One Week in India

Dear All,
We will be in Lucknow, India between 1-7 December 2009. We will represent our country with two papers at the 12th International Convention on Students' Quality Control Circles, held in City Montessori School and Degree College. One paper belongs to me and will be presented as one of the keynotes. The other one will be presented by my teacher colleagues from Sivas Girls' Vocational School. They had been awarded as the best ICT Seagull project leaders among the High Schools last year. Ms. Nejla and Mr. Cumhur (as are seen in the photo) will share their project journey with the participants. Three International teams from India will also be awarded during the Convention. They are: Little Angels High School and CMs with two projects. We hope to share our experiences with you when we come back.
Lots of love,

Hayal Köksal

Teachers' Day Celebrations

Dear Colleagues,

Türkiye celebrated "Teachers' Day" on 24th November. We were at Yeditepe University for the Panel discussion on new projects for the improvement of the educational system. Prof. Dr. ayşe Akyel was the chairperson. Prof.Dr. Adil Türkoğlu from Adnan Menderes University and Mrs. Aydan Özkan from the Mathematics Department of Yeditepe University were the panelists like me. I talked about the wonderful schools of Enlightenment Period: "Village Instutions" and my Project concerning the training of future teachers.

In the afternoon, we were at the Ceremony of Boğaziçi university. The first Dean of the Faculty of Education_Prof.Dr.Hikmet Sebüktekin_ honoured us with his existence and he presented the award given on behalf of his name by the Students Alumni Union of the University. The presentation of Prof.Dr.Güzver Yıldıran was very informative and it was clearly seen that she had conducted an excellent study on the history and figures of the Faculty of Education.

Tomorrow is the Feast of Sacrifice. I wish a lovely "Kurban Bayramı" to all.

Lots of love,

Hayal Köksal

The Star of ICT: "SEAGULLS"

Dear All,
The web page of ICT Seagulls was awarded as the third best "e-education" web page at the "1st National ICT Stars Competition". The Award ceremony was held at Rixos Hotel in Ankara. Among the web pages of the Ministries of Health and Justice, our web page got the 3rd Award.

We are grateful to our IT Director, Mr. Mehmet Gül and to those who supported us during the jury judging and public voting. You can get more information from the following address: http://www.bilisimyildizlari.com/ . As you know, our ICT Seagulls Project is going to start its 7th year with the main issue: ART.

The pebble+sand Seagull art behind the Award was done by our daughter, Evrim Köksal Arkut.

Love,

Hayal Köksal
http://www.bilisimcimartilar.com/

INVITATION for ICT SEAGULLS PROJECT

YOU ARE INVITED to the 7th YEAR of ICT SEAGULLS PROJECT WHICH FOCUSES on “ART & TQPs” in 2010...

The "International KALBE-MER ICT Seagulls Project" is going to start its 7th year with the emphasis on "ART". According to the quality-based philosophy of the Project, every team, finalizing all the steps properly, is a “winner”. One of our targets is keeping web sites and blogs alive even after the announcement of results in addition to following the rules and regulations. So the ex-participants should also go on exhibiting and sharing their projects with the community.
The only theme of this year is; “ART”.

In other words; no other project topic will be included in the studies this year. All the teams will focus on one question, in their own environment which might be their school, their village/town/city or country:

On the way of training qualified citizens, why is ART important and essential? Do we give the necessary importance to ART in our schools or home? What are the main problems of our school (?) concerning the art education? How can we solve them? How can we create awareness of ART-NECESSITY for TQPs among the school partners like teachers, parents and other community members?

