Back from Jeddah: A year later....

Okay, I actually was not in Saudi all this time but usually happens in life at the University, a few side trips have taken me away from blogging.  It is nearly the year anniversary of my trip to the Middle East and my experience continues to impact my thinking as well as my work. I suspected I would have some free time to write of my adventure last year.  However, nearly every minute of my time in Jeddah was filled either with preparation for the workshop and presentation or events planned by KAU faculty: a tour of al-Balad (old town Jeddah) and a late night (wee hours of the morning) feast with gracious woman from the KAU faculty (belly dancing optional).

While my workshop changed overnight from a technology infused experience for a handful of teachers to an interactive demonstration for 80 K12 and university educators (huge interest in the topic of Teachers as Designer!), I was glad I had adopted a "go-with-the-flow" attitude even before I left and came prepared with "give-aways."  So many surprises!  These are my impressions and only my impressions that stem from a life in the West, a life of opportunity, and a life of many freedoms.

I did not expect a high level of interactivity from the crowd.  I did not expect that the notion of authentic problem would be so widely embraced.  One of the professors from the women's medical college vowed to try to change curriculum to be more authentic.  A High School physics teacher beamed as she mentioned  she had always asked her students to use their knowledge to build roller coaster, but she had no idea that this teaching strategy supported by a body of literature.  I did not expect to hear a male voice boom, "Dropbox!" over the PA system in the auditorium when I asked for examples of technology that afforded speaking, listening, reading, and writing learning goals. Men were separated from the women and only appeared to us via a large screen when they presented. They were relegated to appear as a potted plant during the women's presentations.  I had completely forgotten that men might have been "attending" my workshop, er...demonstration. When I asked for clarification as to how Dropbox afforded speaking, listening, reading, and writing, this voice disappeared so I continued my intimate conversation with this group of 80 enthusiastic female educators.
Needless to say, these educators were very impressive. 

Less impressive however was the final presentation of the conference.  An educator from Finland shared the Finnish education experience.  There is no question that Finland has accomplished great things in their system.  However, upon reading the last slide--paraphrased, "Finland brings their success to Saudi Arabia," I found myself a bit annoyed.  How does tiny Finland see Saudi education conforming to their ways? There is more to this story than I am willing to write about here. It's safe to say that I had to voice the fact that around 145,000 Saudi students study abroad with 80,000 Saudi students in the US, most if not all returning to Saudi with new knowledge to impact their fields including education.  What is important here is that these students also have a deep understanding of how to situate this knowledge in Saudi culture.  Their perspectives need to be valued  and they need opportunities to apply their knowledge.

I reflected on my own workshop and presentation.  Did I leave any impression that there was only the US way to develop teachers as designers?  In my opinion, I don't think so.  I provided a framework tested and improved upon through experience working with my own Saudi graduate students. I wouldn't even say it was my perspective but rather that adopted from other professional fields.  It was an idea at the teacher level where local change (classroom) is possible.  What I did learn was it probably was not a good idea to question the motives of the Finns or the intentions of the KAU faculty to gather International Perspectives.