Schools Close

Dear Dosts,

Today, schools in Turkey close. They will open on 24th September after the Ramadan. All the students and teachers will have a looong holiday. While attending the classes, it might be difficult and tiring to be in the position of a student. However, everyone will soon discover that life is a school. It is never limited by the walls. Walls and borders within us. When we are ornamented with "Life-long learning philosophy", we will have started the "continuous improvement process" which is the basic target of living.

We also in Boğaziçi University collected the Final Exam projects, assessed them and handed in the results to the Administration. All of my 47 students were very successful, innovative and creative this term. I feel proudful with them (See the photo above). They created wonderful projects based upon the PDCA Mindset. They formed SQCCs and learned how to apply this methodology to their future classes as teacher trainess. I wish "Good Luck" to all of them. Without them, my life would be meaningless.
2009 ICT Seagulls Projects ended. Now peer-assessment process is on. We extended the deadline of peer-assessment to 20th June. Be aware of this change! I have been looking forward to having the forms. With love and peace...
Hayal Köksal

ICT Seagulls Fly...

Dear All,
After a very busy academic year; out of 25 project, 18 ICT Seagulls projects were delivered completely and punctually. We would like to congratulate those teams. From then on, we can list the steps to be taken:
1. Each team will assess other projects according to the given criteria collaborating with their teachers, student members and even parents. The deadline of this step is 14th June. It takes 60% of the whole evaluation process.
2. Judges will assess the projects which will sum up 40%. Deadline is 25th June.
Then, the results will be shared with the community. In order to learn more, please visit the web page: www.bilisimcimartilar.com.

Good luck.
Hayal KÖKSAL

Recent News

Dear All,

Today I would like to share three issues with you:

1. Our 12-day trip to UK ended and we returned home. It was our first vist to our newly-married daughter and son-in-law. It is a wonderful experience to witness the starting of a new collaborative relation. One always wants to see her/his child happy to feel relieved. We are thankful to them for giving us that wonderful feeling. We wish them a long and happy life.

2. The projects for the challenged increased recently. It is fascinating. Last wednasday we participated in a "CircyCircus" show organized by Kabataş High School and TİV (The Foundation for the Deaf Children for 0-6 age groups). The collaboration of High school students and small deaf children was admirable. I congratulate all the participants.

3. 2009 ICT Seagulls Projects have come to the final step. All the participants are supposed to send their web addresses and CDs until the end of today. 25 project circles have shown a great effort on the way of completing their lovely work. I would like to share my sincere feelings with the team leaders and members.

I wish you a very happy and restful weekend. Loves from ıstanbul.

Hayal KÖKSAL

Loves from UK

Dear All,

We have been visiting London since 15th May. It was a nice opportunity for us to visit our children and also some dearesr colleagues working in Kingston University. The weather also has been so nice to walk around. On Monday we were together with Mary, Chris, Richard and Chandra. Tonight we had a nice talk with Mr. and Mrs. Paresh Kathrani at Landmark Hotel listening to music. We love all our friends and feel grateful to God for having them.

Tomorrow we will be in Devon. Tuesday we will fly for Istanbul. With love and peace.

Hayal KÖKSAL

Recent News About Us

Dear All,

I have been in London for a few days. I have to follow the latest news in my country through the e-journals. I feel sad for being away during such important events. Here are some of them. I took them from the English page of daily Hürriyet. According to the headlines of daily Cumhuriyet 19th May 2009 witnessed two important events. One was about the commomoration of great leader Ataturk and the other one was about a great loss_ loss of one of Ataturk's daughters; Prof.Dr. Türkan Saylan. You can see her 2 photos above. She was struggling with cancer since 1990 but she comğpleted successfully very important projects for the education of Turkish girls.

INDEPENDENCE EXCITEMENT:

"...We respectfully commemorate Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey, on the anniversary of his lighting the independence torch. The May 19th Commemoration of Ataturk, Youth and Sports Day will be celebrated throughout Turkey, in foreign representations and in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, or TRNC, with ceremonies. President Abdullah Gul, in his May 19th Commemoration of Ataturk, Youth and Sports Day address, said that the pride of having a past full of victories will be felt once again on this day presented by Ataturk to the nation’s youth..."

DAUGHTER OF LIGHT:
"...We have lost Prof. Turkan Saylan, passionate for contemporary values and pioneer of education and science. Saylan, president of the Association for Support of Contemporary Living, or CYDD, who dedicated her life firstly to the fight against leprosy, and then to the education of girls, has passed away. Her last words were; "I completed all of my appointments, I fulfilled all of my duties. Now I am ready to die... ".

My visit to London will last until 26th. Then, I will be back to Istanbul to deal with 2009 ICT Seagulls Projects.

With love and peace.

Hayal KÖKSAL

Lecture, Ceremony & Concert

Dear All,
Yesterday was a wonderful day! First of all, our Village Institution graduate teacher_ Mr. Mehmet Sazak_ gave a lecture to my students at Boğaziçi University about his experiences at the Village Institution in 1940s. Later that very informative and fruitful talk, there was an historical ceremony at the Albert Long Hall of the University. The rector and two deans (Engineering and Educational faculties) presented two honorary doctorate titles to Prof.Dr.Türkan Saylan who is a great NGO leader, a medical professor devoted her life to combatting with Lepra and a wellkown Atatürk daughter. After the ceremony, the famous Turkish pianist Fazıl Say presented a small concert. It was excellent. I will write my blog from London from then on. Have a good time.
Hayal Köksal

Mothers' Day Celebration

I would like to send my love and respect to all mothers of the world.

Hayal KÖKSAL