Walking in Their Footsteps in Ashdod

Previous issues

INITIATIVES
Academic Commandos

RESEARCH
Open Research Day
Dealing With Stress, the Natural Way
Setting the Computer's Sights
Democracy is Not the Key to Peace in the Middle East
Islam and Christianity
Punctuating Mozart
Reshaping Distance Education

TECHNOLOGY
E-reader
Hybrid Books

GRADUATES
Prof. Gidi Gross: Cancer Researcher
Israel Adam: From Slum Alcoholic to Honors Student and a Master's Degree
All Doors Opened to Elishai Ezra
The Open University as His Greatest Challenge in Life: Sharli Afanger

STUDENTS
Walking in Their Footsteps in Ashdod
University Student Since 8th Grade

MILESTONES
Prof. Hagit Messer-Yaron
Prof. Ron Weidberg
Dr. Yuval Eylon
Dr. Adia Mendelsohn-Maoz
Prof. Aviva Halamish
Dr. Ophir Munz-Manor
Dr. Baruch Ziv
Dr. Milly Perry
Dr. Yoav Yair
SuperBrand University

EVENTS
Dance with Your Fears
Heavens Above

STUDENTS
Walking in Their Footsteps in Ashdod ...continued from previous page. Peer Teaching The Ashdod Department of Education is also subsidizing this latest initiative. Batya Cohen, Director of the Open University's Learning Center in Ashdod, calls this newest initiative: "Peer Tutors Assist High School Students at the Open University." The special tutors are Lalouche and Sanchiko, who themselves just graduated from high school. The Ashdod municipality is funding Lalouche for tutoring "Introduction to Computer Sciences (Java language)" and Sanchiko for tutoring the "Micro-economics" course. They assist only those students who request help. Peer Models of Success When reflecting on the past few years, Lalouche and Sanchiko felt that the biggest advantage of the Open University was that you get to learn at your own pace. Their pace was pretty intense. Because they had both decided to begin their military service after earning their undergraduate degree, they even continued studying during the summer vacations. The IDF was the first to suggest that these young men defer their military service until they complete their undergraduate degrees. When Cohen suggested that they become tutors for the new program, they happily agreed. Cohen says "we explained to the students that this tutoring help was available to them – to be given by students, who had already successfully completed the dual high-school and university tracks." Profession-Focused "How did these students accept you? Did they mind working with 'teachers' who are more or less the same age? Lalouche, "I think the students thought it was kind of nice. They felt that we were their equals, and that made it easier for them. The relationships were not teacher-student, but rather more personal. We even exchanged messages on Facebook." Sanchiko: "Because we went through the same thing, we know exactly how they are feeling and what they are going through, and that in and of itself helps them." Ido Atali, a 10th grade student, jumped on the opportunity to study at the Open University. Ido first registered for a computer science course (Java) and Lalouche was his tutor. "The material wasn't that difficult" Ido reports, "but since the help was available, why not take advantage of it." Ido just registered for a "Digital Systems" course. Was this course difficult for you, we asked Lalouche. "Very much so, but Ido will succeed." Ido will continue his studies next year at the Open University, because like Lalouche and Sanchiko, he wants to start his army service with an undergraduate degree under his belt. Sanchiko comments, "At this age, one should already have goals, and not waste any time. You should really just focus on taking those courses that advance you towards your profession." Page: 1 2

STUDENTS

Walking in Their Footsteps in Ashdod

...continued from previous page.

Peer Teaching

The Ashdod Department of Education is also subsidizing this latest initiative. Batya Cohen, Director of the Open University's Learning Center in Ashdod, calls this newest initiative: "Peer Tutors Assist High School Students at the Open University." The special tutors are Lalouche and Sanchiko, who themselves just graduated from high school. The Ashdod municipality is funding Lalouche for tutoring "Introduction to Computer Sciences (Java language)" and Sanchiko for tutoring the "Micro-economics" course. They assist only those students who request help.

Peer Models of Success

When reflecting on the past few years, Lalouche and Sanchiko felt that the biggest advantage of the Open University was that you get to learn at your own pace. Their pace was pretty intense. Because they had both decided to begin their military service after earning their undergraduate degree, they even continued studying during the summer vacations.

The IDF was the first to suggest that these young men defer their military service until they complete their undergraduate degrees. When Cohen suggested that they become tutors for the new program, they happily agreed.

Cohen says "we explained to the students that this tutoring help was available to them – to be given by students, who had already successfully completed the dual high-school and university tracks."

Profession-Focused

"How did these students accept you? Did they mind working with 'teachers' who are more or less the same age?

Lalouche, "I think the students thought it was kind of nice. They felt that we were their equals, and that made it easier for them. The relationships were not teacher-student, but rather more personal. We even exchanged messages on Facebook."

Sanchiko: "Because we went through the same thing, we know exactly how they are feeling and what they are going through, and that in and of itself helps them."

Ido Atali, a 10th grade student, jumped on the opportunity to study at the Open University. Ido first registered for a computer science course (Java) and Lalouche was his tutor. "The material wasn't that difficult" Ido reports, "but since the help was available, why not take advantage of it."

Ido just registered for a "Digital Systems" course. Was this course difficult for you, we asked Lalouche. "Very much so, but Ido will succeed." Ido will continue his studies next year at the Open University, because like Lalouche and Sanchiko, he wants to start his army service with an undergraduate degree under his belt.

Sanchiko comments, "At this age, one should already have goals, and not waste any time. You should really just focus on taking those courses that advance you towards your profession."

Page: 1 2