May 2011
Seventh International Conference on
on Science, Mathematics & Technology
Education
: Transforming society through Science, Mathematics and Technology: Towards creative, innovative generations
VENUE: MUSCAT, OMAN, 44-7 NOVEMBER 2012
Jointly organised by the national Key Centre for School Science and Mathematics, Curtin University, Australia and College of Education, Sultan Qaboos University, Oman
Following the successful conferences in Vietnam, South Africa, Canada, Thailand and most recently in Taiwan, this conference will provide another intellectually challenging and
culturally enriching experience for science, mathematics and
technology teachers, teacher educators, researchers, and administrators from all education levels from around the
world.
The conference will include keynote addresses and papers.
Papers may be presented either in Arabic or English and participants will be invited to submit their presentations for consideration for inclusion in the conference proceedings. A
social and sightseeing program will be organised in conjunction with the conference.
If you are interested in presenting a paper, attending the following conference, or need further information, please contact either of the following Conference convenors.
Professor Darrell Fisher, Key Centre for School Science &
Mathematics, Curtin University of Technology, GPO Box
U1987, Perth WA 6854, Australia. Tel +61 8 9266 3110, fax
+61 8 9266 2503,
Email: D.Fisher@smec.curtin.edu.au
Dr. Ali Al-Shuaili, HoD Curriculum & Instructions, College of
Education, Sultan Qaboos University. P.O Box 32 PC 123
Muscat, Oman. Tel +968 24141604 fax +968 24413817,
Email: alshuaili@squ.edu.om
Inside this Newsletter
Dean's message
1
Dean's Office
2
Accreditation & Publication
3
International
4
Conferences & Workshops
College Activities
5
Special Events
6
Goodbye & Special Thanks
7
Distinction & Congratulations
8-9
Supervised & Directed by:
Prof. Maher Abu Hilal
Prepared, Translated &Designed, by:
Intisar Nasser
English revised by:
Dr. William Schreck
Page 1
"Tell me and I'll forget.
Show me, and I may not
remember. Involve me,
and I'll understand."
ndeed, we want all to be involved in all activities of our
endeavors. In this newsletter, I‘d
like to extend my gratitude to those who have worked
hard to support our efforts in carrying the college forward on its journey to higher levels of performance. In
the next newsletter, I hope that I will be in a position to
thank an increasing number of passionate contributors
who will serve in development committees or research
teams that will enhance policy decisions.
o the faculty, I say that your excellent teaching
and research is a model for your students who are the
teachers of coming generations. Each and every one of
you ought to have a share in what we do. Our college is
moving ahead and this is noticeable; but we want our
work to be as collective and collaborative as possible.
We know that faculty can make a difference and I am
sure you will.
o the Unknown Soldiers, the staff, let me
say that your role in the success story of our college is
indispensible. Your support to the development of our
framework and the related activities will certainly contribute to the success of our teaching, service, and research of our faculty. Faculty and students alike will
need your diligent service and contribution.
o our students, I say that you are the torch
bearers. Your diligence, commitment and motivation to
do your best will light our way and that of our children
and grandchildren. I do expect that you will take your
work seriously and help us achieve our noble mission
and goals.
ogether we can hold the torch to light our path
and that of future generations. Serious work is ahead of
us and I hope to see every name on our large tree of
committees. I trust that your contribution, no matter
how small it is, will make a difference in the quality and
efficiency required to reach our goal of achieving International Accreditation.
Thank you and may God bless you all.

Our Vision: to be a professional and contemporary centre of excellence that contributes to the quality of life,
prosperity of society and inculcation of its values.
Our Mission: to prepare distinguished graduates in teaching, counseling, and research through bachelor
and post-graduate programs; and to be a centre of excellence that serves the community and fosters its values
and its sustainable development on the basis of scientific research.
Our Main Objectives:
 Prepare teachers, educational leaders, researchers, counselors, and trainers both at under—
graduate and post graduate studies.
 Improve the profession of teaching, training, and other educational and psychological services on the basis of scientific research.
 Authenticate scientific research and enhance its role in solving educational and professional
problems.
Page 2,
New Administrative Proposal to Accommodate
the CoE New Developments
The Administrative Director of the College of Education, Mr. Mohamed Al Gealani presented to
the college a new proposal that aims at:

Securing all health and safety requirements .

Meeting the requirements of all CoE units and departments.

Establishing new offices that enhance the increasing number of both faculty and staff.

Using all the dead areas of the CoE.

