First International Conference on Higher Education Teaching and Learning

“Reimagine Teaching to Maximize Student Learning”

Feb. 9-12 2020 - Muscat, Oman

https://conferences.squ.edu.om/reimagining-teaching/Home

Conference Report

Prepared by: Dr Hashil Al-Saadi,

CETL
1. Introduction
The first International Conference on Higher Education Teaching and Learning was organized
and convened by Sultan Qaboos University Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning
(CETL) in partnership and collaboration with the Risk Management office (RMO). It was held
from 10-12 February, 2020 at Sultan Qaboos University with pre-conference workshops on
February 9, 2020.
This report provides a detailed account of the conference which could be used by different
stakeholders for record keeping, evaluation and planning future conferences. The report
comprises twelve sections that offer details about the main conference theme and sub-themes,
conference goals and objectives, conference guiding questions, conference organizing
committee members, keynote speakers, concurrent sessions, workshops, conference
participants, conference statistics, as well as feedback from the participants.

2. Conference title
“Reimagine teaching to maximize student learning” was carefully chosen as a theme for the
first CETL conference in order to draw attention to the need to reimagine and innovate our
teaching practices in a way that would bring about the desirable outcome, which is maximized
and enriched student learning. This theme also depicts the CETL slogan which directs the efforts
of the Centre towards helping faculty at the university innovate in their teaching.

3. Conference goals and objectives

The purpose of the conference was to exchange transformative research and innovative
classroom practices that would lead us to reimagine teaching to maximize student learning. The
conference was designed to foster partnerships among educational researchers and faculty
focused on the education matrix: curriculum, teaching, student learning, learning space design,
authentic assessment and Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SOTL).

4. Conference guiding questions

The conference Academic Committee generated the following questions to guide the
development of the conference themes, which, in turn, guided the review, selection and
categorization of the conference papers:
● How do we transform our teaching to develop 21st -century skills in our learners?
● How do we demonstrate the effectiveness of our teaching strategies to maximize
students’ learning?
● How do we motivate our students to learn?
● How do we transform the learning space to maximize learning?
 ● How do we foster collaboration to enhance student learning?
5. Conference themes and sub-themes
The conference featured the following main themes and sub-themes:

● Active Learning
- Methods and strategies
- Learning spaces
- Technology-enhanced learning (TEL)
- Authentic assessment and rubric design
● Learning Spaces
- Classroom design
- Online learning
- Blended learning
- Technology integration
● Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL)
- Evidence-based teaching strategies
- Classroom-based research
- Institution-based research
- Communities of practice
● Teaching Critical Thinking, Creativity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship
- Logic and Argumentation
- Creativity
- Innovation
- Entrepreneurship

6. Conference Organizing Committee

The conference main Organizing Committee comprised 21 members who worked diligently and
professionally in various sub-committees responsible for different aspects of the conference
including academic, media, public relations, administrative, finance, etc. The main organizing
committee was overseen by Prof. Thuwayba Al Barwani - Director of CETL. The Organizing
Committee members were:

1. Prof. Thuwayba Al Barwani CETL- Director

2. Dr. Otherine Neisler CETL- Deputy Director
3. Dr. Badriya Al Nadabi - CETL
4. Dr. Hashil Al Saadi CPS/CETL
5.Dr. Asma Al Gassani - College of Science
6. Dr. Talal Al Hosni - College of Science
7. Dr. Rashil Al Abri - College of Medicine and Health Sciences
8. Mr. Hafidh Al Jufily - CPS
9. Prof. Raja Binti - College of Education
10. Dr. Joseph Jervase - College of Engineering
11. Dr. Anfal Al-Wahaibi - CPS
12. Prof. Wan Mohamad Fauzy - College of Education
13. Dr. Asma Al Balushi - SQU Hospital
14. Dr. Adhari Al-Zaabi - College of Medicine and Health Sciences
15. Mrs. Nadhira Al Habsi - Risk Management Office
16. Mr. Omar Al Rawahi - Public Relations
17. Mrs. Wafaa Al Saadi - CETL
18. Ms. Bushra Al Sabei - CETL
19. Mrs. Dalia Ahmed - CETL
20. Wasila Al-Busaidi - College of Science
20. Mohammed Al-Aghbari - College of Education
21. Azza Al-Barwani - College of Science

7. Keynote speakers
The conference organizers were keen to invite world renowned experts in the area of teaching
and learning to give keynote speeches and lead hands-on workshops covering different themes
of the conference. Despite their busy schedules, the conferences had managed to bring aboard
the following four keynote speakers:

1. Prof. Eric Mazur: Dr. Mazur is the Balkanski Professor of Physics and Applied Physics at
Harvard University, and an entrepreneur in technology start-ups for the
educational and technology markets. Mazur's research is in experimental
ultrafast optics and condensed matter physics. Interactive learning. The
keynote speech title: Twilight of the Lecture: Peer Instruction for Active
Learning.

2. Dr. Jonas Norquist: Dr Nordquist is the Director of the Medical Case Centre at Karolinska
Institutet and the associate DIO, in charge of strategic educational
development for residency programs at the Karolinska University Hospital.
He travels the globe consulting on learning space design. His keynote
speech title was: Learning Spaces/ Physical Learning Environments.
3. Prof. Daniel Bernstein: Dr. Bernstein is Professor Emeritus of Psychology at the University of
Kansas and former Director of its Center for Teaching Excellence and
author of “Making Teaching Visible.” His keynote speeches were:
“Conducting SOTL to Maximize Student Learning” and “Alternative
Strategies and Methods for Evaluating Instruction in Higher Education”.

