In a faculty survey of college services highlighted the Independent Learning Centre’s popularity with a satisfaction rate averaging 86%. Eight well-known and experienced teaching faculty discuss the positive effects of the ILC on their students.
Susan Reeve - English Faculty
"The way in which I deliver my teaching has dramatically changed since the advent of the ILC at the Naval College. I have observed the cadets taking more responsibility for their own learning, which is one of the main philosophies of HCT, learning by doing. Cadets thrive in a dynamic contemporary space that allows them to move between small desk based groups over to the latest technology iMacs. The professional attitude and knowledge of the ILC Coordinator/librarian, Mr Danville Fourier, and his assistant Jamila, are real assets to the Naval College".
Mr. Kamran Hashmi, Naval Sciences faculty
"The ILC is the state of art, it provide us all facility to carry out research through internet, books, magazines. The placement of IMACs, 3D TV, small theatre encourage cadets and staff to impart meaningful education. Our staff is excellent, very helpful and guide us as how to make use these facilities.”
Mr. Alex Franks, English Faculty
"A superb learning space, run with efficiency and good humour......The ILC has had such a positive impact on the learning environment here (and I have experienced this place pre-ILC).”
Melody Traylor, Dept. of Education, Foundations
"The best thing about the Student Success Center (SSC) on the Fujairah Men’s Campus is the services that Ms. Darcy and her team (Ofunne and Kenny) provide have always been integrated into our Scheme of Works and Lesson Planning. Our lesson plans and Schemes of Work are designed to include the SSCE to assist students in developing independence and learning through self-discovery. The SSC offers teachers a chance to target specific academic skills for the lower level learners. Teachers get the chance to take the students to various learning environments and introduce them to the concept that there are other support and learning resources available to them beyond the teacher and the classroom.
As a mobile learning environment; the SSCE offers other technical support such as reviewing apps in their monthly newsletter, offering ‘Appy Hours to help faculty and student led i-Genius sessions for student support. The SSC also offer desktops and laptops which are an important part of using i-Pads that often require setup from a laptop/desktop/MacBook.
The SSC has accommodated our learners by personally visiting our classes for orientation and focusing on Spelling (which is collectively one of our learners’ weakest skills). The SSC conducts one-on-one tutoring for our learners who require basic phonics and literacy training.
With the vast array of learning abilities assembled in one classroom, the SSCE has been; and continues to be; a place that gives teachers a chance to recreate curriculum that fits the needs of their students at every level. Not every student learns the same; therefore, the SSCE has been a way to incorporate multiple teaching styles as well. This gives the teacher and the student a stronger chance at understanding one another and what it takes for the learner to succeed.
Thank you Ms. Darcy, Ms. Ofunne, and Mr. Kenny!"
John Delahunty, English faculty
"While working with students in the Independent Learning Centre (ILC) at Abu Dhabi Mens College, I have observed how students respond to the space available to them.
Firstly, they seem to be very relaxed, and not necessarily in any way that is detrimental to their learning. Once familiar with the process of the work, students will generally work without being prompted. While the individual discipline of each student can be a contributory factor, it may also be that the privacy of each student’s personal IT-environment (one student-one laptop within an enclosed area) lends a sense of security and therefore ease.
Secondly, students do get up and walk around, motivated by seeing colleagues work and consult with class colleagues, collaborating on certain activities and problem-solving, and not only for general conversation. This does not seem to happen with any disruptive frequency, and may be enough to lend just enough variety to create a balance of contact and individual work, contributing to their wellbeing.
The teacher remains the source of guidance, but is freer to monitor, guide and motivate students as and when necessary".
Patrick Cain, English faculty
"Over the last few years, the ILC has become one of the most, if not the most, important components of my teaching repertoire. It is such a pleasant and stimulating environment, to teach and to study, staffed by great, helpful and well informed, colleagues. I am deeply grateful for this facility, and I would say that it has made a huge impact in our students' successes".
Dr. Andrea Ambrozova, English Faculty
"My students and I like the fact that the ILC is detached from the teaching unit – we have to take a walk to come to the library, which is both useful and healthy. I enjoy teaching there very much. It's great to have both Mr. Danville and Ms. Jamila (a speaker of Arabic) who complement each other very well. "
Tom Rodgers, Math Faculty
"The mathematics provision at the SSC has been invaluable. The SSC has been able to provide students with the support and confidence boost which is often the key to success.
Assistance has been provided in a warm and friendly environment, and at the individual student’s pace. The SSC is so important that I regularly volunteer to help out along with Mr. Kenny and Miss Mozah (bachelor final year student volunteer) so that the SSC is able to provide support across Foundations, Diploma and Bachelors courses which means that no student group is overlooked".
Asma Darkazalli, Business Faculty
"Over the last two semesters, I have encouraged my students to benefit from the services provided by the SSC at the FMC. It is wonderful to see the significant improvement made, by students who took advantage of the services provided by the center, especially in the areas of grammar and spelling. Many thanks to the SSC staff for being there to support us and contribute to the overall learning experience of our students here at FMC".
Joe Watkins, English & Math faculty
"I like the ILC because it allows me to individualize instruction, and it gives the students a nice atmosphere in which to study.
Like most teachers, my students have a wide range of skill levels. Having students use computers allows them to work at their own pace. In addition, I find that students are more actively engaged studying with computers than with textbooks.
In addition, the students enjoy being in the ILC. The ILC environment is very inviting. There are many options of what students can study. Plus, there are some fun activities that are available on the ILC computers that aren’t available in the classroom.
Using an idea first thought of by Kevin West and Peter Waters, I have created a competition between my students using the program MindGame and a great website that generates weekly student fixtures and produces a league table. The students are improving their English while trying to win the class championship! "