Effat University hosts 7th Annual Symposium on Learning and Technology

Edutainment is an approach that incorporates concepts of recreation and entertainment into the educational process. Activities such as playing games, story-telling, role-playing, watching videos, making music, etc. are used in learning situations to keep learners engaged and eager to participate.

Learning is a process by which one acquires knowledge and skills for life. Studies have shown that motivation is a key factor in successful learning, and at the same time learners are more motivated when they enjoy the process. With these two ideas in mind many educators today recognize that in order to improve, they must address the question of how to make learning fun.

Technology has become an undeniable aspect of anything and everything that needs to be completed! Moreover, our lives have been infused by new methods of networking such as Facebook, Twitter, and Blogging.

The 7th Learning and Technology Symposium will be held at Effat University on the 10th (10:00 am - 2:00 pm) and 11th of June (8:00 am - 5:00pm) covering this concept of integrating entertainment and technology into the educational and learning process.

The event will be hosting the key note speakers: Dr. Faleh Al-Sulaiman, General Director of Sci-Tech (Science and Technology Center) in Dhahran who will talk about Dhahran Valley. Mr. Christopher Barnett from USA will talk about Second Life in education.

Presentation highlights are: sms-based learning, computer games and learning, Infrastructure for Edutainment, Web2.0 in Higher education, virtual simulation, and some fun teaching experiences shared by instructors from around the world. There will be interactive workshops, video-conferences, and panel discussions.

Moreover, students will showcase their classroom experiences and their various suggestions regarding Edutainment. Educators, technology specialists, students, researchers, businesses persons, government, and anyone interested in education, technology, and entertainment will be introduced in the 7th Learning and Technology Symposium to an initiative scheme that Edutainment proposes to our educational system.

That is, directing a change in teaching and learning style in order to produce the profound leaders of this generation as well as the generations to come.