English Version - ALHOSN University

Issue 9 | December 2010
Master of Education Seminar Series
The M Ed Seminar Series made a vigorous start
this year with presentations by two eminent
specialists in the fields of special education
and applied linguistics.
The first presentation was by Dr Lilly Tennant,
Associate Professor at the Emirates College
for Advanced Education in Abu Dhabi. Titled
“Learners with Learning Disabilities in Inclusive
Classrooms” the presentation aimed to provide
an introduction to the field of special education to
students and faculty with limited knowledge about
the field. The presenter discussed different types
of learning disabilities, causes, characteristics of
learners with learning disabilities and, importantly,
implications for learning, learners and educators.
The presentation concluded with an in-depth look
at accommodations that could be considered for
students with learning disabilities and specific issues
relevant to inclusive classrooms.
The second presentation in the series was entitled
“Many Lessons from a school: What Classroom
Discourse Analysis Reveals” and was delivered
by Professor Jane Zuengler of the University of
Wisconsin-Madison. The data came from the project
“The Socialization of Diverse Learners into Subject
Matter Discourse,” which was funded by the U.S.
Department of Education’s Office of Educational
Research and Improvement.
In her talk, Professor Zuengler, co-editor of the
journal Applied Linguistics, focused on what she and
her colleagues have learned about discourse in the
multiple classrooms they observed in a several-year
research study at Jefferson High School. While the
school had a student body that was linguistically
and culturally diverse, it was more homogeneous
socioeconomically, being labeled “low income.”
Some of the research addressed reveals how the
classroom discourse was both co-constructed and
influenced by these phenomena. The survey of the
research generated by the study also emphasized
how theoretical frameworks shape the research
process and ultimately, what we learn about
classroom discourse. ■
Academic News
Urban Planning Department hosts forum on urban
planning practice & education in the UAE
AHU hosted its first annual Urban Planning Day
on December 15, 2010 at its Male Campus to
discuss vital issues regarding urban planning
practice and education throughout the UAE. The
event marked the 5th anniversary of the university
and its Bachelor of Urban Planning program.
Organized by ALHOSN’s Department of Urban
Planning under the title ‘Planning UAE: A Dialogue
on Context and Collaboration,’ the inaugural forum
addressed two important themes: ‘Developing a
Collaborative Agenda for Planning Practice and
Education’ and ‘Contextualizing Planning Education.’
Ms Michelle Stephens, Senior Urban Planner at UPC,
delivered the keynote speech. Other prominent
speakers from top organizations such as Abu Dhabi
Municipality, KEO International Consultants, and
OTAK, as well as universities including the American
University at Sharjah, Paris-Sorbonne University in
Abu Dhabi, Zayed University and UAE University
also contributed their opinions and expertise. Local
consultant, Mr Riyad Albuhlaiga, also delivered a talk
linking the two themes of the event. Key industry
representatives showcased recent urban planning
projects.
“The UAE intends to be a regional and global
leader in building future cities that fuel economic
growth while also preserving the environment
and providing an excellent quality of life for its
residents. Abu Dhabi in particular has expressed
its full commitment to responsible urban planning►
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