Curtin Malaysia empowers teachers at Riam Hill with Reflective Teaching Pedagogies Workshop

Miri, Sarawak – 2 September 2024 – Teachers at Riam Hill International Secondary School recently embraced new horizons in teaching excellence, thanks to a transformative ‘Reflective Teaching Pedagogies Workshop’ led by lecturers from Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia).

Dr. Tanusree Chakravarty Mukherjee and Khin Than Myint from Curtin Malaysia’s Faculty of Business, both Fellows of the Advanced Higher Education Academy, UK (Advance HE), designed the workshop to advance professional growth while introducing cutting-edge teaching strategies. The initiative reflects Curtin Malaysia’s ongoing commitment to supporting local educators and enhancing the quality of education across the region.

The workshop, praised for its interactive format, blended hands-on exercises, collaborative discussions, and practical case studies. Teachers explored innovative approaches in a simulated classroom setting, guided by Dr. Tanusree and Khin’s expert insights. By focusing on reflective practices, the workshop empowered the teachers to rethink their teaching methods and adapt to the diverse needs of their students.

“Our focus was on integrating reflective practices into everyday teaching,” said Dr. Tanusree. “We introduced digital tools that can enrich the classroom experience and tackled the complexities of managing diverse learning environments. Central to our discussion was Steven Brookfield’s Four Lenses for Critical Reflection, a powerful framework that allows teachers to examine their teaching from multiple perspectives.”

The enthusiasm was evident among participants, who were eager to implement the new strategies. Principal Liong Hong Kit expressed his appreciation, stating, “The workshop delivered invaluable insights into reflective teaching, particularly the application of Brookfield’s Four Lenses for Critical Reflection. We hope to have more opportunities to collaborate with Curtin Malaysia in the future.”

One of the participating teachers shared, “This workshop was truly empowering. It guided us through a comprehensive reflective process, helping us consider not just our teaching but also the perspectives of our students and colleagues. The exposure to the latest academic resources was particularly enlightening.”

The impact of the session has already begun to ripple through the school community, with teachers collaborating on integrating these fresh ideas into their classrooms. The administration is also exploring future collaborations to sustain this momentum and continue enhancing the professional development of its staff.

The success of this workshop underscores Curtin Malaysia’s leadership in driving educational excellence and fostering community engagement, demonstrating once again its role as a key player in advancing education within Malaysia and beyond.

For more information on Curtin Malaysia, visit curtin.edu.my or look for Curtin Malaysia on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn or TikTok.

Liong (front row, second right) presents a souvenir to Khin (second left) and Dr. Tanusree while others look on.