ELC (283)
Health and Safety committee of PSC organized a session “First Aid Live Demonstration” for the students and lecturers, on 16th November 2023. The session was conducted by Ms. Rabeea Ibrahim, Health & Safety members and clinic nurse Ms Naima Khamis Al Abri. Ms.Adeeba provided material to use as realia for the demonstration of the four cases we dealt with (fainting, bleeding, burning and asthma.) The main objective of the session was to give general awareness about the first aid procedures to follow, and timely help that can be provided before an ambulance or a medical team reaches the patient to carry him/her to the medical center. During the session, Ms Naima Khamis Al Abri focused on the importance of first aid, the skills that the person or people near the patient(s) should have and the correct methods for dealing with cases of fainting, bleeding, burning and asthma. The practical application was also explained with the four cases happening for children and adults. The visitors found this information and practical demonstration very useful.
Health and Safety committee of PSC organized a “Health and Safety Awareness Session” held on November 9, 2023. The session was conducted by Ms. Thandeka Khathi and Ms. Haleema Tausef, PSC Lecturer. The main objective of the session was the Health and Safety Awareness among staff and students. The session focused mainly on raising basic awareness on the Health and Safety procedures in place in our campus.
Ms. Thandeka Khathi presented the emergency evacuation, fire procedure and the first aid procedures. Clear illustrations were given and directions to the nearest assembly points were shared, using pictures. The importance of completing the incident report form was emphasized as well instructions on how to access it and the procedure to submit it.
Ms. Haleema Tausef then followed with General Health and Safety tips for the participants. This part of the presentation dealt with practical day-to-day advice to maintain good health, prevent hazards and ensure safety. Participants were further urged to take responsibility of their own Health and Safety by applying tips such as decluttering their workspaces, keeping hydrated and reporting potential hazards such as open wires, faulty equipment etc. Participants voiced their appreciation for an informative session and gave positive feedback.
Preparatory Studies Center (PSC) has been providing training to the community for many years. There was another training session for the school staff in September 2023. Ms Hind Al Mahrouqi and Ms Maha Al Darei from the PSC of UTAS-Ibri conducted a workshop entitled "Teaching Grammar by Using Online Games" on September 21, 2023, at the Ibri School for Basic Education (Grades 5–9).
The workshop aimed at introducing English language teachers to free learning platforms where they can create their own games for online or in-person classrooms. Teachers were also encouraged to use the pre-made game templates and enjoy playing these games in different ways.
The presenters started by highlighting the importance of using online games to keep students happy and engaged. Furthermore, they mentioned the benefits of implementing fun game-based learning. After that, they explained the two online platforms, Bamboozle and Factile, in detail by showing the basic features of both and their implementations. There was positive feedback from the participants and they desired to have such training sessions time and again.
The Community Engagement Committee at the Preparatory Studies Centre (PSC), UTAS-Ibri, hosted an IELTS workshop tailored for healthcare providers from the Ministry of Health (MoH) on November 16, 2023. This in-person workshop was held at the UTAS-Ibri campus for doctors to equip them with the essential skills of the IELTS test.
Commencing at 9:00 a.m. and concluding at 1:30 p.m., the workshop was structured with multiple one-hour sessions, each dedicated to a specific aspect of the IELTS test. The sessions were led by professionals in the field. Mr. John Bathula and Ms. Lungile Portia initiated the workshop with an in-depth focus on the IELTS listening section. Ms. Frizha May conducted an engaging session delving into strategies and techniques for the speaking component, stimulating active participation from the attendees. Dr. Miriam Cordova followed with an insightful session addressing various reading techniques and question types expected in the IELTS test. The final session, led by Ms. Sharon Devaneson, provided attendees with valuable insights and strategies for mastering the writing tasks.
Throughout the workshop, discussions centred on tackling specific question types, expanding vocabulary, and sharing invaluable tips and suggestions. Attendees were engaged through mock tests in listening and reading, enabling practical application of the acquired strategies. Furthermore, participants received comprehensive handouts containing useful expressions, sample questions, and model answers for both speaking and writing components. These materials serve as a valuable resource for continued practice and improvement. Attendees left the workshop equipped with renewed enthusiasm and enhanced preparation strategies.
This initiative by the PSC at UTAS-Ibri reflects the university's commitment to facilitating professional development and fostering collaboration between academia and healthcare professionals for the betterment of society.
The PSC through SPD committee conducted a training session for L 2 Lecturers entitled: “Teaching Methodologies for Reading, Writing and Grammar”, on Thursday, 16 November 2023. The presenter was Ms. Nusaiba Al Ghafri, a PSC staff member. The PD session focused specifically on teaching Reading, Writing and Grammar and some strategies to enhance and improve students’ performance. The presenter started with introducing the Reading challenges faced by students and then she highlighted some ways to overcome these challenges. That was followed by a practice of one of the Reading strategies which is “Half-reading” technique. Next, the session covered the Writing process and how to fully accomplish it by using a variety of strategies in each stage. Eventually, the audience practically tried one of the Writing strategies which they found intriguing, relevant and helpful. The session was received well with positive feedback from the participants.