8. Conference Sessions
In total, 78 papers were accepted for the conference, of which 9 papers were delivered in
Arabic.
9. Teaching Highlights Presentations
SQU faculty were asked to submit presentation proposals focusing on their innovative
instructional practices related to active learning, blended or online instruction, and teaching
critical thinking, creativity, or entrepreneurial skills. The proposals were reviewed by a joint
CETL-RMO committee. All faculty were interviewed and 10 presentations were accepted. These
presentations were given highlighted slots during the 3 days of the conference. The following is
a list of the presentations:
- Dr. Sree Rama Murthy (Presented twice due to high demand)
Innovative Use of Technology: Trading Features and Options Using the Plus 500 Mobile
App
- Dr. Mickael Joseph
Using Twitter for Teaching
- Dr. Lyutha Al-Subhi
Flipped Classroom Approach for teaching case studies
- Dr. Victoria Tuzlukova
The Blended Model of Teaching English Writing
- Dr. Ibtisam Al-Abri
Game-based Learning
- Dr. Sergey Dobretsov
Transforming the Academic Space through Interdisciplinary Teaching
- Dr. Vindhya Singh
Using Portfolio for Active Learning
- Dr. Alaa Ibrahim and Prof. Issam Ali
How to Engage Students and Enhance the Effectiveness of STEM Teaching And Learning
- Dr. Riadh Zair & Dr. Amur Al-Yahmedi
Technology- Enhanced Active Learning in a Project Oriented Course

10. Pre-conference Workshops

The conference featured 10 pre-conference workshops which were aligned with the conference
themes. Following is a list of the workshops:
Workshop Theme: Active Learning
Tools for Peer Instruction
Prof. Eric Mazur, Harvard University

Workshop Theme: Learning Space Design

Directions for Change in Design of Learning Spaces for Health Professions: Global Insights
Prof. Jonas Nordquist, Assc. Director, Karolinska University Hospital
Teaching Highlights Workshop
Learning with Robotics (2-2.5 hours)
Drs. Amur Al Yahmedi & Riadh Zaier
Sultan Qaboos University Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering

Workshop Theme: Active Learning

Technology Tools for Active Learning
Dr. Narimane Hadj-Hamou, Director The Center for Learning Innovations and Customized
Knowledge Solutions (CLICKS)

Using digital badges in LMS "Moodle" e-learning courses to enhance learners motivation
Mr. Malik Al-Noomani, Center for Educational Technology Sultan Qaboos University

Managing Transition in Higher Education

Dr. Nada Al Moosa, Director of Quality
Oman College of Health Sciences Ministry of Health

Workshop Theme: SOTL

Planning your SoTL Project
Prof. Raja Maznah Raja Hussain, Sultan Qaboos University

Workshop Theme: Active Learning

Collaborative Activities for a student-centered learning environment
Prof. Gerald Feldman, George Washington University

Workshop Theme: Critical Thinking

Exploring Critical Thinking
Mr. Dave Paquin, CEO Delta Business Training

Becoming an autonomy-supportive teacher in 6 Steps

Dr. Hashil Al-Saadi, Sultan Qaboos University Center for Preparatory Studies and Faculty Fellow
Center for Excellence in teaching and Learning

11. Participants
As the conference statistics below show, the total number of the conference participants was
300, including presenters, workshop facilitators and attendees.
12. Conference Statistics
The table below shows some of the figures from the conference:

Item Total/Details

Overall Participants 300

No. of Papers Accepted for the

78
conference

No. of Paper Presenters 90

No. of participants from SQU 78

No. of participants outside SQU

48
(From Oman)

Muscat, Nizwa, Ibri, A’Sharqiya, A’Dakhliya, Salala,

Regions from Oman
Musan’ah, Dhofar, Al Buraimi, Sohar.

Croatia, Singapore, Qatar, UK, USA, Uganda, Egypt,

Countries Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, UAE, Kuwait, Canada, Jordon,
Iran, Pakistan, KSA, USA

No. of Workshop participants 99

Pre-conference workshop
10 presenters
presenters

Teaching Highlights
10 presentations by 11 Presenters
Presentations

13. Conference Gala and Tours

Among the important plans which the Conference Organizing Committee had in place during
the initial planning of the conference was to offer the conference participants the best
experience possible of the conference as well as of Oman. As such, a Gala Dinner was held for
the keynote speakers, featured presentations, workshop facilitators and members of the
Organizing Committee at the historic Rozna Restaurant. The conference participants also went
on tours to various historic, iconic and shopping destinations. For instance, the Key notes
speakers visited the National Museum, Al Bustan Palace Hotel and dined at the iconic Kargeen
Restaurant. Another group of the conference participants also visited Oman’s pride Opera
House Muscat and the traditional Mutrah Souq.

14. Conference survey results

It was important for the organizers to hear from the conference attendees about various
aspects of the conference. Towards this goal, a simple survey was designed and placed on the
conference website where the conference participants were asked to respond to two questions
on how they heard about the conference and the topics they would like to see covered in the
next CETL conference. In addition, participants were asked to rate on a scale of 5 points 9 of the
conference services. These included overall satisfaction, keynote speakers, quality of
presentations, relevance of the sessions, administration of the registration process, pre-
conference workshops, conference venue, catering, and overall conference organization.
A total of 29 participants gave their opinions which were generally positive with an average of
3.7 satisfaction on a scale of 5 points. The Organizing Committee has also received very positive
feedback in writing via email as well as verbally from different conference participants. These
results document the success of the conference. The data also suggest to the Organizing
Committee, CETL and the University at large that this type of conference is needed by faculty in
Oman, and the Gulf Region. There is also support for understanding the appeal of such
conferences to a broader international audience. For example, the team of 8 participants from
the National University of Singapore explained that they needed more such conferences in
Asia/Middle East rather than in Europe and the USA.

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End of report