In 2018-2019 academic year, the Advancing Education in Muslim Societies (AEMS) initiative of IIIT launched its new teacher training program designed as a three-part course in winter, spring, and summer. The course translated the social and emotional learning (SEL) aspects and values to practical levels in ways that empowered teachers working with Muslim learners to include SEL in their classrooms. Teachers and school personnel explored processes underlying SEL in k-12 school settings and designed multilevel and evidence-based instructional plans. Topics included ways to infuse empathy, community mindedness, resilience and forgiveness (all are also research constructs) across the curriculum.
During the year-long program teachers transferred their intuitive and empathetic behaviors into more intentional implementation of needed 21st Century instructional practices using the value based approach to education and human development. The purpose was to promote students’ critical thinking, problem-solving, self-direction, collaboration, and communication.