Seats of Scholars Task Division & Format Templates

[UmmHamzah]

Assalamualaikum,

In order to better organize Seats of Scholars, I have developed task division, format templates and Step-By-Step Task List (in a separate post insyaallah, for easier reading). Ruqiya is the Ameerah and UmmKhadija and I are the ones currently helping in this project, with occasional help from Fahzy and of course Abu Hurayrah (this goes without saying obviously, but we're trying to kick him out so that he can be freer to tend to other matters insyaallah). Anyone else who is interested is very welcome to help, in fact it is very encouraged. The reason why I developed this was to make the process much more organized and streamlined insyaallah. People who want to help can see what tasks need to be done. Also, training will be provided where needed insyaallah, so don't worry about not knowing how to do stuff. We learn from mistakes. In fact that is the best way to learn, so you don't have to have the complete know how to help, you just have to have the willingness to learn. :)

Task Division

1. Note Taker:
a. listen to lecture & take notes
b. follow format of notes
c. make both skeleton & full notes
d. make full notes first & from there take out details to form skeleton notes
e. divide notes into weekend sections

2. Exam Giver: (format is up to Exam Giver)
a. make up exam questions (30-40 questions) & answer key
b. ask these question on the reloaded
c. tally the score on the reloaded
d. edit and copy edit exam questions & answer key
e. convert notes to PDF
f. Only Exam Giver is privy to the exam questions & answer key
Sample Exam & Answer Key

3. Quiz Giver:
a. make up quiz questions (10 minutes worth - about 4-6 questions from the current lecture - depends on which weekend we're at)
b. ask these questions on Paltak - post lecture

4. Editor
a. Edit notes
b. Copy edit notes
c. Convert notes to PDF

5. Email Sender:
a. Write up advertisement + announcement of class
b. Send email on Mondays of the weekend
c. Send reminder to people outside the United States on Thursday
d. Send reminder to people in the United States on Friday
e. Send email announcing exam
f. Send email announcing availability of exam question & answer key (right after the Reloaded)
g. Include newsletter of previous class in email announcing next class
h. Limit email sending to the above only!
Sample email in next post

6. Audio person:
a. Open Paltalk room at least 10 minutes early
b. Write announcement for room
c. Play lecture
d. Make sure if playing two lectures consecutively, that the transition is smooth
e. Make sure to open and close room on time
f. Maximum 1 ½ hours
g. Assign someone to respond to salams
h. Moderate room

7. Website Person:
a. Post announcements on Columbus Dawah website
b. Upload files
c. Upload newsletter
d. Post Call for submission announcement for newsletter
e. Upload exam questions & answer key after the reloaded

8. Newsletter Person:
a. Handle call for submission
b. Set deadlines for submissions
c. Assemble newsletter
d. Make newsletter cover
e. Always put flyer of next class in the newsletter
f. Put in any flyer for local events in newsletter
g. Edit & copy edit articles
h. Convert to PDF
Sample Newsletter

9. Flyer Maker:
a. Make flyer for next class
b. Make flyer available in PNG & PDF format


Format Templates


Note format:

Seats of Scholars
Title (centered)
Speaker (centered, smaller font)
What weekend number and date (red & underlined)
Notes:
Bold headlines:

Bulleted details

Sample Skeleton Notes
Sample Full Notes

Email content:

Heading (bismillah and full salam)
Advertisement section
Information section
What, when, where
Include link to announcement post on Columbus Dawah website
Time zone information
Include link to time zone search
Newsletter section
Call for submission
Seats of Scholars section
Explanation of Seats of Scholars
Columbus Dawah section
Include links to Columbus Dawah website
Include links to Columbus Dawah forums
Unsubscribe section
Offer option for people who wish not to be included in email list
End with Jazakum Allah khair

Paltalk room announcement:

Should include title of lecture & speaker
Should include fact that lecture is prerecorded
Should contain agenda of that weekend’s class
Lecture, quiz, discussion
Should include etiquettes in room
Sample announcement:

Assalamualaikum warahmatullah, Seats of Scholars is playing a prerecorded lecture titled ‘ ’ by ‘ ’. 7:00: lecture, 8:00: short quiz, 8:10: discussions/questions, 8:30: room closes. Please observe Islamic etiquettes and hold off questions until question time. Jazakum Allah khair.

