Balfakih_Resume

1. Balfakih 1
NAGIB BALFAKIH
2042 N. 39 St. Phoenix, AZ 85008 • (602) 945-5500 • balfakih@hotmail.com
Fully Work Authorized ∙ No Visa Sponsorship Required
EDUCATION
Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction 1992 - 1995
University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA
Master of Arts in Teaching− Science Education 1989 - 1992
University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA
Master of Science in Organic Chemistry 1987 - 1989
Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
Bachelor of Science in Chemistry/Physics 1982 - 1986
United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, UAE
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Visiting Scholar 02/2015 – Present
Discover Research Group, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
The DISCOVER (Discovering Intellectual Strengths and Capabilities while Observing Varies Ethnic Responses)
Projects were created to study, categorize, and measure a broad spectrum of “problem solving strategies” used by
various age groups of differing ethnic, economic, and cultural backgrounds
Research and Training General Manager 09/2014 – 10/2015
International Namaa Association for Research and Development, Dubai, UAE
Namaa provides training and research for government and private sectors in areas such as educational and human
resources development
Associate Professor of Curriculum and Science Instruction 09/1996 – 08/2014
United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, UAE
United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) is the first and foremost comprehensive national university in the United
Arab Emirates.
UAEU Courses:
 Early Childhood Level Courses: Planning and Implementation of Early Childhood Curriculum; Teaching Science
for Early childhood; Teaching Math for Early childhood; Classroom Environment and Interaction; Child Health
Care; Classroom Assessment in Early Childhood; Educational Technology; Children’s Development of Science
Concepts; Capstone & Practical Training
 Elementary School Courses: Principle of Curriculum and Instruction; Classroom Management and Environment;
Science Teaching Method; Math Teaching Method; Pedagogical Science Content Development; Pedagogical
Math Content Development; Elementary School Curriculum; Methodology of Educational Research; Assessment
and Evaluation for Elementary Education; Physical Science for Teachers (1,2); Educational Technology;
Children’ Development of Science Concepts; Science Education for Young Children; Capstone & Practical
Training
 Diploma-Level Courses: Principle of Curriculum and Instruction; Classroom Assessment and Environment;
Managing Classroom Situations for School Leaders; Capstone & Practical Training
 Master’s Level Courses: Current Issues in Education; Advanced Curriculum; Introduction of SPSS in Educational
Research
 Doctoral Courses: Advance Science Teaching I & II, Advance Math Teaching I & II
RESEARCH INTERESTS
investigation of teaching methods, integration of STEM in curriculum, quality education in K-12, implementation of
REAPS in curriculum, evaluation of curriculum
PUBLICATIONS
 “Science Textbook Analysis Based on UAE Social and Cultural Background”. The International Journal of
Pedagogy and Curriculum. Vol. 19(1): 1-19. 2013
 “Can Analogy Bridge the Gap between Science and Society in the UAE?”. Co-authored with F.A. Al Zaroni.
International Journal of Science in Society. Vol. 2(3): 177-202. 2011

