Lesson 01: INTRODUCTION TO FOUNDATIONS OF EDUCATION: short questions
Define ‘ideology’ as used in an educational context. Ideology is the common understanding and beliefs accepted by a group of people to live their lives, shaping their worldview and actions.
What is the Islamic perspective on education? It is a continuous process that nurtures human intellectual, behavioural, spiritual, and physical potentials in an integrated manner to produce righteous individuals for goodness in this world and the hereafter.
According to ‘Abd Halim Hj. Mat Diah’, what is Islamic education? Islamic education is a process for all under the purposeful guidance of educators who shape Muslims based on Islamic teachings.
List three aims of educating people from an Islamic perspective. To inculcate noble character; to educate the soul to be refined and perfect; to teach students to do good, respectful, and noble deeds.
Name the seven areas of Islamic Education. Character Building, Physical Education, Mental Education, Life Education, Social Education, Sex Education, and Muslim Faith Education.
Identify two great works of the Islamic philosopher Ibnu Rushd. Kulliyah fit-tibb (16 volumes in general medicine) and Foundations of Philosophy (Malbadil Falsafah).
Name two great works of the Islamic philosopher Al-Ghazali. Ihya al-Ulum al-Din (a broad field of Islamic Science, Jurisprudence, Logic, Sufism).
What was Ibn Khaldun’s major contribution? Major contribution was in the History of Philosophy and Sociology.
Explain the purpose of ‘Mental Education’ in the Islamic framework. Mental education develops the mind through creative, analytical, and critical thinking, enabling individuals to solve problems, make decisions, and share ideas, making learning meaningful and fruitful.
How does ‘Social Education’ prepare individuals for today’s world? It teaches cooperation, sharing, tolerance, and interpersonal skills, which are crucial for interacting within one’s own culture and others in an increasingly interconnected global village.
Differentiate between ‘Life Education’ and formal classroom education. Life Education happens informally outside the school through everyday experiences and gatherings, whereas formal education is confined to the artificial setting of a classroom.
Explain the significance of ‘Hikmah’ in relation to knowledge. Hikmah is the wisdom gifted by Allah that shows how to properly use knowledge, moving beyond merely possessing information to applying it judiciously.
Summarize the role of ‘Sex Education’ as described in the Islamic framework. It educates individuals on appropriate behavior and interaction with members of the opposite gender in mixed gatherings, not in the context of love and romance.
Explain why ‘Character Building’ is considered critical in Islamic education. It teaches values and morals for leading a good life and treating oneself and others well, which is foundational for becoming a better individual and citizen.
How does the concept of ‘Physical Education’ extend beyond just health? It aims to create active, constructive contributors to society and teaches sharing and cooperation through team-based sports and activities.
Contrast the focus of Ibnu Rushd and Al-Ghazali based on their noted works. Ibnu Rushd contributed significantly to philosophy, medicine, and Islamic legislation, while Al-Ghazali produced extensive works in theology, philosophy, science, and Sufism, focusing on spiritual and religious sciences.
Why is ‘Muslim Faith Education’ considered essential? It ensures people understand and practice their religion by teaching the Quran, Hadiths, and the dealings of the Caliphs and philosophers, thereby preserving and transmitting Islamic teachings.
Using the aims of Islamic education, propose one activity that would help ‘inculcate cleanliness and purity’ in students. Organizing a weekly school-wide cleanliness drive where students are responsible for tidying their classrooms and common areas, linking the activity to Islamic teachings on purity.
Based on the area of ‘Physical Education’, how would you design a lesson that also teaches cooperation? Design a physical education class around a team sport like soccer or a collaborative relay race, debriefing afterwards on how teamwork and sharing were essential for success.
A teacher wants to foster ‘Mental Education’. Suggest a classroom activity that encourages ‘thinking outside the box’. Present students with an open-ended, real-world problem (e.g., reducing plastic waste in school) and have them brainstorm and propose innovative, creative solutions in small groups.
Given the importance of ‘Life Education’, how could a parent utilize a visit to a local market as an educational experience? The parent could engage the child in comparing prices, understanding weights and measures, interacting politely with vendors, and observing different occupations, discussing these observations afterwards.
Apply the concept of ‘Social Education’ to address a scenario of conflict between two students in a playground. Facilitate a mediation session where each student practices active listening, expresses their feelings using “I” statements, and works cooperatively to find a mutually agreeable solution.
Imagine you are teaching about Islamic philosophers. How would you illustrate Al-Farabi’s contribution to a student? I would explain that Al-Farabi contributed to philosophy and logic, and show his book “Kitab al-ihsa al ulum” as an example of his work in classifying and explaining the principles of basic sciences.
Based on the definition of Islamic education, how should a school evaluate if it is fulfilling its purpose? The school should assess not just academic scores but also the development of students’ character, spirituality, physical well-being, and their engagement in righteous deeds and community service.
A student questions the relevance of learning about historical Islamic philosophers. Construct a response linking it to ‘Comprehensive Education’. Explain that understanding philosophers like Ibn Khaldun helps us understand Allah’s world (supporting studies like history and sociology), which is necessary to live in and manage the world wisely according to Allah’s word, aiming to become true Khalifah.
