethiopia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/banner2.png?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.thinkingschoolsethiopia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/banner2.png?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":61,"url":"https:\/\/blog.thinkingschoolsethiopia.com\/?p=61","url_meta":{"origin":905,"position":5},"title":"Presentation for Government Education Experts","author":"admin","date":"September 26, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"posted by Bereket Aweke The Addis Ababa Bureau of Education Director Dilamo Otore Ferenje whom I met previously with Robert Price requested a presentation of the Thinking Schools approach for experts from the Bureau of Education. The presentation was held on\u00a0the morning of Wednesday, September 7th 2011 at\u00a0Eminence Social Entrepreneurs.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "collaborative networking"","block_context":{"text":"collaborative networking","link":"https:\/\/blog.thinkingschoolsethiopia.com\/?cat=11"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.thinkingschoolsethiopia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/govt-pres-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.thinkingschoolsethiopia.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/905","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.thinkingschoolsethiopia.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.thinkingschoolsethiopia.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.thinkingschoolsethiopia.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.thinkingschoolsethiopia.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=905"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/blog.thinkingschoolsethiopia.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/905\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":923,"href":"https:\/\/blog.thinkingschoolsethiopia.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/905\/revisions\/923"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.thinkingschoolsethiopia.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=905"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.thinkingschoolsethiopia.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=905"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.thinkingschoolsethiopia.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=905"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}