Math and Science teachers share classroom experience

By Yasmine Salamah ---

The Science and Math Education Center held its fifth conference last Saturday and Sunday at AUB in the hope of further developing and supporting the professional community of math and science teachers both around and within the neighboring areas of Lebanon. This conference aimed at allowing an intellectual exchange of ideas among school teachers of math and science in all three levels--elementary, intermediate, and secondary. This exchange allows teachers to share their scientific and mathematical findings while especially stressing on the practical classroom implementations of their findings. Teachers were given the chance to interact with first rate foreign professionals in similar fields, as well as the opportunity to contribute to the progress of a professional society of mathematics and science teaching within the school systems in Lebanon and its surrounding regions. Organizer Hala Ghousseini described this conference as a "chance for all teachers to get together and share information in order to learn new techniques from each other." Along with schools in Lebanon, three schools from abroad attended the conference. When asked how effective this conference was in achieving its goals of improving school level math and science classes, Ghousseini replied that the committee "has noticed that teachers who came to the first conference also came to the others. They are enjoying it and getting ideas as the participants are investing in themselves by paying up to LL50,000 to attend the conference." Among the participants were grade school math teachers who share certain math or science techniques to motivate students within the classroom and maximize student learning in the process. Also participating was Planet Discovery, a children's science museum, in collaboration with La Cite des Sciences et de l'Industrie, which has also added to the educational opportunities in Lebanon by allowing children aged three to fifteen to discover the "secrets of life and the surrounding universe." Visitors have different exhibits to choose from depending on their age and interest. Among some exhibits are the "children's village," where children learn about the necessity of communication, and learn about communication techniques such as speaking tubes and videophones. The Planet Museum presents a selection of themes ranging from genetics, machines, life forms, and the human body, to phenomena in physics and math.