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My Teaching Philosophy goal is to create learning experiences that engage the student both in and out of the classroom. Students should come to class, learn something new, work with their classmates to form a better picture of the concept in their mind, and then find places in their life where the ideas are real and apparent. I have found that in the field of architecture engineering science, even the most abstract theory can be made more concrete via real-world examples and analogies. According to More than seven years that I have been teaching in architecture department, I have followed my methodology of real-world examples, active learning, and project-based learning. From my students of Building Rehabilitation and Architectural Design courses to my relatively smaller groups of student graduation project supervision, I endeavour to make each class unique learning experience, whether that means bringing in props to illustrate a point or creating a scavenger hunt that sends students all around grounds. I believe that any class that is stagnant in its presentation and involvement with students is missing a huge opportunity to engage and challenge students and to recruit them into an architecture engineering science. Being able to create these experiences for new engineers is even more special, as I cherish every time a student tells me that they declared architecture as their major because of my class. I follow the model of “Inform, Experience, Implement” in my teaching. This cyclical pattern first establishes the history or interest of a topic to ground it for the student in real life. Then I move into an activity where the student can experience how the problem or technology affects them.
Finally, my experience working in varied environments has enabled me to develop a range of practical skills. I am able to manage challenging behaviour effectively, conduct activities safely and communicate with people from diverse backgrounds. Further, I am very creative and enjoy sourcing materials that make learning interesting. Most importantly, my ability to work well with others, motivate and inspire is a very significant contribution that I am confident I can bring to the course and into the classroom.
- Lecturer at Cihan University– Erbil, Iraq- Architectural Engineering and Interior Design Departments.
- The Coordinator of Quality Assurance Committee of the Interior Design Department at Cihan University, Erbil, Iraq
- A Member in the Quality Assurance Committee of The Architecture Engineering Department at Cihan University, Erbil, Iraq
- Head of Architectural Department Galleries Committee – Cihan University – Erbil.
- Member at the new requirement committee – Architecture Department – Cihan University – Erbil.
- Head of New Architectural Department Students – Architecture Department – Cihan University – Erbil.
- Member of Examination Committee – Architecture Department – Cihan University – Erbil.
- Member of Department Council – Architecture Department – Cihan University – Erbil.
- Member of Social Committee – Architecture Department – Cihan University – Erbil.
Urban Design, Landscape Architecture, Urban Heritage, Urbanism, Interior Architecture, Eco-planning.
- Islamic Interior & Exterior
- Theories Of Interior Criticism
- Interior Design Studio V
- Graduation Projects
- Architectural Design V
- Interior Design Studio IV
- Architectural Design V
- Architectural Design VI
- History Of Architecture III
- Graduation Projects
- Urban Design
- Islamic Architecture
- Principles Of Planning I
- History Of Architecture III
- Architectural Design VI
- Graduation Projects
ESCI JOURNAL (web of science) & (DOAJ)
- Khalaf, O. A., & Ja`afar, N. H. (2020). User-friendly Streets for a Walkable, Liveable and Sustainable Environment: A Review. Jurnal Kejuruteraan, 32(2), 53–58. https://doi.org/dx.doi.org/10.17576/jkukm-2020-32(3)-05
SCOPUS INDEXED JOURNAL
- A published paper in Scopus Q2, The Planning Malaysia Journal (PMJ), June (2022), “People’s Ages and the Effectiveness of Using Activities In the Built Environment of Commercial Streets”.
- A published paper in Scopus Q2, The Planning Malaysia Journal (PMJ), June (2022), “What Makes an Attractive User-Friendly Street? Exploring Perceptions Of Mawlawi Shopping Street Environment In The Context Of Sulaymaniyah City, Iraq”.
