‘Growing’ education in difficult environments promoting problem solving: a case from Palestine

Abstract

This paper presents a collaborative educational experiment ‘The Death of the Dead Sea: A Problem Based Learning’ that was applied in two governmental high schools in Ramallah, Palestine in the school year 2006–2007. The students' role was to raise awareness to the phenomenon of the saltiest lake that shrinks towards extinction. In spite of the enormous challenges in Palestine, the project was achieved successfully. Students learned cooperatively to fully understand the problem, its causes, consequences and possible solutions. The learning process oriented learners toward meaning‐making over fact‐collecting. They expressed their own views and opinions in creative modes and outcomes and celebrated their work in an exhibition that illustrated the problem to other students, teachers and to the local community.

Keywords:

• difficult environments
• problem solving
• thinking skills
• education in Palestine
• active learning

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank my colleague Wael Kishek who was my partner through the entire process of this work. I would like also to express my appreciation and gratitude to the teachers and the students whose participation and engagement contributed directly to the writing of this paper.

Notes

1. The Qattan Centre for Educational Research and Development (QCERD) is an independent Palestinian research institution whose primary mission is to assist teachers in acquiring new skills and improving their knowledge base. The QCERD is committed to promoting the highest standards of excellence in school‐based education through action research and cooperative educational projects. In order to reach this goal, QCERD organizes educational workshops and training programmes for in‐service teachers in all disciplines in several educational fields, such as: enhancing pupils' thinking skills; matching teachers' methodologies with students' learning styles; developing emotional intelligence; and, using drama for better teaching and in other innovative educational themes. Researchers in QCERD have published several teacher guidebooks on these educational areas and several articles about their experiences.

2. Palestinians in the West Bank have special licence car plates, which do not permit them to travel on special roads in the West Bank, or to enter Jerusalem or Israeli cities. Others, e.g. Palestinians in East Jerusalem and foreigners, have Israeli licence car plates which allow them to travel everywhere.

3. Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank are forbidden to enter Jerusalem or Israel because of the policy of closure or ‘sealing off the territories’. Palestinians must obtain permits from the Israeli military government to work in or to visit Jerusalem. In order to apply for a permit, applicants must take a form filled out in Hebrew to the nearest Military Governor's office. There, they have to queue outside, waiting for their turn to be admitted, which can take hours or even the whole day.