ictQATAR brings eSchoolbag to independent schools

Initially, 200 students from al-Wakra Independent School for Girls at the seventh grade will receive Tablet PCs to be used inside the classrooms where they can learn independently at a more creative level to gain an understanding of the subject matters and to continue interacting with their respective teachers from home.

ictQATAR entered into a strategic partnership with the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) to introduce this innovative project in Qatari schools and provide local educators with the opportunity to gain knowledge of Singapore's leading experience in ICT development.

Leading educational technologists from Singapore will oversee the implementation of eSchoolbag in Qatari schools and provide the necessary training for teachers in technical and pedagogical skills.

Dr. Mohamed Al-Ansari, ictQATAR's e-Education Manager said that schools in Qatar should acquire cutting-edge technologies in education to improve students learning and performance.

He also added that, "eSchoolbag is an innovative technological tool that takes students learning to new horizons of collaboration, research, and interaction. eSchoolbag provides learning methodologies that support the objectives of Qatar's national curriculum standards in math, science, and English."

The eSchoolbag package will provide each student with a Tablet PC that allows for digital inking technology i.e. note-taking, sharing and editing information electronically. The package will also include e-contents on science, math, and English which will be used by teachers as ready-to-use materials mapped to the Qatari curriculum standards and allow them to customize and add their own materials to fit their students' needs.

Additional resources in the package include:-

(i) Virtual Classroom to assist teachers in classroom management.

(ii) Mind Book is a digital based note-taking and mind mapping tool, set to enhance students' learning process.

(iii) Construction tool is a digital web-board that enables students and teachers to use virtual geometrical tools such as a compass, protractors and curve rulers.

(iv) D-Book, an interactive application which combines intuitive technology and innovative learning tools to allow students to study more independently and effectively.

(v) Britannica Online School Edition to give teachers and students instant access to four complete encyclopedias that ensure consistency with classroom topics and age-appropriate language.