2. Balfakih 2
 “The Effectiveness of Analogy on Tenth Grade Students’ Achievement in the UAE”. International Journal of
Learning. Vol. 17(10): 383-396. 2011
 “The assessment of the UAE’s in-service and pre-service Elementary science teachers in the integrated
science process skills”. Procedia – Social and Behavioural Sciences. Vol. 2(2): 3711-3715. 2010
 “The Role of Hamdan Award in School Reform: Teacher’s Perspective”. Curriculum and Instruction Studies.
Vol. 3(149): 159-179. 2009
 “Effective Use of Handheld Technologies with in-Service Science Teachers and Students in the UAE”. Co-
authored with Sufian Forawi. International Journal of the Humanities. Vol. 7: 71-84. 2009
 “The Effectiveness of the New Science Curriculum on the Fourth Grade Students’ Achievement Based on
TIMSS 2007”. Studies in Curriculum and Instruction. Vol. 147: 67-88. 2009
UNIVERSITY/ COMMUNITY SERVICE
 Chair, Department of Education Academic Committee, UAEU 2005-2006, 2008- 2009, 2012- 2013
 Chair, Faculty Development Committee, UAEU 2005- 2013
 Member, 12th
Annual Asia Pacific Conference on Giftedness Committee 2012
 Chair, Assessment of Gifted Science Students Committee, Hamdan Award 2011- 2012
 Chair, MSTE Conference Committee 2011- 2013
 Chair, NCATE Accreditation Committee 2013 – 2014
 Member, Program Outcomes Review Committee, UAEU 2012 – 2014
 Member, Educational Outcomes Assessment Committee, UAEU 2012- 2014
 Member, PhD Program Committee, UAEU 2009- 2010
 Member, Outstanding Educational Performance, Ministry of Education, United Arab Emirates 2010
 Chair, Curriculum Committee, United Arab Emirates University 2005- 2007
GRANTS
 Hamdan Award for Distinguished Teacher, May 2015, for research entitled: The Evaluation of the Gifted
Diploma Program; Amount $20,000
 Emirates Family Foundation. January 2014, for a Project to Develop Training Packages Entitled: Toward Safe
Society: Best Approaches to Raise Children. Amount: $ 272,479.
 Mubadrah Initiative for Learning Skills Development, January 2013 – December 2014, for project entitled:
The Integration of STEM in Curriculum. Amount $ 40,871
 The UAE University, 2011/2012, for research entitled: Content Analysis of The Environmental Sustainability
Themes Coverage in the UAE Science Curriculum. Amount: $10,000
 The National Research Foundation 2010/2011, for Research Entitled: A Comparison of Bilingual Methods of
Science Instruction; Amount: $70,844.
 The UAE University, 2010/2011, for research entitled: Integrating Children’s Literature in Teaching Science
Concepts in Kindergartens in the UAE; Amount: $10,000.
 The Emirates Foundation, 2009/2010, for Research Entitled: The Effectiveness of Analogy on Tenth Grade
Students' Achievement in the UAE. Amount: $35,000.
 Hamdan Award 2009/2010 for research entitled: The use of EQCI to improve HAFDAP based on EFQM.
Amount: $ 30,000
 The UAE University, 2007/2008, for Research Entitled: The Effectiveness of Workshops on Instruction Using
Handheld Technologies with Pre-service and In-service Science Teachers. Amount: $25,000.
 The UAE University, 2006/2007, for Research Entitled: An assessment of the science teachers in integrated
science process. Amount: $30,000.
 Hamdan Award, 2006/2007, for Research Entitled: Hamdan Award Reality and Future Vision: Teachers’
Opinion; Amount: $30,000.
 The UAE University, 2005/2006, for Research Entitled: Comparison of the elementary UAE achievement on
TIMSS with selected counties in the region; Amount: $ 35,000.

3. Balfakih 3
AWARDS
 Member, UNESCO-Hamdan bin Rashid Al-Maktoum Prize for Outstanding Practice 2008 - Present
and Performance in Enhancing the Effectiveness of Teachers
 Best Researcher in the College of Education 2008
United Arab Emirates University
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
 Member, Hamdan/UNESCO Prize Committee, United Arab Emirates 2008 – Present
 Partnership, Ministry of Education, United Arab Emirates 1996 - 2015
CONFERENCE ATTENDANCE
 The Eighth International Conference on Environmental, Cultural, Economic and Social Sustainability 2013
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
 Chair, Math, Science, and Technology Conference 2011 – 2013
United Arab Emirates University
 Scientific committee member, 12th
edition of the Asia Pacific Conference on Giftedness 2012
 International Conference on Learning 2011
University of Mauritius, Mauritius
 Building Mathematical and Scientific Talent in the BMENA Region Conference 2011
University of Jordan, Jordan
 International Conference on Science Education 2010
Madrid, Spain
 International Technology, Education & Development Conference 2010
Valencia, Spain
 The World Conference on Educational Sciences 2010
Bahcesehir University, Istanbul, Turkey
 London International Conference on Education 2009
London, United Kingdom
 The 7th
International Conference on New Directions in the Humanities 2009
Beijing, China