ISNA Education Forum Addresses ChatGPT, Palestine, and a Lot More
Mar/Apr 2024
More than 200 educators attended ISNA’s 12th West Coast Islamic Education Forum, held during January in Orange County, Calif., The conference featured a diverse array of presentations, many of which addressed crucial aspects of education, social-emotional learning (SEL), and community engagement.
In the “Incorporating Islam-based SEL Programs in Schools” pre-conference session, Abir Catovic (Weekend Islamic Schools Education Resources [WISER]), Wadud Hassan (founder, Mindfulness Matters Leadership Institute) and Ibrahim Yousef (principal, Nashville International Academy) shared how parents can improve their children’s character and develop emotional intelligence by being good examples. They provided examples of regulating emotions with references to the Quran and hadith.
“We are living examples of the good character we want to see in our kids,” Catovic said. “You are so important. We start with ourselves.”
Lina Kholaki (director, Online Professional Development, the Al-Deen Foundation) and Nacheda Tizani (the Southern California Arabic Language Teacher Council) explained how learning is best when students experience hands-on activities that promote communication, both orally and in writing.
Speakers shared techniques for introducing vocabulary and grammar using comprehensible input. These methods aim to avoid repetitiveness and boredom and leverage technology in the process. They also discussed integrating artificial intelligence (AI) in language education and how it can be navigated to create powerful presentations from authentic materials.
The inaugural luncheon featured a welcome by Basharat Saleem (executive director, ISNA). While expressing his appreciation for the hardworking teachers, keynote speaker Ahmed Soboh (founder and religious director, the Chino Valley Islamic Center) quoted Egyptian poet-laureate Ahmed Shawki (d.1932): “Stand up with respect to your teacher, your teacher is like a prophet.”
Soboh then reminded the audience that just like Maryam (‘alayiha as-salaam) had to shake the tree for the dates to fall for her nourishment and strength during childbirth, we must be active and volunteer to affect change. He emphasized that our students must learn to engage formally and properly with political leaders and to serve society with innovative solutions.
In his khutba, Imam Jihad Safir (assistant professor, Religion and Community Development, Bayan) acknowledged Islamic school teachers’ sacrifices and shared his own story of being victimized in his youth by public school teachers and peers who pressured him to eat non-halal food and mocked his name.
In the more than 20 other conference sessions, educators learned about a myriad of topics, among them how to empower leaders to advance antiracism, integrate the Quran and science for student success, adapt to diverse learning styles, understand the Islamic perspective on the sexual and gender identity movement and emphasize iman and ihsan in Islamic education.
“I liked how Sister Shatha Eissa emphasized being gentle with children in the classroom to instill a love for the Quran. I learned that laughter also has benefits in the classroom,” said one attendee. “It was interesting to be reminded by master Arabic teacher Dr. Amal Sakr Elhoseiny that the Quran has more than 1,000 scientific facts.”
Weekend Schools Certification
The need for weekend schools to be certified was also stressed. Susan Labadi (board member, WISER) said that certification is important if the community wants to operate weekend schools that provide a high-quality education and an enriching environment. Certification ensures sustainable progress and accountability for those Muslim students who receive no religious instruction in public schools.
Renowned education experts spoke about special education in the Islamic school classroom, teaching the Quran to enhance mental fitness, unleashing AI in Arabic language classrooms, and the impact of ChatGPT on Muslim educators.
At Friday’s celebration banquet, Shabnum Husain (retired principal, Minaret Academy), was presented with the Lifetime Service Award for her dedication to Islamic education and leadership.
In her keynote address, Ingrid Mattson (former president, ISNA) expressed how exceptions have become the norm and how Muslims can live faithfully within a society ridden with countless haram practices. Her answer resonated with the reminder that the way to survive in this environment is through community and that the best investment one can make is in people. In reflecting on her experiences serving in Bosnia, she noted how the family was part of the community and the school was its center. Her message exemplified how a network of participating families can work for their mutual benefit.
Another program highlight was a general session on understanding Jerusalem’s significance as a framework for teaching about Palestine. The intent was to foster a foundational curriculum to empower students to connect deeply with their heritage, awareness and resilience. Safaa Zarzour (president, ISNA), Hussam Ayloush (executive director, CAIR-LA) and Ibrahim Yousef contributed to the session.
This annual conference provides a platform for educators, scholars and leaders to share insights and strategies for enhancing Islamic education, fostering social-emotional learning, and addressing contemporary issues within the educational landscape.
This report was compiled by Sue Labadi, Abir Catovic, and Lina Kholaki.
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