Event demonstrates potential of digital learning technology to transform education in Arab region
Doha, Qatar, 18 November 2014 – Leading educators from Qatar and around the Arab World have gathered in Doha to discuss how e-learning can be used to overcome key educational challenges facing the region.
Doha College’s Annual 2014 Conference, which took place recently, focused on how the latest available technology, such as iPads, can be exploited to promote cost effective, high quality teaching and learning environments in Qatar and further afield. Participants explored and discussed how education can be transformed to better suit the needs of learners in the 21st Century, and the fundamental role technology will play in meeting this goal.
Organizers of the Conference hope that the event will encourage educators to harness the power of digital education in classrooms to help meet the Supreme Education Council’s goal of providing learners with exciting learning environments that increase motivation and creativity amongst learners.
Mark Leppard – Principal of Doha College said: “Digital technology has the potential to improve the learning outcomes of all learners. Emerging technologies afford highly personalised learning opportunities, allowing teachers to cater for the individual learning needs of each student. They can also be utilized to satisfy each learner’s distinct, preferred style of learning, providing extremely flexible, engaging and ultimately effective, teaching and learning for Qatar’s current generation of learners”.
Promoting e-learning in the country’s education institutions is an important goal of the Government of Qatar, who sees the utilization of digital technology as fundamental to the country being able to achieve the human development goals set out in the National 2030 Vision.
Sue Mainey of Pearson, a supporter of this year’s event, says that Conferences such as this are critical for ensuring educators are given the training they need to make the most of new educational technology, and being able to apply it in ways most useful to for learners. She says: “A substantial body of international research shows that technology on its own cannot have the transformative, scalable effect on education that we need to make real, positive change in the lives of learners. The most effective learning technologies are those that improve on existing pedagogies, creating a more positive and successful learning experience, and which also embed broad-reaching 21st Century skills in learners, helping them not only acquire academic knowledge, but also prepare them for success in a rapidly-changing, technology-driven workforce.
“It is very important, therefore, that educators are not only given the resources to make this happen, but also the right training so that they have the skills and knowledge needed to take advantage of technological developments, and ensure that their students are being given the opportunity to make the most of the technological revolution that is occurring in our classrooms”.