Al-Bairaq
AL-Bairaq (Arabic: البيرق[1]) is an outreach program targeting high school students. The idea behind AL-Bairaq is to offer the high school students the opportunity to connect with the research environment in the Center for Advanced Materials (CAM) at Qatar University, located in Doha, Qatar.[2] AL-Bairaq is a young youth development. It does so by engaging the high school students in scientific activities which enhances their skills, motivation, and interest and guide them in their future career. AL-Bairaq learning system adopts curriculum integration. Where it is modules cover a blend of academic disciplines including, in addition to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM fields), In addition to language and beauty of science.[3]
What is special in AL-Bairaq project is that it links between learning and fun, which motivate youth to join it. It doesn’t depend on the ready prepared lessons but make the students to be partners in the learning process. AL-Bairaq also, gives the students the freedom for discovering their abilities and skills. AL-Bairaq engages students and increases motivation with project-based learning, encourages students to solve authentic problems, and inquires them to work with each other as a team to build real solutions. AL-Bairaq is cultural achievements that reflect student’s humanity, power the economy for our country. In addition, AL-Bairaq provides interactive, and very appealing approaches, utilizing social media means such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, to unlock young people potential to communicate their ideas, and to display their resulting products.[4][5][6] [7][8][9]
AL-Bairaq is a non-profit educational project; any student at Qatari secondary school (independent & international), regardless of gender, nationality, socio-economic status, or special needs is eligible to participate. Faculty members train and mentor the students and help develop and enhance their critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork skills. Students, in teams, formulate their own research questions related to materials science; build a research plan; investigate, using state-of-the-art technology and scientific instrumentation; and report findings in a public forum, evaluated by representatives from business and industry.[10][11][12][13][14][15]
AL-Bairaq sponsors are UNESCO, RasGas, Maersk Oil, Shell and Qatar Petroleum
AL-Bairaq includes four tracks;I am a Researcher, I am Discovering Materials, Science in Sport, and Solving Problems.
Name
Is a large flag carried by soldier in the war; the flag-bearer called Al-bairaq. AL-Bairaq is a symbol of courage, defiance and victory. Therefore it is always holds by the brave soldiers when they defending one's homeland. Students are considered the soldiers of the project who carry the flag of science.[16]
I am a Researcher
It is designed to stimulate students' curiosity about science through experimenting with different materials in laboratory setting under professional supervision and guidance. “I am a researcher “offers high school students in Qatar a unique opportunity to get involved in real research conducted at the Center for Advanced Materials (CAM) and other departments in Qatar University. It is an opportunity to work with the university professors and professional researchers in portions of their current research so that students would be able to manage their own hands-on-research projects. [17][18][19][20][21]
Final Event & Competitions
In “I am a Researcher” tracks, students demonstrate their understanding of the scientific concepts as well as their ideas and thoughts via PowerPoint and other presentation tools. They present in a public forum and their learning and work are evaluated by a jury from business and industrial organizations. In addition to research activities, and as complement to them, “I am a Researcher” track include many science and art competitions where participants in their groups will be candidates for winning one of our multiple and various prizes. Winners will be selected, based on pre-defined criteria, by a panel of experts formed from our sponsor companies in addition to major business and industrial organizations in Qatar. Competitions include:
Best Presentation: 3 winning groups
The best documentary film of the students' experience: one winning group
The Art in Science competitions (The best photo prize): one winning group
The best students’ group diary on social media prizes:
A. Most active group on Twitter and Facebook.
B. Most popular group: is on Twitter and Facebook.
I am Discovering Materials
"I am Discovering Materials" is one of the most important tracks in AL-Bairaq project. It aims to introduce the students to variety of topics in materials science in an exciting way. These modules are all built around a common structure, where four or more related activities introduce an important topic in contemporary materials science. Through these activities, students learn about the topic by investigating key features of the materials that are the focus of the module. Then students use what they have learnt from the activities to participate in a design project. This project aims to inspire students to design, test, and build their own product that uses the materials which are the focus of the module.[22][23] One example of students' projects is carbon dioxide into methanol conversion.
Generally, “I am Discovering Materials” track gives the students an opportunity to understand the world around them in a way they have never experienced before. With their participation, students are encouraged to discover the interconnections between Science, Technology, Engineering, mathematics (STEM fields) and society. In other words, they are encouraged to make a direct connection between what they are learning in class and their everyday lives. Moreover, this track inspires the students’ creativity through the design projects assigned to them.
Final Event & Competitions
In the semi-final and final events students are competing on several prizes and competitions. The competing candidates are evaluated by a selected panel of judges from different companies and institutions. The Judges are from different scientific, business, and industrial organizations. Competitions include:
The best Presentation: Three wining groups (1st, 2nd and 3rd position).
Ras Gas Competition: One wining group.
The best Product: One wining group.
Poster award: One wining group.
Art in Science award: One wining group.
The best Photographic (Instagram): One wining group.
Self-evaluation: One winning group
The best short story: One wining group.
