Winners of 2010 Teaching Excellence Awards
PFDP is proud to announce the following winners of the Teaching Excellence Awards for 2010:
Dr. Sami Al-Jaber is Professor of Theoretical Physics at An-Najah National University in Nablus. The interview committee was enthralled by examples he gave of how he breaks down complex physics into comprehensive and easy to digest information about the physical world around us. Dr. Al-Jaber is also concerned with the humanistic aspect of teaching—that above everything else a teacher is working with humans and that sciences should benefit mankind.
Dr. Ahmad Atawneh is Associate Professor of Applied Linguistics at Hebron University, where he began teaching in 1991. In his syllabi, Dr. Atawneh emphasizes two things: linguistics education as a means of acquiring critical thinking and analytical skills and writing research papers as a form of professional development for his students. His students noted his service to the community, his profound knowledge of his field, and that he is a conscientious person.
Dr. Akram Kharroubi is Head of the Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences at Al-Quds University and Associate Professor of Biochemistry. Dr. Kharroubi’s philosophy of teaching in the sciences depends on developing the critical thinking skills of his students that would enable them to deal with the complexity of biochemical problems. He believes that he can help his country by graduating minds that can think. This is how he measures his own success as an educator.
Ms. Samar Mousa is an Instructor of Physical Education and the Director of the Athletics Department at Bethlehem University where she has taught for 24 years. Her commitment to physical education and to empowering women and girls has also lead her to conduct various research projects including obstacles faced by Arab women in the sports field in Arab Countries and how to make coaches better critical thinkers. Her commitment to teaching is such that, when approached by her students to initiate the first Palestinian women’s football team, Ms. Mousa not only obliged but also drove them to and from practice every day.
Dr. Nadia Nasser-Najjab is Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Cultural Studies at Birzeit University. In attempting to apply philosophical theories and concepts to the real world Dr. Najjab invites guest speakers to her classes and applies interactive lessons like role playing and games. She stresses that one of her main goals is to encourage her students to accept different perceptions of the same situation, thereby promoting tolerance of various opinions and outlooks. Dr. Najjab has just completed a short term PFDP fellowship with Georgetown University’s Center for Contemporary Arab Studies.
Ms. Eeman Salem has been Lecturer of Geriatric Health at Al-Quds University for the past five years. As she teaches geriatric nursing, Ms. Salem often takes her students outside of the classroom and into the nursing centers to learn first-hand and brings in guest lecturers. Her 4th year nursing students describe her teaching methodology as “creative, artistic, and talented.” She is a winner in the Junior category.
Dr. Bassem Shraydehis Professor of Chemistry at An-Najah National University. In discussing his love for teaching he notes that he sees his students as very important people that he goes to meet for class sessions. Many of his colleagues in the science department at An-Najah University were his former students.
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