For now, we are using Paltalk. Should this change in the future, obviously this change will make its way here too insyaallah. Of course any suggestions or comments are very welcome. Remember, do not hesitate helping just because you think you don't know how to do it, we will give you free training insyaallah. :D Seriously.

If there are more people involved in managing Seats of Scholars, we can actually divvy up the tasks of the newsletter team insyaallah but for now I am keeping it as a one person task since it's not a very huge newsletter, not yet at least. So, keep in mind that as more people are involved, the tasks you take up might be lighter insyaallah.

Ruqiya I hope this makes it easier for you to lead this project in the future insyaallah.

[UmmHamzah]

Bismillah Ar-Rahman Ar-Raheem

Assalamualaikum wa rahmatullah wa barakaatuh


Are you wondering how to make that halaqa presentation engaging so your
audience won't have that zombie-like look on their faces?

Are you struggling to flesh out some parenting skills or tips to use on
your children, with their incessant quarrels and 1 million dollar
questions?

Ever wonder how to present Islam in the best way to new or non Muslims, so
you won't turn them away?

Are you one of those people who always go browsing in the How-to section of
the bookstore?

Are you one of those people who are impressed with what psychologists have
come up with in terms of parenting tips and teaching techniques?

Are you aware that our Prophet SAW employed psychology in his method of
dawah?


If you answered yes to any of the questions above and especially no to the
last question, you definitely want to attend this Seats of Scholars class.

* * What: Audio lecture titled Humanity's Teacher: 21 Teaching Techniques by Muhammad Alshareef
* * Where : Paltalk -> Religion -> Islam -> Seats of Scholars
* * When: Saturdays, 7 am (EST) beginning Jan 20 through Feb 10



You are very welcome to join us even if you missed last week's session. You can catch up by listening to Part 1 & 2(what we listened to last week) of the lecture here(give link).

For those in Malaysia, 7 am US EST Saturday is 8 pm Saturday in the Malaysian Peninsula.

For those in other parts of the world, we are in Columbus, Ohio (US Eastern time zone (same as New York).

Look here(give link) for your respective time zones.

7 am Saturday in Columbus, OH = 12 pm Saturday in Ireland & the UK
7 am Saturday in Columbus, OH = 2 pm Saturday in Cape Town, South Africa
7 am Saturday in Columbus, OH = 12 am Sunday in Sydney, Australia

For more details, please visit here :

http://www.columbusdawah.com/2007/01/17 ... alshareef/
--------------------------------------------------------------
Seats of Scholars began as an effort to deliver sound, authentic and
beneficial knowledge to the Columbus community by establishing regular
online class-like 'halaqahs'. The name 'Seats of Scholars' seeks to instill
in us an aspiration to sit in the seats of scholars of the past and emulate
them in their zeal for seeking knowledge of the deen, InshaaAllaah.
Classes are held by broadcasting recorded lectures online. In order to help
students retain the material learned from the lectures, exams are held at
the end of each class.


So far, Seats of Scholars has hosted four classes online:

1. Usul al Hadith by Yasir Qadhi
2. Dua - Weapon of the Believer by Yasir Qadhi
3. Under the Shade of Scrolls by Muhammad Alshareef
4. Profiles of Courage - The Story of Imam Ahmad Hambal by Safi Khan



Future

Seats of Scholars is currently undergoing some reconstruction and
reorganization in order to improve its effectiveness InshaaAllaah. The
exams have been conducted 'reloaded' style where the student who racks up
the most points wins a prize. For upcoming classes, pop quizzes might be
held after each session, InshaaAllaah. Participation in contributing to
the newsletter is also encouraged. We hope that more people will join this program and
gain beneficial knowledge in the course of seeking the pleasure of Allaah
Subhaanahu Wa Ta'ala

http://www.columbusdawah.com/2007/01/08 ... -of-faith/
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Visit Columbus Dawah
http://www.columbusdawah.com/


Discuss Columbus Dawah
http://forums.columbusdawah.com/index.php
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you wish to stop receiving this in the future, please send a blank reply to juliherman@.... Jazakum Allah Khairan.