Best Teacher and Best technician prizes: 4 winners
The best students’ group diary on social media prizes:
A. Most active group on Twitter and Facebook.
B. Most popular group on Twitter and Facebook.
Science in Sport
"Science in Sport" is involved in all areas of sport from timing, distance measurement, materials technology, and performance monitoring. The inspiration of science is found in every aspect of sport materials, and the technology is frequently working on better production for sports materials. Bringing the interest of the students in sports through technical aspects of science themes, may include design, materials, mechanics, dynamics, math, and engineering, to create sports Materials using different simple materials.[24][25]
Final Event & Competitions
In the final event, students are competing on several prizes and competitions. The competing candidates are evaluated by a selected panel of judges from different companies and institutions. The participating groups will be competing in many competitions and prizes. These are clarified in the following categories:
Best Presentation: 3 winning groups
The best product: one winning group
Movie award: one winning group
The best photographic: One winning group
Best teacher: Most cooperative teacher
The best students’ group diary on social media prizes:
A. Most active group on Twitter and Facebook.
B. Most popular group on Twitter and Facebook.
Solving Problems
Through which students learn how to solve a problem through being in a simulation of a problem and they have the freedom to solve it under the supervision of AL-Bairaq team.
References
- ^ http://www.almaany.com/home.php?language=arabic&lang_name=%D8%B9%D8%B1%D8%A8%D9%8A&word=%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%B1%D9%82
- ^ "Campus Life Newsletter | QQatar University". Qu.edu.qa. 2011-05-22. Retrieved 2014-06-30.
- ^ http://www.qu.edu.qa/offices/research/CAM/dmsprogram/albiraq_news/alj_nursery_to_researchers_at_qatar_university.pdf
- ^ "Welcome to Al-Bairaq World". Qu.edu.qa. 2014-03-06. Retrieved 2014-06-11.
- ^ "About us". Qu.edu.qa. 2014-03-03. Retrieved 2014-06-11.
- ^ "Supreme Education Council - News Details". Sec.gov.qa. 2013-12-01. Retrieved 2014-06-11.
- ^ Source: UNESCO Office in Doha (2012-02-20). "UNESCO Doha office collaborates with Materials Technology Unit (MTU) at Qatar University on AL-Bairaq World | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization". Unesco.org. Retrieved 2014-06-11.
- ^ "Noora Al-Thani". WGSI.org. Retrieved 2014-06-11.
- ^ http://www.qu.edu.qa/offices/research/CAM/dmsprogram/albiraq_news/shn_aims_to_simplify_the_concepts_of_scientific_research_for_school_students_qu_launches_project_al_bairaq_for_the_discovery_of_materials_science.pdf
- ^ "Our Vision:". Qu.edu.qa. 2014-03-03. Retrieved 2014-06-11.
- ^ http://www.qu.edu.qa/offices/research/CAM/dmsprogram/albiraq_news/alj_al_biraq_program_video_on_al_jazeera.pdf
- ^ http://www.qu.edu.qa/offices/research/CAM/dmsprogram/albiraq_news/ufuq_qatar_university_launches_project_al_bairaq_to_discover_the_materials_science.pdf
- ^ http://www.qu.edu.qa/offices/research/CAM/dmsprogram/albiraq_news/ufuq_100_students_of_the_secondary_level_participate_in_the_discovery_of_materials_science.pdf
- ^ http://www.qu.edu.qa/offices/research/CAM/dmsprogram/albiraq_news/alanba_qatari_program_for_young_researchers.pdf
- ^ "QU official takes part in Equinox Summit". Moneyhub.net. Retrieved 2014-06-30.
- ^ http://www.almaany.com/home.php?language=arabic&lang_name=%D8%B9%D8%B1%D8%A8%D9%8A&word=%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%B1%D9%82
- ^ "I am a Researcher". Qu.edu.qa. 2014-03-03. Retrieved 2014-06-11.
- ^ "Al Bairaq holds workshop for high school students". The Peninsula Qatar. 2014-05-11. Retrieved 2014-06-11.
- ^ http://www.qu.edu.qa/offices/research/CAM/dmsprogram/albiraq_news/alj_honoring_al_biraq_students.pdf
- ^ "الشرق - انطلاق برنامج "أنا باحث" في جامعة قطر". Al-sharq.com. 2014-02-24. Retrieved 2014-06-30.
- ^ "جريدة الراية - جامعة قطر تكرم الفائزين بالدورة السابعة من "أنا باحث"". Raya.com. Retrieved 2014-06-30.
- ^ "I am discovering Materials". Qu.edu.qa. 2014-03-03. Retrieved 2014-06-11.
- ^ http://www.qu.edu.qa/offices/research/CAM/dmsprogram/albiraq_news/alj_qatari_program_for_young_researchers.pdf
- ^ "Science in Sport Media". Qu.edu.qa. Retrieved 2014-06-11.
- ^ http://www.qu.edu.qa/offices/research/CAM/documents/Alarab.pdf
External links
http://www.rasgas.com/media/press_albairaq.html
http://www.qu.edu.qa/offices/research/CAM/dmsprogram/index.php
http://www.qu.edu.qa/offices/research/CAM/dmsprogram/contact_us.php
http://www.raya.com/news/pages/07f48e8b-40e3-4444-89a8-f0c8ad42fa4f
http://www.al-sharq.com/news/details/186144
http://www.al-watan.com/viewnews.aspx?n=583A4BC4-6AF8-4C4A-A9CC-F0F739B8CDC5&d=20131104
http://www.raya.com/news/pages/286feca7-eb4e-41e6-be24-f6f133d8929a
http://www.raya.com/news/pages/60874c5e-ace7-4cc2-ace9-51e17f6fb550
http://news.arabyonline.com/article/119259.html
http://www.qu.edu.qa/newsletters/campustoday/article.php?id=3442
http://xn--mgbeh7c1c.xn--wgbl6a/ar/offices/er/media/view_release.php?id=1082
http://www.qu.edu.qa/newsletters/campustoday/article.php?id=3787