I am now trying to organize materials on a new, (currently undeveloped) website: Islamic Education.
BENEFITS OF STUDYING THIA FIRST UNIT:( Developing an Islamic WorldView.)The first unit would be of general interest to all students and teachers. It explains how the Western education that we have received brainwashes us into believing ideas in conflict with fundamentals of Islam. These ideas are very harmful for our personal development. Studying this unit should enable you to break out of the chains placed on our thinking by centuries of colonization, labels like "under-developed" which create a sense of inferiority, and the idea that we are human resources, commodities for sale on the labor market
Unit 1 -- Developing an Islamic WorldView
Before we develop an Islamic approach to education, we must understand why this is necessary. The current Western approach is built on certain foundational assumptions - called a WorldView -- which are dramatically in conflict with teachings of Islam. When we receive a Western education, we automatically absorb this worldview, which damages and weakens our faith in Islamic teachings. Also, absorbing the Western worldview blocks us from understanding and implementing Islamic teachings in our lives in general, and in the process of education in particular. The first set of lessons is designed to create some understanding of this problem, and point the way to possible solutions.
Each Lesson consists of a post, usually on the Islamic WorldView Blog. Students are required to READ the post ONLY -- They do NOT need to watch any embedded videos, NOR to follow any of the links that posts contain. If the video or link is part of required materials, than it will be mentioned separately. After completing the lessons, at your own pace, you will be asked to complete a quiz. This is for your self-assessment, and the grades will not be monitored, although some comments and feedback will be utilized for making improvements in the course materials. Once you feel satisfied with your own understanding, you can proceed to the next unit. Instruction on how to do so will be given at the end of the quiz on the unit. There are three levels of assignments - Required, Recommended, and Optional. The minimal level of doing on the Required readings would be sufficient for progress to the next unit, and busy people may do only this much. Those who have the time should also do the recommended lessons. The optional lessons are for those who have a special interest in the topic being covered, to explore it in greater depth.
REQUIRED READINGS FOR UNIT 1: Developing an Islamic WorldView
Conflicting WorldViews: Western and Islamic This post lays out the problem created by imitating standard Western approach to education. This approach is built upon a worldview which is in conflict with Islamic teachings. This worldview is automatically absorbed by Muslim students, creating great difficulties for them in understanding the teachings of Islam. Feedback/Quiz: IWV vs WWV
What the World Lost Due to Decline of Islamic Civilization. This lays out the foundations Islamic WorldView, which is diametrically in conflict with the IWV. According to IWV, the rise of the West is actually the decline of civilization, and not progress.
An Islamic WorldView: Central to an Islamic Education: The 2300 word post explains the necessity of constructing an Islamic WorldView, in order to be able to create an Islamic approach to education. RECOMMENDED VIDEO: Islamic WorldView: (ENGLISH Version - 33m) OR Islamic WorldView (urdu 37m)
The Underground Railroad: Path to Liberation - This explains three major historical events which shape our minds into believing that our lives are cheap, and that we are inferior human beings. Awareness of this history leads to the possibility of liberation. RECOMMENDED VIDEO: Underground Railroad (English 21m)
Value of Human Lives: The revolutionary recipe at the heart of an Islamic education: teach the students that they have unlimited potential.
How to Inspire and Motivate Students: This explains some essential aspects of what we need to do, in order to develop an Islamic approach. Interestingly, this article was requested for posting by Stuart Birks, editor of WEA Commentaries, showing the universal appeal of Islamic values. RECOMMENDED. Watch one hour URDU video embedded in the post: How to Inspire and Motivate Students Requests for translations may be put in comments on post. Also - users are encouraged to create English subtitles on YouTube. This can be done by anyone, for any short segment of the video.
Read the full paper: An Islamic Worldview: A Central Component of an Islamic Education.
FINAL FEEDBACK FORM: Google Docs has a shared document which everyone can edit: "Islamic Worldview". Students have TWO assignments. One is to go over this document and make comments, ask questions, edit it to make it clearer, simpler, or summarize long and complex passages. The goal is - like Wikipedia - to make the document simpler, easier understand, more relevant, and so on. You can edit or add comments or questions at any place in the document. Two The SECOND assignment is to write ONE paragraph of RESPONSE -- at the END of the document - start by writing RESPONSE by {{Your Name}} on a separate line. Then write one paragraph of your personal reactions - what you liked, what you didnt, the most important thing that you learned, or something which you found confusing.
Once you have completed this task, then your UNIT 1: An Islamic World View is finished, and you can go on to the UNIT 2: Islamic Education.
Those who would like to participate in Group Discussions of the material being covered can do so in several different ways - either by commenting on the post, I will try to reply there. Or by joining the Ghazali Group, which will be discussing these posts. Also, you can join a WhatsApp group for the course, by following the join link: https://chat.whatsapp.com/H59DA2H5gsx5hhEI0ykaZm
Note to myself: Recording of Breaking the Chains of Colonial Thought has two overlaid sound tracks, making it difficult/impossible to understand - this should be re-recorded properly. This is relevant to material covered in this module.