We will take PDCA Mindset steps as we used to do. We will implement activities of art and will share everything on our web pages or Blogs.
What kinds of branches are included in “Art”?
* All of the two-dimensional studies like; all kinds of drawings on paper, material or wall, poster, graphics, caricature, photograph, batik, ornamenting, etc.
* Three-dimensional arts like; sculpture, ceramic, relief, etc.
* Landscape architecture for gardens or rooms.
* Literature (Novel, short-story, poetry, essay writing, scenario, film or drama manuscripts, etc.
* Music (All kinds)
* Performance Arts: Ballet, folk dances, dance, etc.
* Dramatic arts: Drama, opera, musical play, puppet show, cinema,
Target Age Groups:
For the year 2010, all the levels of schools starting from Pre School Education College students (including MA or MS levels) will be able to register to “ICT Seagulls Circles”. We also invite “Challenged” teams to participate in. The State and Private schools will be assessed within the same platform.
Registration:
In order to take part in this project, project school leaders and also project leaders must apply personally to be a member school of KALBE-MER (Quality & Peace Education Center of Hayal Köksal). All the steps of the project (starting from the registration to the delivery) are conducted with the collaboration of the Center.
This is a voluntary project. Please do not force your teachers or/and students to take part in it. They must be volunteer. Another prerequisite is the physical conditions of the school. All the circle members including the teacher leaders should be technologically literate and have e-mail accounts.
This project does not provide any financial award, except from a Momentum and a Certificate. Gaining İmece (Collaboration) spirit and learning through the project are considered as the awards of the project.
Project Steps:
School Administration Level:
Project leaders_ leading teacher and the school principal_ apply to Hayal Köksal to show their interest and commitment to the project. The school becomes a member school after making the necessary calls and/or visits.
The school principal, leading teacher(s) and the Coordinator (Dr. Köksal) sign the protocol.
The school administration support and provide the project teams with the necessary permissions, technological equipment and place to conduct the project throughout the academic year.
Project Team level:
1. The ICT Seagulls Project is conducted through the “İmece Circles©/Students’ Quality Circles” system based upon the PDCA Mindset (Plan, Do, Check, Act).
2. Project topic, concerning ART is determined by all circle members including parents.
3. After the determination of the problem area, all the members conduct a deep “Literature Reviewing” through the Internet and the libraries in order to get the necessary info about the problem.
4. The road map of the project is drawn by means of using some quality tools. At this step, getting help and guidance from Dr. Köksal is compulsory. The strategic plan should be approved by her before the project journey starts. If the team starts the project before the approval, it is disqualified. For, that plan is the key factor for a healthy project process.
5. By using quality tools, the main and root causes of the problem are determined by the whole team. Then, tactics and strategies are identified. The questionnaire is prepared. Seminars and activities to solve problems related to “art & art education” are planned.
6. On the way of using necessary data collection tools, pre- and post-tests are applied; before, while and after the implementation. The rate of the success is measured.
7. All the steps and activities are shared with the community by using either a web page or a blog.
Evaluation of the Projects:
2010 ICT Seagulls Projects will be evaluated at three different steps:
1. Preliminary Step: The General coordinating body of the projects (Kalbe-Mer) will approve the projects at the final step just before starting their peer-assessment phase of the circles. The following criteria will be taken into consideration:
a). Obeying time restrictions (managing time).
b). Following the general rules of the project during the project steps.
c). Designing and sharing the outcomes of the project according to the rules.
d). Delivering the Project CD and web page address at a complete and timely manner.
2. Peer-Assessment Step: All the circles from different countries will assess the other projects (excluding theirs). There will be 30 points of 10 criteria and this grade will form the 60% of the whole grading (See the criteria below). Circle members are also expected to correspond with the other circles’ members living at different countries. The circles from the same schools cannot assess their school-mates.
3. Jury Assessment: The jury members will assess all the projects based on the same criteria mentioned above. It will constitute of the 40% of whole assessment. The artistic assessment will be done by the related experts. They will prepare the criteria concerning each area and inform the participants.
Our Judges: are the wellknown experts of academia, IT and Art.
In order to see the sample projects and get more information, please visit: http://www.bilisimcimartilar.com/ (English).
Deadline for 2010 Projects: 31st December 2009
After six precious years, with 210 projects, not only from Turkey but also from India, South Africa and USA; we believe we stand together! Come and join us.

Hayal KÖKSAL

World Quality Day

HAPPY WORLD QUALITY DAY!

What is World Quality Day?
World Quality Day was introduced by the United Nations in 1990 to increase worldwide awareness of the important contribution that quality makes towards a nation's and an organisation's growth and prosperity.
The purpose
The purpose of World Quality Day is to promote awareness of quality around the world and to encourage individuals' and organisations' growth and prosperity.
In a global economy where success depends on quality, innovation and sustainability, World Quality Day is your chance to reinforce these as the foundations of your organisation and focus on the importance of quality.
Why quality?
The term quality is everywhere, in all aspects of life. For organisations, however, deploying quality approaches is a prerequisite for creating a sustainable business.

Source: http://www.thecqi.org/community/World-Quality-Day/Why-quality/

Remembering Ataturk

ATATURK'S PHYSICAL DEATH

Ataturk was the father of Turks and He has had millions of daughters and sons. I believe not only me but also you are one of them. We are not only within Turkey; but every part of the world. Those who believe in; "Peace at home, Peace in the World" are considered as one of his children. That means, as peace-lovers; we do not only have some definite anchestors but many pioneers from different parts like Gandhi, Washingthon, Victoria, etc. We are all one.

I wanted to share an article of a Turkish gentleman about the death of Ataturk. Here it is. Loves and peace...