[Abu Hurayrah]

Assalamualaikum,

Wa `alaykumussalaam wa Rahmatullaahi wa Barakatuhu

Ruqiya is the Ameerah and UmmKhadija and I are the ones currently helping in this project, with occasional help from Fahzy.

Ahh, I see...the room opens itself, right?

5. Audio person:
a. Open Paltalk room at least 10 minutes early
b. Write announcement for room
c. Play lecture
d. Make sure if playing two lectures consecutively, that the transition is smooth
e. Make sure to open and close room on time
f. Maximum 1 ½ hours
g. Assign someone to respond to salams
h. Moderate room

[UmmHamzah]

Assalamualaikum,

Wa `alaykumussalaam wa Rahmatullaahi wa Barakatuhu

Ruqiya is the Ameerah and UmmKhadija and I are the ones currently helping in this project, with occasional help from Fahzy.

Ahh, I see...the room opens itself, right?

5. Audio person:
a. Open Paltalk room at least 10 minutes early
b. Write announcement for room
c. Play lecture
d. Make sure if playing two lectures consecutively, that the transition is smooth
e. Make sure to open and close room on time
f. Maximum 1 ½ hours
g. Assign someone to respond to salams
h. Moderate room

Ooops...I was in the frame of mind of 'trying to eliminate Basil from the equation altogether'. I'll make the changes.

[Abu Hurayrah]

Ooops...I was in the frame of mind of 'trying to eliminate Basil from the equation altogether'. I'll make the changes.

You don't have to change anything. I know you're doing a million things at once. Still, if you're going to choose to mention individual people, you should be inclusive. If it is was anyone other than myself, I would consider it unacceptable. I don't mind being taken for granted, as long as others don't mind I just stop doing what I've been doing...: -D

[UmmHamzah]

Ooops...I was in the frame of mind of 'trying to eliminate Basil from the equation altogether'. I'll make the changes.

You don't have to change anything. I know you're doing a million things at once. Still, if you're going to choose to mention individual people, you should be inclusive. If it is was anyone other than myself, I would consider it unacceptable. I don't mind being taken for granted, as long as others don't mind I just stop doing what I've been doing...: -D

I understand. I did make the changes. I forgot, you're right it should be inclusive. My bad. That reminds me...I wanted to add this just now but I forgot.

Kaltun, UmmImarah, BlessedMuslimah, and whoever else who have helped and are still helping, Jazakum Allah Khair. It took me sometime to write those out so I was bound to omit some things without intending to. In fact I might come back to insert more stuff later on considering the juggling I'm doing right now. Books piling on my table now as I'm typing.

Oh, taken for granted? Very far from the truth actually.

[Abu Hurayrah]

[I understand. I did make the changes. I forgot, you're right it should be inclusive. My bad. That reminds me...I wanted to add this just now but I forgot.

Kaltun, UmmImarah, BlessedMuslimah, and whoever else who have helped and are still helping, Jazakum Allah Khair. It took me sometime to write those out so I was bound to omit some things without intending to. In fact I might come back to insert more stuff later on considering the juggling I'm doing right now. Books piling on my table now as I'm typing.

Oh, taken for granted? Very far from the truth actually.

I'm sure I'll regret saying what I said, but I meant it more in jest than seriously. Though I'd be lying if I didn't saying being appreciated is encouraging, I also know that working for the sake of people in lieu of Allaah is a path towards disappointment and destruction.

[UmmHamzah]

Jazakallah khair for that reminder. Truly, working for the sake of Allah is in itself more rewarding and gives you a sense of peace and contentment you cannot get working for the sake of people. That in itself is a part of the reward.