Health and Safety committee of PSC organized a face to face and online workshop on “How to Maintain Good Health” on 16th November 2023. The workshop was conducted by Mr. Wasim Raja, Mathematics Lecturer. The main objective of the workshop was the awareness of health importance and the ways to maintain good health.
The speaker highlighted the importance of health in everyday life and explained that feeling good about our self and taking care of our health are also important for our self-esteem and self-image. He shared the tips for good health like good sleep, having sufficient amount of water, exercise regularly, having balanced diet, and handling work pressure. Moreover, we should avoid sitting for long hours, screen additions, junk food, and unhealthy diet. The session was very helpful to the staff and students. In the end he emphasizes that healthy body is essential for success in life. An unhealthy man is always weak, sad, and unconfident. No matter how much we work or how much we earn if we lose health, we lose everything. So we should maintain good health. This activity got quite positive response from the participants.
The Preparatory Studies Centre (PSC) conducted a training session for Level 1 teachers, entitled: “Fun Learning: Using Websites and Online Games in the Classroom”, on Thursday, 16 November 2023. The presenters were Ms. Wasan Alfarsi, Ms. Alghaliya Alsharyani, and Ms. Jumana Alhatmi, PSC staff part time members. They highlighted the power of websites, the impact of online games, and gave tutorial on how to use these sites and games. Websites are powerful educational tools, providing various resources and interactive content to introduce new concepts, reinforce learning, and encourage independent exploration. Similarly, Online games provide an engaging platform for students and encourage collaborative learning. These games are tailored to foster critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills. By integrating thoughtfully selected online games into our lessons, we can create an environment where students actively engage, apply their knowledge, and learn through hands-on exploration. The presenters shared some useful websites and teaching games with the participants. The session was received well with positive feedback from the participants.
Nigel Harwood
Nigel Harwood, from University of Sheffield, a former co-editor of the Elsevier Journal English for Specific Purposes, an author of articles, books and book chapters, gave an online presentation to the researchers/lecturers of University of Technology & Applied Sciences on 15th November 2023. It was a highly informative session. He threw light on the points a journal considers while accepting or rejecting an article for publishing. He said that a journal usually rejects articles, but, sometimes it asks for a revision and resubmission. The reviewers spot mistakes or omissions in the article. He advised the researchers to address all the points highlighted by the reviewers before resubmission. Nigel Harwood also discussed differences between highly prestigious and fake journals. PSC staff also participated in this activity and they appreciated this thought provoking presentation.
The Centre for Preparatory Studies (CPS) conducted a training session entitled: “Student Motivation” on Thursday, 16 November 2023. The presenter was Ms Cara Byleveldt, PSC staff member. The topic, “Student Motivation”, was chosen due to the interest shown by the Level 4 lecturers from the needs analysis conducted in the previous week. The session mainly focused on how to motivate Level 4 students for language learning. The presenter brainstormed the ideas related to the types of motivation. The participants were presented with scenarios and questions for discussion. The interactive nature of the session allowed for peer learning, participation and critical thinking on the topic. The topics of discussion focused on different aspects of “Student Motivation”, including intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, classroom consistency, student involvement, teacher attitudes, and teacher struggles. It was very effective discussion on the topic and it received well with positive feedback from the participants.
Participation in the 1,000 Paramedics’ Campaign (First Aid Workshop)
The university clinic participated in the 1,000 paramedics’ campaign organized by the Professional Development and Guidance Department of the General Directorate of Health Services in Al Dhahirah Governorate, under a goal derived from Oman Vision 2040: “Our goal is a healthy society protected from dangers and health threats.”
Therefore, a workshop on “First Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation” was coordinated for university students and employees at the branch on October 5, 2023 from 12 – 2 PM in VIP room, presented by Yousef bin Salem Al-Ghafri, Head of the Directorate’s Career Development and Guidance Department, and Amna bint Khalfan Al-Muqbaliya from the Directorate’s Career Development and Guidance Department.
During the workshop, the importance of first aid, the qualities that a paramedic must possess, the correct methods for dealing with cases of cardiac arrest and cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and how to use a defibrillator were introduced. The practical application was also illustrated on how to deal with emergency situations, how to deal with mild and severe injuries, sports accidents, especially tongue muscle relaxation accidents, and the practical applications on how to deal with cases of suffocation in adults and children. Fifty Students and Staff members attended the workshop and practiced quality procedures of First Aid during health emergencies.
The workshop Feedback link: Click Here