Innovative teaching approaches, personal and professional development, digital skills, leadership and effective classroom management were discussed in two separate in-service training seminars, which attracted great interest by many academicians, held at Near East University.
Adopting lifelong learning as a fundamental principle, Near East University continues to organize trainings for faculty members while preparing over 20 thousand students from 143 countries for the future. The training program organized by the Curriculum Development Committee affiliated with the University’s Education Unit and carried out for academicians from the Faculty of Dentistry, Faculty of Health Sciences and Faculty of Nursing covered many areas such as innovative teaching approaches, personal and professional development, digital skills, leadership and effective classroom management.
In the trainings held at the Irfan Günsel Congress Center, comprehensive information was provided to academicians on many topics such as teaching techniques and pedagogical approaches, individualized and structured learning models, design of massive open online courses, and integration of technologies such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality and augmented reality into educational processes. The programs aimed to ensure that faculty members effectively adopt contemporary education methods.
In two separate trainings that attracted great interest from academics, Prof. Dr. Zehra Altınay, Head of the Department of Educational Sciences at the Atatürk Faculty of Education of the Near East University, addressed the subject of “Pedagogy and Teaching Methods”, and Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Bicen, Head of the Department of Human Resources Development in Education, made a comprehensive presentation on “Digital Tools”. Throughout the training, academics sought answers to the question of “How can I teach more effectively?” and developed solutions suitable for today’s education dynamics.
From the Classroom to Lifelong Learning
Emphasizing the importance of pedagogical transformation and effective teaching methods in education, Prof. Dr. Zehra Altınay drew attention to the integration of learning processes into individual and social life. Touching upon important elements such as effective use of time, increasing student participation and creating strong communication environments, which are among the basic principles of classroom management, Prof. Dr. Altınay said, “We aim to build a bridge from the classroom to lifelong learning.”
Stating that this process will enable individuals to learn not only academically, Prof. Dr. Altınay said that the guidance and leadership roles of academics allow students to discover their potential and make a difference in social life. Prof. Dr. Altınay, who used the metaphor of the “butterfly effect” to explain that small changes can create big transformations, emphasized that innovative teaching strategies will help individuals adapt to lifelong learning. Prof. Dr. Zehra Altınay and Prof. Dr. Fahriye Altınay provided the opportunity to experience a teaching technique with volunteer faculty members by carrying out a small group study at the end of the training.
New Horizons in Education
Drawing attention to the importance of digital transformation in education, Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Bicen shared comprehensive information about the tools that can be used in line with the requirements of the digital age. Stating that “Making educational processes more efficient and effective in the digital age requires academics to adapt to this transformation,” Prof. Dr. Bicen provided information about the integration of artificial intelligence-based tools into education, the effective use of social media platforms and the platforms recommended for massive open online courses. Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Bicen emphasized that AI. Prof. DUX, developed at Near East University and actively used in educational processes, is a good example of how artificial intelligence can create great changes in educational processes.
Prof. Dr. Bicen, who said, “Digital educational platforms such as E-StudyBox are extremely important in terms of providing fast and free access to information for both academics and students,” stated that areas of expertise can be developed by taking advantage of these resources and that students should be directed to these contents. Prof. Dr. Bicen said, “E-StudyBox was designed to provide personalized learning experiences for our academics and students. With this platform, you can easily access course content, enrich learning with interactive materials, and access information faster with innovative tools.”
