Dean: Dr. Hermelin Fine Ya’ara
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For over 60 years, Oranim’s mission has been to educate and train the country’s finest teachers. The Faculty of Education plays a central role at the college. It prepares students to work as educators in a variety of frameworks, with a range of ages. Classroom observation and practice teaching are pivotal elements in each student’s learning experience at Oranim, from the first through the fourth year. In the fourth year, each student has a teaching apprenticeship with close supervision and ongoing feedback. The Faculty, which includes six teacher education programs (see below), has a national reputation for leadership. It grants B.Ed. degrees in Early Childhood and in Special Education, and B.Ed. and B.A. degrees in Elementary and Secondary School Education. It also provides professional retraining and development, and induction of beginning teachers.
Teacher Education Programs
Early Childhood Education
Chair: Dr. Suskin Gail
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This program has earned a national reputation for its holistic approach to early childhood development and the training of preschool and kindergarten teachers. During four years of study, students learn theoretical studies including pedagogy, education, and developmental psychology, as well as doing extensive practical work in preschools and kindergartens. Graduates are in great demand across the nation.
Elementary School Education
Program Director: Ilanit Dror
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This program educates future elementary school teachers, providing them with a range of educational approaches and teaching techniques. Courses include psychological and pedagogical theories, didactic seminars, curriculum studies, and art education, along with extensive teaching practice. Students are trained to teach in classrooms that include both special needs and normative children, in accordance with the law passed in 2008, requiring classroom integration of normative and challenged children.
Secondary School Education
Program Director: Dr. Rania Hussein Farraj
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This program provides future secondary school teachers with a variety of essential tools. Courses include didactic studies, pedagogy, curriculum design, psychology, education in theory and practice, and evaluation skills. Students gain a deep understanding of adolescence from social, psychological, and personal perspectives, with attention given to attitudes regarding adolescence among different cultural groups in Israel. Each student majors in a discipline in the humanities, social sciences, or science, thus gaining extensive, broad knowledge. In addition, there are courses that prepare students to work with youth at risk, in both classroom and after-school settings.
Special Education
Department Chair and Program Director: Dr. Fine Ya’ara
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This program is known for its leadership in the field of special education, for its outstanding work equipping students with extensive knowledge in diagnosis and therapy. Students learn respect and compassion for children with special needs, and are taught to use a creative, flexible approach in their teaching. As teachers, they work with a range of ages and in many frameworks, from preschool through secondary school, and are highly sought after for their excellent skills and intensive training. Since there is a demand for teachers who are native speakers of Arabic who are able to diagnose and teach children with learning disabilities, the college developed a parallel track that trains Arabic speaking students for work with children with special needs.
Beginning Teachers (BTs)
Program Director: Dr. Zorde Osnat
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Extensive research shows the frustrations and challenges faced by novice teachers during their first year of teaching. This program provides ongoing support to our graduates during their first year of teaching in the field. In addition to being guided by a school mentor, each student attends a weekly group workshop, required for receiving the teaching certificate. Workshops are led by expert, experienced teachers who create a supportive environment that enables novice teachers to deal with challenges they are currently facing, such as classroom management, behavioral issues, interfacing with parents, and feeling accepted by and part of the teaching staff. Workshop leaders provide feedback and support and also receive supervision, according to the standards of professionals in counseling fields.
Department of Education
Chair: ariel appel
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The goal of the Department of Education is to broaden and deepen students’ expertise in education. Department studies provide a theoretical and practical basis for a wide variety of educational topics. Studies in the department create the foundation for students to serve as leaders of change in Israel’s schools.
Department of Mathematical Education
Chair: Dr. Segal Ruti
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The purpose of teaching mathematics at Oranim College is to train high quality teachers for elementary schools. In recent years, much attention has been paid to mathematics –how children learn and how teachers teach the subject. Children receive the basis for their mathematical knowledge in elementary school. Good teachers are essential for students to receive a solid foundation.
Department of Natural Science and Environmental Education
Chair: Dr. Mualem Raed
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This department trains future educators for teaching science and sustainability in kindergartens and elementary schools. The program includes learning the basic concepts in natural science. The program emphasizes and encourages personal involvement and responsibility for the environment.