Bring technology into schools, says minister

Schools that fail to keep pace with the tech-savviness of their young pupils risk making them disinterested in their education.

The use of technology in the classroom is a "must" in order to successfully engage the constantly-connected and tech-savvy students of the 21st century, according to Hussain Al Hammadi, the UAE's Minister of Education and Chairman of the National Commission for Education, Culture and Science.

"Education and technology are two faces of the same coin," Hammadi said. "Technology is a main requirement and prerequisite in the learning domain, and we have to use it in an effective way or we won't be able to cope with the pace of development."

In the UAE's case, Hammadi noted, 'smart learning' has become an important part of the country's national vision - particularly through the Mohammed bin Rashid Smart Learning Project launched in 2012 - which has changed the face of many Emirati schools.

"This is different than the classic education system," Hammadi said. "It's a new school that supports innovation, and new scientific subjects were introduced for the first time ever to an Arab education system."

"We've focused on 21st century skills," he added. "Other curricula, like mathematics, science, Arabic and Islamic studies, were modernised in order to be more attractive to students."

Hammadi noted that schools that fail to keep pace with the tech-savviness of their young pupils risk making them disinterested in their education.

"Amid these advancements in technology, they (students) were un-attracted to traditional curricula. They spend a long time in the classroom trying to get information they can get in a few seconds on the Internet," he said. "The resistance to introducing such technologies into an education system is a risk because, this way, we are disregarding the lifestyle of students."

"They (students) have different skills and capacities, and we have to adapt education to their skills, and when you do, you'd be surprised with their achievements and creativity," he added. "When you provide them with material that is relevant to their daily life, they absorb everything, and even ask for more."

Despite the benefits of introducing technology into the classroom, Hammadi cautioned against an over-reliance on smart learning system, noting that exposure to teachers and other students is important for the development of well-rounded young people.

"The disadvantage is the human factor, and the importance of interaction with students," he said. "Two-hundred different nationalities live in the UAE, which means that students are lucky to exchange their experiences with 200 different nationalities, in addition to visiting other countries."

Hammadi concluded by saying he expected that the UAE's success in introducing smart learning technologies would be replicated elsewhere in the region and the world.

"This is actually the lighthouse for education systems in the Arab World amid these advancements in technology," he noted.

bernd@khaleejtimes.com 

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