Distance Learning Program (Ya Noon)

Distance Learning Program (Ya Noon)

Finished Projects

2003

Support by Community Fund and Friends of Birzeit University (UK)

Concept
The underlying idea for this project is to produce a drama series for television viewers that deals with life concepts from a development perspective and at the same time offers training in language skills. The viewer wishing to learn by watching the series can be helped by a member of the family, without resorting to conventional methods followed by literacy courses. The series is based on linguistic applications, similar to those in “My First Reading.” A textbook that was produced by the Literacy and Adult Education Unit at Birzeit University and has been broadcasted on Palestinian Television, and other local television channels, with the cooperation of the Ministry of Education.

Objectives and Method of Work
The series will be produced in seventeen parts, after reviewing its contents by the Ministry of Education and by specialists in literacy work and adult education. The series will be pilot-tested and evaluated in seven Palestinian villages, through the work of fourteen male and female instructors experienced in the field of adult education and literacy. These instructors have also received 38 hours of training to enhance their understanding of developmental education and to reinforce developmental methods in education and distance learning. The instructors will follow-up and provide orientation to those adults wishing to learn in the seven villages. At a later stage, an evaluation will take place of the role of the television series in distance education for literacy.

Motive
There were reasons for choosing this unconventional method. Conventional methods of teaching were confronted with the problem of illiterate women being unable to find sufficient time on their hands to join courses in literacy centers due to their preoccupation in housekeeping and household care, in addition to other psychological pressures that stood in the way of those wishing to learn. Furthermore, this new method could circumvent the problem of limited financial resources needed to open literacy centers.

What is YA..NOON? 
Ya..Noon is a TV series for adult learning and civic educating directed to young and adult, men and women.
Ya..Noon deals with issues of early marriage, [kin] marriage, inheritance, pregnancy, children, gender, nutrition, education, human rights, refugee camps, immigration, environment, water, agriculture, democracy, participation, Jerusalem, closure and land.

Ya..Noon encourages students to contribute in building a content Arab family that is more just and united. It encourages participation in developing an Arab society based on human development, empowerment and equality among all.

Ya..Noon , incidents that occur in Palestine, which attempts to solve joint Arab concerns and issues. 
Ya..Noon , a drama crosses borders and reaches to every man and woman, young and old in the Arab world.
Ya..Noon , a Palestinian production that was achieved despite the closures, checkpoints and the Israeli oppression during the Intifada. 
Ya..Noon is a TV series consisting of 17 episodes, which will be aired on local, national, and Arab TV channels.
Ya..Noon is for the use of governmental and non-governmental institutes in the field of civic education. 
Yanoun: a village in north of Palestine which is under constant assaults from settlers and attempts to depopulate it.

WHY IS YA..NOON?
To open the opportunity for men and women, under the increasing family obligations, to education whether they are among their family or friends and according to their schedule. 
To grant the chance for men and women who cannot reach illiteracy centers to learn via television. 
To provide an educational material based on active education and initiation derived from students. 
To provide an educational material based on principles of civil learning that complements the tutorial curricula used in illiteracy centers. 
To provide a material for the institutes that work in the field of civic education. It deals with a variety of social issues and can be used for all the various sectors of the society.

YA..NOON is a Birzeit University (Development Studies Program) production
Production carried out by SmartFrame Co.
Support by Community Fund and Friends of Birzeit University (UK)

Download the Final Project Report Through The Following Link (PDF):