HaLev, The Center for Simulation in Education
Academic Director: Prof. Yaacov B. Yablon
Director: Dr. Shira Iluz
Head of Content and Training: Sharon Hollombe
About us
HaLev Center is Israel’s first simulation-based educational training facility. We develop
innovative workshops tailored to the unique needs of each educational institution,
fostering effective, meaningful, and impactful learning experiences. We specialize in
conducting simulation workshops that focus on enhancing interpersonal communication
skills crucial for today’s educational landscape. The primary aim of our workshops is to
provide participants with new and complex perspectives on the challenges they face
in their daily professional lives. By engaging in realistic simulations, educators gain
invaluable insights and practical skills to navigate difficult situations more effectively
- Our programs cater to a wide range of education professionals, including: Early childhood educators, Primary/elementary school teachers, Secondary school teachers
- Special education teachers, School administrators and principals, Curriculum developers
- Educational counselors and psychologists, Higher education faculty, Educational policymakers
Principal activities and achievements
Workshops
Funded by the Ministry of Education, our workshops are offered free of charge to education professionals. Combining active experimentation with comprehensive feedback and debriefing sessions, participants engage in realistic scenarios drawn from their daily professional lives, performed by trained actors. We
offer both in-person and online workshops, available as single sessions or extended series for deeper engagement.
Instructional Videos
Access our extensive library of instructional videos showcasing
common conflict scenarios in educational settings. Each video offers practical tools and
communication strategies for constructively managing complex interpersonal situations
with students, colleagues, parents, and others.
Research
As part of the Faculty of Education at Bar-Ilan University, HaLev Center is
committed to advancing the field of educational simulation. Our research focuses on
evaluating the impact of simulative experiences on educational personnel throughout
their careers, from student teachers to seasoned professionals.
Community Engagement
Inclusive Approach - We serve participants from all educational networks and streams
in both formal and informal education systems, including: State schools, State-religious
schools, Chabad network, Arab society schools
Our programs cater to all age ranges, from early childhood education through high
school, and higher education. HaLev Center has collaborated with the Israeli Ministry of
Justice in training legal and administrative employees. HaLev has ongoing collaborations
with the Trump Foundation focusing on advancing mathematics education, and the
Amit network, collaborating on enhancing professional development opportunities for
educators.
International Engagement
- 2022: Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Pázmány Péter Catholic University, Budapest, Hungary, through the Erasmus+ program.
- 2023 and 2025: Two one-week teaching visits to the Faculty of Education, Palacký University Olomouc, Czech Republic.
- 2023 and 2024: Two visits to the Teacher Training and People and the World Program at Ede Christian University of Applied Sciences, the Netherlands.
- 2025 and 2026: Joint online international courses with Ede Christian University of Applied Sciences, the Netherlands, and Paderborn University, Germany.
Impact
Established in 2011 in partnership with the Teaching Staff Administration of the Ministry
of Education, HaLev Center pioneered simulation workshops in Israeli education. Our
achievements include:
- Hundreds of simulation workshops conducted annually
- Tens of thousands of education professionals trained
Contact Information
For more information please contact Dr. Shira Iluz, Director of HaLev Center.
Email: shira.iluz@biu.ac.il
To schedule a workshop, please contact Racheli Kav-Rockban
Telephone: 03-5318461
