Intel expands its education initiatives in the Arab world

The Intel Innovation in Education program is a multimillion dollar effort to collaborate with educators in communities around the world to improve the quality of mathematics, science and engineering education. The goal is to help students develop higher level thinking skills they will need to succeed in a knowledge-based economy.

Intel is expanding several of its education programs to help students and teachers in the Arab world develop the skills they need to be successful in the digital world and the global economy. These programs include a teacher professional development program, a community-based program for underserved young people and a resource-rich education Web site.

'Increasingly, a country's economic growth will be based on the ability of its citizens to create and use information technology,' said Barrett. 'The Arab world must use education -- especially math, science and engineering education -- to build a strong workforce that is equipped to compete in the digital economy. Countries that intend to successfully compete globally need to invest in education and information technology - and realize that both are critical for their future,' added Barrett.
Barrett announced that the Intel® Teach to the Future program - which is currently being delivered in Jordan -- will be extended to Lebanon, Egypt and Saudi Arabia in 2004. Intel Teach to the Future is a free, worldwide professional development program to help teachers integrate technology effectively into their classroom instruction to enhance student learning. To date, the program has trained more than 1.3 million teachers in more than 30 countries around the world.

The program has been embraced and adopted as a standard by ministries of education and school districts around the world. Recent endorsements have come from countries such as Jordan, Korea, Turkey, Australia, Pakistan, Poland and China. Independent, third-party evaluation by the U.S.-based Education Development Center has demonstrated the effectiveness of the program in making real change in the classroom.

Designed, Taught and Implemented by Teachers
Created by teachers for teachers, Intel Teach to the Future is built on a proven 'train-the-trainer' model that trains teachers how, when and where to incorporate technology tools into their current lesson plans. The teacher-led workshops incorporate the use of the Internet, Web page design and multimedia software into content-focused lesson plans. Teachers leave the workshop with a solid documented unit plan that engages students in the use of technology.

Other Intel Education Initiatives in the Arab World
At the end of October, Intel will also launch an Arabic language education Web site focused on providing resources and news to teachers in the Arab world. In 2004, the company will open its first Intel Computer Clubhouse in Jordan - the Arab world's second Clubhouse following the opening of one in Ramallah this year.

The Intel Computer Clubhouse is an after-school program that provides youth ages 10 to 18 access to high-tech equipment, professional software and adult mentors to help them develop self-confidence and enthusiasm for lifelong learning needed to unlock their potential and create new opportunities. Youth who visit the Computer Clubhouse learn by doing: they only play computer games they design, watch videos they create or listen to music that they compose themselves. Intel also provides the technology to network Clubhouses together, creating a global Computer Clubhouse Network linking young people around the world. To date, the Intel Computer Clubhouse Network includes more than 65 Clubhouse in the United States and 10 other countries.

'The Intel Computer Clubhouses are 'invention workshops' where youth can express themselves through their own interests to become designers, not just consumers, of computer-based creations,' said Barrett. 'Clubhouse youth love using professional software which helps them to be creative, explore their world, and gain valuable skills for tomorrow's workplace. At the Clubhouses, Arab youth will learn to use technology by investigating and discovering it for themselves.'