- A published paper in Scopus Q3, Design Engineering, Vol. 2021, Issue 07, July (2021), “The Significance of Safety and Security Factors for Urban Commercial Streets in a User Friendly Environment”, http://www.thedesignengineering.com/index.php/DE/article/view/2535
- A published paper in Scopus Q3, Design Engineering, Vol. 2021, Issue 07, Sept. (2021), “The Urban Morphological Changes to the Built Environment of the City Center of Baghdad”, http://www.thedesignengineering.com/index.php/DE/article/view/4939
- Ali, O. H., Ja`Afar, N. H., Sulaiman, M. K. A. M., & Khalaf, O. A. (2019). Square as urban space in iraq: The effectiveness of design attributes on social interaction. International Journal of Recent Technology and Engineering, 7(6), 305–310. Retrieved from https://ukm.pure.elsevier.com/en/publications/square-as-urban-space-in-iraq-the-effectiveness-of-design-attribu
Retrieved from https://sersc.org/journals/index.php/IJAST/article/view/1343
- Sayuti, N. A. A., Azizan, M. Z., Zamri, A. F. A., Shaharudin, M. R., & Khalaf, O. A. (2019). The development of typologies, design patterns and scaled models bio-inspired by mangrove species. International Journal of Advanced Science and Technology, 28(13), 451–464
Retrieved from https://sersc.org/journals/index.php/IJAST/article/view/1343
- Sayuti, N. ‘Ayn A., & Khalaf, O. A. (2019). Nurturing biophilic design and nature-inspired design in furniture design projects. International Journal of Advanced Science and Technology, 28(13), 483–498.
DOI JOURNAL
- Al-hinkawi, W. S., & Khalaf, O. A. (2014). " The impact of planning standard in the urban formation of the riverfronts in the cities ". Old Rusafa Case Study. Journal of King Saud University- Architecture & Planning, 26(1), 61–80.
- Al-hinkawi, W. S., & Khalaf, O. A. (2014). " The Impact of Design Standard in the Urban Formation of the Riverfronts in the Cities ". Centre of Urban & Regional Planning Journal, 301.
- A published paper in SeniBINA2022 Conference on 2nd & 3rd November 2022, Malaysia, A Review: Eco-Friendly Technologies and Sustainable Development of Urban Friendliness Spaces towards New Urbanism Design Approach
Omar Abdulwahhab Khalafa, Nor Haslina Ja`afar. - A published paper in CoSBEE 2022 I 18-19 January 2022 Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM), Malaysia, PEOPLE’S AGE AND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF USING ACTIVITIES IN THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT OF COMMERCIAL STREETS
Omar Khalaf, Nor Haslina Ja Afar, Nor Zalina Harun, Noman Bayaty - A published paper in CoSBEE 2022 I 18-19 January 2022 Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM), Malaysia, What Makes An Attractive User-Friendly Street? Exploring Perceptions Of Mawlawi Shopping Street Environment In The Context Of Sulaymaniyah City, Iraq. Omar Khalaf, Nor Haslina Ja Afar, Nor Zalina Harun, Omar, and Hussein Ali.
- A published paper in Cihan 2nd International Conference on 5 & 6th April 2021, Iraq. “The Impact of the Characteristics of Spatial Organization of Historic Castles on the Urban Development Strategies for the Surrounding Areas of Salah Al-Din Citadel in Cairo as a Case Study”
- A published paper in SeniBINA2018 Conference on 13 & 14th November 2018, Malaysia, ISBN: 978- 967-2224-18-1. “User-friendly Streets for a Walkable, Liveable and Sustainable Environment: A Review”
(Citation with Mendeley)
“6th International Workshop on Nanotechnology”
“Cybersecurity in Marketplace”
2020 “Kinetic Architecture”
2016 “Urban Heritage Notion”
2015 “Smart Cites”
One Month research visit to the Faculty of Spatial Planning at TU Dortmund University Germany. Scholarship by German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)/RESI program, 2022.
- GRA grant research funds by UKM University-Malaysia 2020-2021.
- Certificate as Presenter for COSBEE 2022 Conference on 18 & 19th January 2022, Malaysia.
- Bronze Medal in participation in TREE HOUSE architecture international competition by Volume ZERO 2021.
Reading, jogging, and painting.
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