Government | Wednesday 1 April, 2015 8:17 am |

Mohammed Bin Rashid Smart Learning Program (MBRSLP) is participating in a five day intensive teachers’ training workshop in collaboration with the Ministry of Education as part of the Arabian Gulf Teachers’ Forum taking place in University of Sharjah from Sunday March 29th to Thursday April 2nd.

The focus of the forum is to improve the performance of teachers by empowering them through the provision of necessary skills and tools needed to help them fulfil their roles as educators of the UAE’s future leaders. Senior executives from the MBRSLP management team held back-to-back training sessions for Grade 7 and 10 prospective teachers. The aim of the intense workshops is to strengthen teaching skill and build confidence whilst unify the curriculum and evaluation tools to assess development across schools.

The training is in line with significant efforts by the Ministry of Education as part of its 2015-2021 plan which encourages innovation in curriculum and school environment, development of teachers’ skills, and integration of the educational system to nurture a generation of creative and innovative individuals. The workshops are designed to give teachers the tools they need to support the effective use of technology in the classroom which the MBRSLP is spearheading, while learning about innovative teaching methodologies.

“We are laying the ground work for the next academic year and implementing tried and tested innovative teaching strategies and techniques that we are certain will encourage both creativity and innovation in our classrooms. We believe that those involved in the education process are the ones who hold the key to educational prosperity and have the power to positively influence the UAE’s education system,” said Mohammed Gheyath, Director General of MBSRLP.

“Today’s session encouraged us to be creative and we were shown how to design our own lessons using the technologies at hand. Every teacher has a unique way of teaching and the flexibility afforded on the Program was particularly beneficial,” commented a Grade 10 teacher.

During the workshops, teachers were given tools to help them create lesson plans online, generate tests and quizzes, and shown best practices for sharing information and communicating with colleagues, students and parents using the Program’s online platform. The training equips teachers with both confidence and knowhow to capitalize on the offerings of innovative technology based teaching techniques.

For more information on the Mohammed Bin Rashid Smart Learning Program, please visit:
www.smartlearning.gov.ae
Facebook.com/SmartLearningAE
Twitter.com/SmartLearningAE
Instagram.com/SmartLearningAE


About the Mohammed Bin Rashid Smart Learning Program
The Mohammed Bin Rashid Smart Learning Program is a catalyst for change working to transform the UAE’s education system in line with UAE Vision 2021 by raising the standards of education to meet international standards, while setting new precedents in smart learning worldwide. The Program presents a comprehensive approach inclusive of students, teachers, parents, and principals to work collaboratively to build future leaders. Similarly, the Program works hand in hand with the vision of the Ministry of Education, ensuring that the education system is constantly evolving and is up to date with global changes.
The Mohammed bin Rashid Smart Learning Program came into formation by Ministerial Decree No. 25 of 2012, which also created a Supreme Committee to oversee its implementation. H.E. Hussain bin Ibrahim Al Hammadi, the Minister of Education, is Chairman of the Supreme Committee joined by committee members, H.E. Dr. Abdul Qader Al Khayat, Board Member of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) and the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Information and Communication Technology Fund (ICTFund) which funds the Program, and H.E. Huda Al Hashimi, Executive Director of Strategy and Policy in the Prime Minister’s Office.
The Program integrates modern technology and innovative teaching methodologies with traditional tools in order to transform the education system into a dynamic and interactive learning experience for educators and students alike. With the use of Smart Learning teaching techniques, teachers can focus more on the individual performance of each student and empower them to showcase their strengths and grow new skills. The learning process in Smart Learning Classrooms includes the support of tablet devices and laptop computers as well as smart boards alongside the existing teaching tools.
The Program started in 2012 with its Pilot Phase, which took place in 14 government schools with Grade 7 students. Phase I of the Program covered 123 schools and fully implemented Smart Learning techniques with 11,000 students in the 2013/14 school year. Phase II of the Program will include 25,000 students from Grade 7 and 8 during the 2014/15 academic year, as well as Pilot Phase for Grade 9 students. With every academic year, the Program will proceed according to a systematic plan to absorb more students and schools until it reaches all UAE government schools by the year 2019. As the Program progresses, regular updates of all its elements including technology devices, teaching methodologies and supporting platforms will be made available.