Create better learning conditions for second language students with a blended learning environment

The Symposium shed lights on the belief that all students must have the opportunity to participate in communities of inquiry.

It would explore Inquiry-based learning approaches at the centre of the higher education experience, and examine how various Learning technologies like e-learning offer opportunities to enhance the campus experience and extend learning through the innovative use of on-line resources, asynchronous collaborative learning opportunities, and electronic communication.

Commenting on the event, Dr. Howard Reed, Director of Dubai Women's College said that "We believe in the need for strong connections and the use of technology for building a professional learning community."

The event, which was co-sponsored by the Australian Learning and Teaching Council, provided a forum for tertiary level educators to consider best practices and issues related to teaching and learning in a blended learning environment.

"The interactive and student-centred nature of the blended learning environment has much potential for creating better learning conditions for second language students," said Dr. Ryba and Selby.

"The key drive is to show Dubai Women's College's commitment to being on the cutting edge of education for the 21-century by using the state-of-the-art technology that is available to us as educators,"

said Donna Behl, co-coordinator of the organizing committee.

Among the guest speakers were Associate Professor Jim Peterson from Monash University, Australia, Dr. Linda Selby, Dean of Education at the Royal University Bahrain for women, and Dr Ken Ryba, a global education consultant and Director of E-Academy21.

Together they have many years of experience developing excellence in e-learning at the University of Calgary, Canada and University of Auckland, New Zealand, respectively and have pulished extensively on the subject of blended delivery.