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An increasing number of Egyptian families are realizing the importance of combining education and entertainment (edutainment). They noted how this kind of learning has sparked their children's minds, and inspired them unlike the current education system of just memorizing information. The new wave could change a child' attitude towards getting knowledge, especially with some difficult subjects like science and math.
As the pressure mounts in the current education climate to succeed, parents might find themselves doing their children more harm than good.
"Some mothers threaten their children by telling them that they will not attend the Fun Science activities if they are disobedient" commented Iman Fikry, who works on her own project for teaching science through edutainment.
For many generations in Egypt the real nub with the majority of children was giving them an order to study any educational material. The happiest times were always far from education. Today the Egyptian educational landscape is changing through the concept of edutainment, making education an enjoyable activity.
For example, in December, 2008, a famous oil company (Schlumberger) included 2 sections of edutainment in its Fun Day program for its staff and their families. The Fun Day was held in a touristic village close to the historical area of Saqqara Pyramids. This event included football matches, doggy shows, donkey rides, and other activities. However many children put aside those fun activities for a science activity in a closed room.
Innovative Teaching
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Regular education in Egypt is notorious for rote learning of lots of information. Edutainment offers an alternative that is more beneficial all round.
"I think that using entertainment in teaching is very helpful, it helps kids to be innovative rather than to just memorize" Iman Fikry said.
Iman continued:
"When I was young at school, they gave us crossword games from an English textbook - I used to play with them all the time. Like all the other students my favorite class was in the laboratory. When I became a teacher, I did not want to be a regular teacher that is why I ran my program (Fun Science) for teaching science through activities".
She added:
ý"I do believe, if you want to teach your kids something get them involved . And When ýthe information is stored in the kids' minds in a happy frame of mind they are ýmore likely recall that information in the same way by which they have learnt it. ýhappily with the imagination that allows them to innovate, and make smart ýoutputs for a smarter future". ý
"This innovative method of teaching is almost exclusive to high and middle class ýfamilies. The middle and upper class families in Egypt have realized the benefit of ýteaching their kids in an entertaining way. Now they help their kids participate in lots of ýlearning activity programs. This provides very good assets to the development of ýtheir personalities " Iman noted. ý
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She gave some examples of such activities:
Math: Kids are taught to make very complicated calculations without a calculator within an incredibly short period of time.
Science: Kids carry out many scientific experiments to explore the facts of the amazing world around them
Art: They are taught new arts, like the Japanese art of folding paper making amazing designs, drawing with sand in addition to the kind of drawing used in science. They use different materials to express their thoughts and dreams.
Manners: Even good manners are taught now using drama and role play.
Drama: Kids are taught the basics of drama starting from making puppets up to adding sound effects
Languages: This is taught through edutainment using role play, crosswords ….etc.
Play and Learn
Many kids expressed that the main factor that makes them love edutainment is that they are involved in the learning process.
AyatuAllah Mousa (grade 5) said:
"We play and learn"
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Mousa described how they built a model of the life-building block, the cell. He could remember the details after only making it once, because every part of the cell was represented by something familiar to them like gel for cytoplasm, clay for the nucleus, beans for mitochondria, and lentils for ribosomes. In this way they got to know the cell organelles.
Karim Ahmed (grade 6) said:
"I get very excited, and it whets my curiosity and inquiry into how things work. I Also feel very self confident when I do a 'real scientific experiment' with my own hands".
Enas (grade 6) said:
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"The teacher teaches us very well. She lets us act as the parts of the cell -- every one of us has a role: one represented the nucleus and give orders to others - one was the mitochondria who gives power, one was the ribosome who builds proteins , and the teacher herself was the lysosome which is responsible for garbage collecting ".
She stressed:
"When some one enacts a role or makes something with their own hands, they will never forget it".
Sherif Sediq (grade 4):
"Here we can share, but in the normal classes, we just sit at our desks and listen to the teacher".
Ahmed Wa'el (grade 6): "
We had carried out many experiments, answered many questions, and made many things; that is exactly what makes us love this" kind of learning.
The Role of Mothers
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Some Egyptian women could realize the importance of edutainment even before they knew that idiom.
"I have always tried to play with my kids at home using educational games" Azza said.
She added:
"My two elder sons are now over twenty years old, and they still remember the games we used to play when they were very young. I remember I used to hide objects in my bedroom and draw a map, which they had to follow to find these objects. They learned new skills while having fun, and competed with each other at the same time".
Azza is very interested in teaching her 8 years old Ismael sciences through edutainment.
"We can never know what kind of jobs will be available for them in twenty years' time. We need to make sure they acquire special skills that can help them grasp new information, analyze it and make good use of it" she explained.
Jihan said:
"As a parent I found edutainment very useful for my children as it helps them to use all their five senses while learning any new educational aspect, which will never be forgotten throughout their lives".
" I think it's very important for my child to see the application of what he is learning in science and math right in front of his eyes in a joyful and interesting way" Jihan said.
Preschool Preparation
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An Islamic nursery could also realize the importance of learning through edutainment.
" I think using edutainment in teaching has become essential need for today's generation " 'Amal Azmy the manager of the nursery said.
She continued:
"Children mature earlier, and are more knowledgeable than the previous generations due to many reasons such as: the new technology that most of the kids are using, and the rapid rhythm of life. So using the old traditional way of teaching will seem quite boring to them".
"But I do not think edutainment can be a complete alternative, but we have to use both systems with a percentage of 20 for the old method, and 80 for the new method" 'Amal believes.
'Amal continued:
"Unfortunately we have few qualified teachers. moreover, we have a very limited number of organizations that are working towards training the teachers using the new methodology and to certify them as being (qualified teachers)".
This is probably where the role of parents as teachers is all so important no less today than it was in the past!
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