Teaching as an Experience
On Monday, December 19, 2016, Professor Abdullah Hadi Al-Qahtani led a compelling discussion titled "Teaching as an Experience." The interactive seminar was hosted by the Language Research Center of the Faculty of Languages and Translation. Not just a conventional lecture, the session delved into various intriguing stories drawn from Professor Al-Qahtani's own teaching career and the experiences of others.
Professor Al-Qahtani initiated the discourse by posing an intriguing question about teachers who had profoundly influenced the participants. Some attendees shared their personal experiences, reflecting on how certain teachers had played transformative roles in their lives. Professor Al-Qahtani stressed the potency of a teacher's behavior to inspire and effect change among students, asserting that influence outweighs control in the context of teaching. Through captivating anecdotes about teachers and students, he exemplified the harmonious integration of knowledge, skills, values, and affection in epitomizing the role of an effective teacher.
In addition to elucidating the essence of impactful teaching, Professor Al-Qahtani discussed his innovative integration of new technology into his teaching methodology. While leading a course called "Speech Workshop," he successfully engaged his students in assignments through Facebook.
In his conclusion, Professor Al-Qahtani challenged the conventional notion that a teacher's sole responsibility is to impart knowledge. He proposed that the archaic model of the dominating classroom teacher is now obsolete. Rather than being mere recipients of knowledge, students can and should play a significant role in actively contributing to the learning environment.
Notably, the seminar also featured remote participation from the Al Samer campus via video conferencing.
The session proved to be an engaging and thought-provoking forum, marking a triumphant success for all participants involved.