Hayal Koksal

I am Remembering Ataturk

Every year at 9:05 a.m. on 10th November, the entire country stops to observe the moment of Ataturks's death.
Turkish people pay tribute to the father of their modern republic, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, with nationwide memorial services on November 10th of every year. During the day, which marks the anniversary of Ataturk's death, the entire country stops all activities for two minutes at 9:05 a.m., the moment of his death. This includes all vehicular and pedestrian traffic as well.
The beginning of the silence is announced by blowing sirens, car horns, as well as train, ship and factory whistles. Flags are lowered to half-staff and the national anthem is played at ceremonies at schools, military bases, government offices, and factories. Programs on Ataturk's life and accomplishments are broadcast by the Turkish media all day long.
Ataturk, the founder and first president of the modern Republic of Turkey, was born in 1881 in Salonica, Greece, then a part of the Ottoman Empire. Ataturk was young when his father, Ali Riza, died. His mother, Zubeyde, had to leave Salonica and move to her brother's farm. Instead of school, Ataturk worked on the farm, and his mother worried about his lack of schooling. Eventually he returned to Salonica to attend middle school. He took the military school entrance exam in 1893 without telling his mother.
Once at the military school, Mustafa developed a special interest in mathmatics. He attempted problems well in advance of those taught in class. One day the teacher said to him, "look here. Your name is Mustafa, so is mine. We can't let things go on like this. There must be some distinction between us. I suggest you call yourself Mustafa Kemal from now on." He did; Kemal means "perfection."
Mustafa Kemal entered the military academy in 1899. He graduated from General Staff College as a captain in 1905 and was assigned to the 5th Army Corp in Syria. There he saw the disorganization of the army and civilian administration and realized that something had to be done to save the country. In 1909 when mutiny broke out in Istanbul, Mustafa Kemal was an army officer who helped suppress the reactionaries. That same year, the Italians attacked Libya, then a part of the Ottoman Empire. He began organizing the local people against the invaders.
Mustafa Kemal went from one battle to another. During World War I, the Ottomans joined the war on Germany's side, fighting against the British, French, Italians, and the Russians. Mustafa Kemal's defeat of the British armada at Gallipoli made him a hero. In 1915, he was in Diyarbakır and stemmed the Russian advance. In 1916, he was fighting in Southern Palestine.
Being on the losing side, the Ottoman armies were disarmed and disbanded. On May 15th, 1919, the Greeks landed at Izmir. Mustafa Kemal went to Samsun near the Black Sea on May 19th, 1919 and started the War of Independence. wherever he went, everybody--young and old, men and women, officers and civilians--followed him as the only savior of the country.
The Turkish Grand National Assembly opened April 23, 1920, under his chairmanship. A new army was formed to fight the occupying armies on all fronts. Three years of occupation finally ended and, with the Lausanne treaty giving full recognition to the new state, Mustafa Kemal proclaimed the modern Republic of Turkey and became its first president. Convinced that military victory was not sufficient, he felt the revolution had to be followed by profound economic, social, and cultural reforms.
During Ataturk's 15-year administration, the nation moved forward and embraced western standards. Ataturk set up schools in every village and town and changed the country's Arabic alphabet to Latin. He separated religious affairs from state affairs. Legal and modern reforms began. Women were granted equal rights with men. a completely new economic system was constructed and surnames (last names) were adopted.
In recognition for his efforts, Mustafa Kemal was given the surname "Ataturk" by the General Assembly, which means "father of the Turks." In the short span of his life, he achieved the rebirth of a nation. He died in Istanbul on November 10th, 1938, at 9:05 a.m. He was 57 years old.

Today he lives on in the minds and hearts of Turkish people. He represents a brave history, and the future pride of Turkey. Ataturk's body rests today in his mausoleum, called the Anıtkabir, in Ankara.

Sources:

Article: Mehmet Birbiri (www.turkeycentral.com)

Photo: www.travelblog.org

Social Responsibility

Dear All,

On the way of being a TQP; we should never ignore our responsibilities towards the community and also to the needful people around us. Yesterday I was invited the the headquarters of the Association for Solidarity with Physically Impaired (bedd) (http://www.bedd.org.tr/) in Dragos, Maltepe. I have been impressed a lot with the heartful and fruitful efforts of the true leader Mr. Kemal Demirel and his team.

Since last June, I have been one of the the members of the Advisory Council of "bedd" just like Mr. Ediz Hun (http://www.yesilsayfa.com/) who is one of the best actors of Turkish Cinema and a dedicated biologist on environmental sciences. We had a productive meeting with the leading committee and took some decisions on the way of supporting the challenged people. One of the decisions was to introduce the projects of the Association to the university youth to create awareness on them regarding the challenged and then to invite them to such projects. I invite all the people within the world to assist the disabled people to empower them. I also salute my dearest dost and brother Mohundas Teeluck (Coco) from Mauritius who is a real leader in this noble duty for all of us. Through his projects, my ambition to help the needed disabled ones has been awakened. I am grateful to him and to his wonderful family.
This year, within the circles of the ICT Seagulls Projects, there again will be "Challenged students' Circles". In fact, I invite all the 'abled' team leaders to include one or two 'disabled' ones in their teams. Life is lovely if we hug all the people around us. Together we stand.
I invite all the countries to take part in the ICT Seagulls Projects. The main theme of 2010 is: "To train quality persons through art, music and literature! The obstacles in for of us and some affective solutions". In order to get more info, please visit: http://www.bilisimcimartilar.com/ . There is also an English part on the page.
With love and peace...
Hayal KÖKSAL