[UmmHamzah]

Mrs. Herman is working over time!! Mashaa Allah.

I'm Mrs. Juli. Malaysians don't have last(family) names. The closest would be, Mrs. Fahzy :P but technically that wouldn't be correct either :)

Juli Bint Herman

It's like Aisha Bint Abdullah. You wouldn't call her Mrs. Abdullah :D, you'd call her Mrs. Aisha if the Mrs. is going to be used at all.

I know, off topic, but I was researching this naming system and it's interesting how the patronymic was originally used by everyone on the globe before people start changing it to family names instead. In Iceland, they also don't have family names. They have the patronymic system too, so like my name would probably be Juli Hermandottiir (Juli, daughter of Herman) Herman is my father's first name by the way, just like Hamzah Bin Fahzy.

But here in the US, yeah I'd have to go by Herman as my 'last' name..it's extremely dumb actually, but what to do.

Overtime? :D I'll be working overtime a lot these days insyaallah :D. Trying to get most things out of the way so I can relax later on (as if there is such a concept, huh).

[Anisa]

Assalamualaikum,

In order to better organize Seats of Scholars, I have developed task division, format templates and Step-By-Step Task List (in a separate post insyaallah, for easier reading). Ruqiya is the Ameerah and UmmKhadija and I are the ones currently helping in this project, with occasional help from Fahzy and of course Abu Hurayrah (this goes without saying obviously, but we're trying to kick him out so that he can be freer to tend to other matters insyaallah). Anyone else who is interested is very welcome to help, in fact it is very encouraged. The reason why I developed this was to make the process much more organized and streamlined insyaallah. People who want to help can see what tasks need to be done. Also, training will be provided where needed insyaallah, so don't worry about not knowing how to do stuff. We learn from mistakes. In fact that is the best way to learn, so you don't have to have the complete know how to help, you just have to have the willingness to learn. :)

Task Division

1. Note Taker:
a. listen to lecture & take notes
b. follow format of notes
c. make both skeleton & full notes
d. make full notes first & from there take out details to form skeleton notes
e. divide notes into weekend sections

2. Exam Giver: (format is up to Exam Giver)
a. make up exam questions (30-40 questions) & answer key
b. ask these question on the reloaded
c. tally the score on the reloaded
d. edit and copy edit exam questions & answer key
e. convert notes to PDF
f. Only Exam Giver is privy to the exam questions & answer key
Sample Exam & Answer Key

3. Quiz Giver:
a. make up quiz questions (10 minutes worth - about 4-6 questions from the current lecture - depends on which weekend we're at)
b. ask these questions on Paltak - post lecture

4. Editor
a. Edit notes
b. Copy edit notes
c. Convert notes to PDF

5. Email Sender:
a. Write up advertisement + announcement of class
b. Send email on Mondays of the weekend
c. Send reminder to people outside the United States on Thursday
d. Send reminder to people in the United States on Friday
e. Send email announcing exam
f. Send email announcing availability of exam question & answer key (right after the Reloaded)
g. Include newsletter of previous class in email announcing next class
h. Limit email sending to the above only!
Sample email in next post

6. Audio person:
a. Open Paltalk room at least 10 minutes early
b. Write announcement for room
c. Play lecture
d. Make sure if playing two lectures consecutively, that the transition is smooth
e. Make sure to open and close room on time
f. Maximum 1 ½ hours
g. Assign someone to respond to salams
h. Moderate room

7. Website Person:
a. Post announcements on Columbus Dawah website
b. Upload files
c. Upload newsletter
d. Post Call for submission announcement for newsletter
e. Upload exam questions & answer key after the reloaded

8. Newsletter Person:
a. Handle call for submission
b. Set deadlines for submissions
c. Assemble newsletter
d. Make newsletter cover
e. Always put flyer of next class in the newsletter
f. Put in any flyer for local events in newsletter
g. Edit & copy edit articles
h. Convert to PDF
Sample Newsletter

9. Flyer Maker:
a. Make flyer for next class
b. Make flyer available in PNG & PDF format


Format Templates


Note format:

Seats of Scholars
Title (centered)
Speaker (centered, smaller font)
What weekend number and date (red & underlined)
Notes:
Bold headlines:

Bulleted details

Sample Skeleton Notes
Sample Full Notes

Email content:

Heading (bismillah and full salam)
Advertisement section
Information section
What, when, where
Include link to announcement post on Columbus Dawah website
Time zone information
Include link to time zone search
Newsletter section
Call for submission
Seats of Scholars section
Explanation of Seats of Scholars
Columbus Dawah section
Include links to Columbus Dawah website
Include links to Columbus Dawah forums
Unsubscribe section
Offer option for people who wish not to be included in email list
End with Jazakum Allah khair

Paltalk room announcement:

Should include title of lecture & speaker
Should include fact that lecture is prerecorded
Should contain agenda of that weekend’s class
Lecture, quiz, discussion
Should include etiquettes in room
Sample announcement:

Assalamualaikum warahmatullah, Seats of Scholars is playing a prerecorded lecture titled ‘ ’ by ‘ ’. 7:00: lecture, 8:00: short quiz, 8:10: discussions/questions, 8:30: room closes. Please observe Islamic etiquettes and hold off questions until question time. Jazakum Allah khair.

For now, we are using Paltalk. Should this change in the future, obviously this change will make its way here too insyaallah. Of course any suggestions or comments are very welcome. Remember, do not hesitate helping just because you think you don't know how to do it, we will give you free training insyaallah. :D Seriously.

If there are more people involved in managing Seats of Scholars, we can actually divvy up the tasks of the newsletter team insyaallah but for now I am keeping it as a one person task since it's not a very huge newsletter, not yet at least. So, keep in mind that as more people are involved, the tasks you take up might be lighter insyaallah.

Ruqiya I hope this makes it easier for you to lead this project in the future insyaallah.

Salaamu Alaykum,

Jazaaki allah khayr Juli, this does make my job a lot easier maasha allah. Now I don't have to explain things over and over again. Can we make it as a sticky note?

[UmmHamzah]

Salaamu Alaykum,

Jazaaki allah khayr Juli, this does make my job a lot easier maasha allah. Now I don't have to explain things over and over again. Can we make it as a sticky note?

Waalaikumsalam

How do I do that? ABu Hurayrah?

[Abu Hurayrah]

Waalaikumsalam

How do I do that? ABu Hurayrah?

If all you wanted was for the thread to be made sticky, then consider it done.

[Umm Imarah]

Ma shaa Allah. I think this idea (diving up the tasks before hand) can be implemented on many of our other projects. That way, those who want to help won't feel lost at all and it will make the work of the lead person a lot easier. Jazakillah khair ya bint Herman :)

[Abu Hurayrah]

Ma shaa Allah. I think this idea (diving up the tasks before hand) can be implemented on many of our other projects. That way, those who want to help won't feel lost at all and it will make the work of the lead person a lot easier. Jazakillah khair ya bint Herman :)

Excellent observation, Umm Nusaybah.

[UmmHamzah]

Jazakallah khair Abu Hurayrah.

Yes, Umm Imarah, I guess it's kind of like an organization where you assign departments for specific tasks according to the nature of the tasks, just like we do with the qabeelat system. So when seeking volunteers, we should have this beforehand, and we can then just direct them to these 'departments' and let them choose what they want and are able to do based on what they know of themselves, time wise and ability-wise.

I am thinking this can be done for Blessed Dawn and Al Maun too.

You have your cooks already don't you, Umm Imarah?

The point is that so the ameer/ameerah won't be doing a milliion things at once. Once the 'departments' are in place, it gets easier even if the process of developing those lists might take some time.

My weekly menu planning certainly made cooking much much easier (not to mention grocery shopping) despite me spending some stressful times sitting planning out those weekly menus. In the end, it made my long term work much much easier alhamdulillah. (though now I don't do it anymore, maybe I should devise a new system)

oh yes, bint Herman is correct :D