Education Research and Development Programme (ERDP)

In 2020, the Educational Research and Development Programme (ERDP) went through fundamental and critical changes in terms of its structure and interventions in light of evaluation that was undertaken of its past 10 years of work, as well as the Foundation’s overall structural re-organization.  It looked into its interventions and structures that were integral to making it a cultural and educational hub. This included the Ni’lin Teachers’ Centre and the Science Studio. In addition to this, and as expected, the COVID-19 pandemic posed several challenges, whereas a major part of the programme could not function in a face-to-face format making interaction with teachers only possible through electronic communication channels throughout the majority of the school year. 

Due to the inability to hold activities face-to-face with teachers and the public (such as festivals and scientific activities), the programme had to modify its Plan to accommodate the COVID-19 safety requirements. For example, most sessions and workshops with teachers were held online during the total lockdown. However, when closures were less severe, workshops were combining between the electronic and face-to-face methods. These workshops included teachers who could come to Ramallah and al-Bireh Governorate, as well as teachers from other governorates and the Arab World, who attended via Zoom alongside their colleagues who participated face-to-face.

The Science Studio organized a number of visits from schools, where students interacted with the Sada (“Echo”) exhibition that was held in the past year. School students also participated in interactive educational activities that tackled the theme of this exhibition. The Science Studio team also organized a “Scientific Night” for the general public at the Foundation’s building, while highlighting the topic of Sound during that event. Within the “Outreach Services” programme (which supports the Science Studio), the Sada exhibition was moved to the Edward Said Conservatory branch in Bethlehem since this subject is closely related to their educational program. The Science Studio team also conducted activities to familiarize new teachers about the topic of Authentic Cultivation, as well as engaging them in children’s workshops (where children repair toys and other objects). The said team also held online cultural dialogues/sessions related to museums, which were attended by museum workers and lovers of museology. There was also the establishment of a science teachers club called “Initiator Teachers”. This enabled teachers to effectively utilize their skills and use the resources and tools of the Science Studio to produce teaching aids. The Science Studio also hosted 4 artists who received technical support from the team to develop their artworks that were displayed in the “Weed Control” exhibition (which is part of the Foundation’s Public Programme). The Studio also hosted programming workshops, in cooperation with Al-Quds Open University. Moreover, it developed a “Wiki” database related to the Studio’s contents and objects in order to make them available for the Foundation’s team and the general public. With regard to working with children and youngsters, the Science Studio introduced a special program called “Young Entrepreneurs”. This program was established to enhance young people’s interest in science as a future career by examining the different roles of science and conducting scientific activities related to tinkering and manufacturing. The Science Studio also participated in the “Skills 4 Future” camp organized by the Belgian Development Agency (Enabel in Palestine), in order to increase children’s future job opportunities by focusing on the needed skills in the 21^st century. This digital camp was attended by 40 young boys and girls aged 16 to 20.

In light of the COVID-19 quarantines, the programme created electronic platforms and windows that included educational packages, lesson plans, and activities that can be provided by teachers to students at the Foundation’s headquarters. This was done through the “From Home” platform and came under the following headings: “Teaching from home”, “Scientific communication window”, “Immersive activities”, “Family cinema”, “Here is the library”, “Curiosity boxes”, and “contributions to the Cultural Opinions window”. There were also educational packages related to science and child-rearing. With regard to film screenings, the programme organized school visits to the  Foundation to have them watch films, hold discussions, and write creative materials in partnership with the Public Porgramme.

The library’s audience increased steadily after moving to the new building, whereas the library became a popular destination for work, study, and reading. In light of the COVID-19 restrictions and procedures, the library’s comfortable spaces, meeting rooms, and children’s story room attracted new audiences who greatly enriched the Foundation. During the reporting period, the library was provided with 3,395 new books, and 1,945 books were catalogued. Within the said period, the number of visitors to this library from different age groups reached 5,114, including 1,320 children. Also, the number of lendings and returns (of books) was 1,445. It is also worth noting that Leila Miqdadi Al-Qattan Library held several activities with the Palestinian public and students (such as school visits), alongside other activities mentioned in the report.

The Summer and Winter courses related to ERDP’s three-year curriculum in Darma in Education were held in Ramallah, Jericho and Gaza in order to keep the process going and support teachers in fulfilling the educational requirements needed from them to pass from one level to the next. Despite COVID-19, 91 teachers participated in these courses in the West Bank, and 28 in Gaza.

A new group of teachers joined our Early Childhood one-year development track. This group was selected after passing the selection criteria set for the by the Programme and shall be going through the training in 2021. ] Also, a book titled “Voices from Kindergarten” edited by colleagues Malek al-Rimawi and Vivian Tannous was published, including 40 stories and projects prepared by Early Childhood teachers, in addition to two video episodes compiled from photos and videos. Furthermore, the Ni’lin Teachers’ Centre held 11 training sessions with 50 teachers to develop their skills in Early Childhood education. Additionally in and in Gaza, 28 science teachers were fully engaged in training and research in preparation for the children’s festival  Nuwwar Nissan but, unfortunately, it was  not held due to COVID-19; and 6 sessions for 21 teachers on Site-based Critical Learning were held.

With regard to the Project-based Learning sessions, and with support from the Culture, Arts, and Social Engagement (CASE) project funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the said project was divided into two tracks: The first track focused on working with teachers and schools to create school initiatives that can positively influence the society. In this respect, 10 sessions were given by relevant artists and researchers to 15 male and female teachers. Brainstorming was also made regarding projects that tackle violence; accidents; transforming old buildings into spaces for student activities; and developing school gardens. There were also Animation sessions for two schools in Ramallah, in order to discuss and highlight societal issues through animation films. In the Gaza Strip, the programme conducted 8 sessions for 22 teachers to develop community projects therein, as well as working with a school in Gaza (11 female students) on developing an animation film that simulates social problems. As for the second track of the project, it focused on locations, whereas two locations were selected (‘Aqqaba and Aqraba, respectively). In this context, 4 sessions were held with 30 young volunteer activists led by artists to develop projects that focus on the natural and historic characteristics of these two towns. Moreover, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed with Al-Aqsa University in Gaza to develop a special site on campus, which brings together student activists to collectively build projects that simulate real life community issues.

In this regard, there was the publishing of a book titled “The Hidden Plot: Notes on Theatre and the State” by Edward Bond, which was translated into Arabic by Nuha Abu-Arqoub. Moreover, there was the preparation of two children’s stories (literature) for publication, as well as writing articles, translations, and stories/experiences in the “Cultural Opinions” window of the “From Home” platform. Furthermore, the Science Studio staff issued the Arabic version of the Sada [“Echo”] exhibition research brochure, which highlights the scientific and intellectual background of the exhibition. The said team also prepared and published an article titled: "Exploring the Potential of Design Thinking as an Approach for Exhibit Development", along with conducting a study on the role of manufacturing labs known as “Fablab”. There was also a special focus on preparing and finalizing the 61^st issue of Ru'a Tarbawiyya (“Educational Visions”) online magazine, whereas 6 meetings were held by the editorial board to review the papers and articles of this issue. It is also worth noting that 3 seminars related to Education were held online, with the participation of teachers, babysitters, and researchers, whereas pertinent questions were posed regarding the methods of education, schools, kindergartens, and educational administration in light of the pandemic. There was also the preparation of an archive that includes all translated articles that were published since the first issue of the said magazine. In terms of global participation, a lecture was given on the topic of Tinkering at the “Network of European Museum Organisations” (NEMO) Conference 2020, which was held online on 11 June 2020.