The Dean of the School of Educational Sciences, Professor Mohammad Sayel Al-Zayoud, participated in a scientific event organized by the National Library Department to mark the launch of the new book by media specialist and researcher Sonia Al-Zaghoul, titled “How Do They Reach You?!”. The book introduces the first Arab scientific model for countering extremism through education.
The ceremony was held under the patronage of His Excellency Faisal Al-Fayez, President of the Senate, and attended by prominent national, academic, and media figures, including Major Omar Al-Khalaileh, Head of the Community Security and Peace Center at the Public Security Directorate, as well as a distinguished group of scholars and thinkers.
Al-Fayez emphasized Jordan’s unique model of moderation and enlightened thought in combating extremism, stating that “the battle of ideas can only be won through knowledge and conscious education.” He praised Al-Zaghoul’s book as a national and scientific effort to protect younger generations from extremist narratives and highlighted the importance of collaboration between educational, media, and security institutions to implement such models in schools and universities.
During his scholarly presentation, Professor Al-Zayoud provided a critical and analytical review of the book and its scientific model, noting that it represents a qualitative shift in Arab educational thought, addressing violent extremism from an educational perspective rather than solely a security one. He explained that intellectual resilience against extremism begins in schools and universities by creating learning environments that encourage critical thinking, digital literacy, and preventive reasoning, enabling students to analyze information critically and distinguish misleading content online.
The book presents the first comprehensive Arab model for counter-extremism thinking skills, based on a constructivist learning approach that empowers learners to acquire knowledge and skills through practice and real-world application, fully aligned with modern educational trends and the philosophy of the University of Jordan’s School of Educational Sciences.
The proposed model organizes skills into three interconnected domains:
Cognitive skills – critical thinking, analysis, comparison, and distinguishing fact from opinion, enabling students to scientifically deconstruct extremist discourse.
Digital and media literacy skills – understanding and managing digital messages and media, recognizing misinformation and manipulation.
Behavioral and value-based skills – translating conscious thinking into practice by promoting dialogue, tolerance, respect for diversity, and rejection of hate speech.
Professor Al-Zayoud emphasized that the model’s significance lies in its local and Arab contextual relevance, arguing that imported Western models may not achieve the desired effectiveness due to cultural and societal differences. He praised the research methodology behind the book, combining academic analysis, field research, and educational observation, and noted its potential as a reference for curriculum development, teacher training, and policymaking.
He also highlighted the role of media as an educational tool and stressed the importance of integrating schools, universities, and media to build collective intellectual immunity against online extremism. The School of Educational Sciences has already initiated programs embedding critical thinking skills into teacher education curricula.
Al-Zaghoul noted that the book aligns with Jordan’s 2014 National Strategy for Countering Terrorism and Violent Extremism, aiming to enhance intellectual security through education. She announced upcoming workshops and training courses based on the book’s content for teachers, media professionals, and students to disseminate counter-extremism skills in educational and media institutions.
The event witnessed strong engagement from attendees, who appreciated the depth of the scholarly approach linking education with intellectual security. Major Omar Al-Khalaileh highlighted that true security begins with conscious education and societal awareness, praising the University of Jordan for developing programs that support critical thinking and digital literacy, ultimately reducing susceptibility to extremist ideologies.
The initiative represents a milestone in Arab educational thought, showcasing a model that integrates education, media, and security to cultivate enlightened, critically aware, and resilient generations.