Replacing all old equipment and unused books .
It’s worth noting that the implementation will start this year 2011, and work in parallel with the college’s
preparation for accreditation, which will provide a suitable environment to meet the quality standards.
T
he CoE is entering a
new era of research. In
2011 the college has won funds
for 2 strategic research projects
out of six for the whole university (33%), and 1 TRC project.
In 2010 the CoE also won
funds for 1 strategic research
project and 3 internal grants.
During this academic year
there has been a significant
increase in research publications and conference papers.
Faculty members have published 85 journal articles, 6
books, 15 chapters in books,
70 conference publications,
and 18 technical reports.
Overall, the college has secured
an amount of more than
300,000RO for research activities during the past 2 years.
Finally, it is important to
note that “Coming together
is a beginning, keeping together is progress
and working together is
success”. This year is particularly a fruitful one. Progress and success are the
distinctive features of this
academic year. Team
means: Together Everyone
Achieves. Let’s keep on being TOGETHER to keep
on our path to success.
T
he CoE has received an approval for
establishing a Centre of Excellence in
Teaching and Learning. The center is expected to achieve the following main objectives:
 Enrich the professional growth of
faculty through programs services
and resources that promote significant learning experiences for students.
 Promote and support a community
of teacher-scholars where theory and
practice of teaching and learning are
shared.
 Assist faculty to develop, implement
and assess a variety of learningcentered approaches and methodologies.
Page 3
STEADILY AND FIRMLY, THE
COE IS MARCHING TOWARD ACCREDITATION
In
deed, ‘teamwork divides the task and multiplies the success.’ Teamwork is the ability to
work together toward a common vision. Our
college has achieved success and we do work
in accordance with the SQU vision. We are
firmly going through the process of quality
and accreditation. The COE has taken the
following steps to bring accreditation into
reality:

The college is the second in the region that
has the status of pre-candidacy from NCATE.

As part of preconditions, the college is developing its conceptual framework. Various
stakeholders are involved in the process: faculty members from the COE, Ministry of Education, students, and faculty members from
the colleges of Arts and Science.

The COE is enhancing its capacity and human
resources. Three faculty members and one
staff have attended conferences dealing with
the process of accreditation (AACTE and
NCATE).

The college has plans to attend and train other
faculty in the process of accreditation. The COE
has started contacts with an expert in accreditation. It is planned that the addition of this expert will expedite the process.

The Quality and Development Committee
(QDC) has been in charge of the process. The
college plans to keep the QDC monitoring the
process but the process itself will be handled by
a committee formed for the purpose of accreditation.
fter
two
years of work on
quality and accreditation, it is
a great privilege
for the chairman
of the the QDC
(Prof.
Maher
Abu Hilal) to
thank all those
who have been
involved,
the
members: Prof.
Hashem Kilani, Prof. Nagi Michael, Dr. Ali Kadhem,
Dr. Hisham Muheeb, Dr. Humaira Al-Sulaimani, Dr.
Sulaiman Belushi, Dr. Salim Ghanbousi and Mrs.
Layla Al Hadhrami. Thanks are due to the Hon.
Dean Thuwayba Al-Barwani and Mr. Mohammad
Al-Ghilani for their support of the committee’s activities.
The CoE is speeding up the process of publications to promote teaching, advisement, service and research. Faculty members, mainly those who advise students, can make use
of the guide of courses in different programs. Also,
faculty and staff can see themselves and assess how
good their efforts are in in both publishing and service
by looking into the annual report, and the college
journal. The newsletter also periodically documents
the activities, service and CoE research productivity.
All those publications have been published on the
college website
http://www.squ.edu.om/college-education
Also, they are available as hard copies in the deanship office.
http://www.squ.edu.om/
college-education
Page 4
Page 2— Issue 3–2011
forthcoming International
Conferences
Participation in International
Conferences
In the spirit of speeding up and increasing faculty productivity, several faculty members are participating in international conferences.
1. SIXTH SELF BIENNIAL INTERNATIONAL
CONFERENCE, QUEBEC CITY, CANADA, 191922JUNE 2011. ( will
be attended by Prof.
Maher Abu Hilal). For more information go to: http://www.self.sse.ulaval.ca.
2. ICET, GLASGOW, SCOTLAND, JULY 1111-14,
This international conference will
be held in Glasgow, Scotland. The dean of the college is
the president of the ICET for 2011. For more information go to: www.gla.ac.uk\events\ict.
2011,
3. ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION
OF CROSS-CULTURAL PSYCHOLOGY. ISTANBUL, TURKEY,
be attended by Dr. Said AlDhafri) For more information go to: http://
JUNE 30 – JULY 3, 2011.
2011.(will
www.iaccp2011.org/
4. 3RD PARIS INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON EDUCATION,
ECONOMY, AND SOCIETY. PARIS, FRANCE, JULY 2020-23, 2011.
(will be attended by Dr. Kashef Zayed) For more information go to:http://education-conferences.org/dates2.aspx
5.
SEVENTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON SCIENCE,
MATHEMATICS & TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION MUSCAT, OMAN,
4-7 NOVEMBER 2012.
For more information contact:
Several faculty members have attended
international
conferences during
2010/2011 academic year. The conferences were held in various parts of the
world. They are:
A) Hawaii International Conference on
Education, Honolulu, January 4–7,
2011 (attended by Prof. Hashem Kilani, Dept. of P.E & Dr. Ibrahim Qaryouti, Dept. of ECE).
B) The American Association of Colleges
of Teacher Education (AACTE) in San
Diego, California, Feb. 23-26, 2011
(attended by Prof. Maher Abu Hilal,
Dept. of Psych.).
C) The regional meeting of the National
Council of American Teacher Education (NCATE) in Georgia, USA,
March 19-22, 2011 (attended by Dr.
Sulaiman Belushi, C & I Dept., and
Dr. Salem Ghanbousi, EFA Dept.).
D) The 4th International Cognitive Science Conference at Tehran University,
Iran, May 10 –12, 2011 (attended by
Prof. Maher Abu Hilal, Dept. of
Psych.).
alshuaili@squ.edu.om
ACTIVE
PARTICIPATION IN
WORKSHOPS ABROAD
Three faculty members from the Dept. of C&I participated in the TAMAM
Project in Lebanon, Jan., 14-16, 2011. This project is a collaboration between the American University of Beirut (AUB) and the Arab Thought
Foundation to reinforce the support of top-down in order to change the
bottom-up in schools systems. The participants were Dr. Abdullah Ambusaidi, Dr. Mohsen Al Salmi, and Dr. Ali Al Bulushi.
he second workshop was the Education for Sustainable Development, in
Lebanon between 18-20 Jan., 2011. This workshop was held as part of the
UNESCO’s efforts to achieve the goals of sustainable development in education 2005-2014. The colleges of Education in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Palestine along with the Sultanate of Oman are expected to infuse the topics
and concepts of sustainable developments in some courses in the teacher
preparation programs. Dr. Abdullah Ambusaidi represented the Sultanate
of Oman in this workshop.
Page 5
TRAINING THE STAFF TO IMPROVE
QUALITY
IS A COMPREHENSIVE
CONTINUOUS INDEAVOUR.
UALITY
STUDENTS ARE MARCHING ALONG
WITH FACULTY AND STAFF
AND
In line with this framework, the college is
working on improving the capacity of its
staff as well as faculty. The college has sent
many faculty and staff members to attend
training workshops and courses. These activities have been subsidized by the office of
the Assistant Dean of Training and Community Service.
The staff were sent abroad to attend the following workshops:
Library and Electronic Information Services: Held in Cairo (September 2010) for 1
week ( attended by Mr. Ali Al Baddai).
Preparing , Editing, and Presenting Media
Programs: Held in Jordan (September 2010)
for 1 week ( attended by Mrs. Salma Al Hajri).
NCATE Regional Meeting: Held in Georgia, USA for 1 week (7-8 April, 2011).
(attended by Dr. Sulaiman Al Bulushi, Dr.
Salem Al Ghanbousi & Mrs. Layla Al
Hadhrami).
SPORTS DAY:
Preparations are underway for
the Second Educational Festival
of the Educational Group.
At the same the various subgroups of the Educational
Group have worked diligently
to achieve distinction and quality. Following is a summary of
the activities of these groups:
A) The Technology of Teaching and Learning
Sub– group had its
fourth technological
gathering from April
30-May4, 2011.
B) The Psychology group
had its major activities during the current
academic year. The Autism Gathering and
workshop in sign language were conducted in April 4, 2011. The second gathering of the group took place between April
16-20, 2011.
C) The Group of Sport and Society organized
the sport day for the individuals with special needs in February 22, 2011.
INFORMAL AND FRIENDLY DAY
In a familial atmosphere, the college of Education members (faculty,
staff, students and some families) participated in an entertaining day of
sports and social activities. On April 12, 2011, the college members participated in the annual sports day. The sports and social activities took
place in two locations: the male sports complex and the female sports
complex.
Regarding the male section, the members were divided into several
groups and these groups competed among them in soccer, volleyball,
swimming, basketball, and track. The winning team received the cup
of the day which was –along with medals- handed by HH Dr. Fahad
Al Said. The day was organized by the Office of the Director of Administration (Mr. Mohammad Gailani, Said Jaradi, & Salim
Miqbali) together with a group of students from IT Dept. and PE
Dept. The female section was organized by a group of faculty
and staff ( Dr. Yusra Al Sinani, Dr. Badriya Al Hdabi, Dr.
Fakhriya Al Yahyai, Mrs. Fayzeh Al Habsi, Mrs. Layla Al
hadrami, and Mrs. Wafa Al Sadi) with help from the
female student groups. The day ended at 9 pm with
dinner.
a