UAE educators look to embed technology and mobile learning in classrooms at Curriculum Conference

The two-day biennial conference will be inaugurated by H.E. Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and Chancellor, Higher Colleges of Technology. The keynote address will be given by Dr. Allan Goodman, President and CEO of the Institute of International Education, based in the USA.

The opening day of the conference will also feature a ceremonial tree planting by H.E. Sheikh Nahayan at 11am, as part of the National Tree Day initiative started by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai. H.E. Sheikh Nahayan will plant the tree in the grounds of the Dubai Men's College campus, and simultaneously at all of the other 16 HCT campuses ceremonial trees will be planted to mark the HCT's commitment to the 41st UAE National Day celebrations.

The aims of the Curriculum Conference and Institute are to enable the alignment of tertiary curriculum for programs, courses, and assessments to both nationally and internationally standardized and benchmarked learning outcomes, objectives, and goals. This historic Conference and Institute will establish the UAE as the hub for curriculum expertise in the region, and bring the MENA region to the forefront of pedagogical processes through the use of educational technology.

A host of international speakers, who will discuss and disseminate the latest advances in mobile learning, will include Dr. Alan Waters, senior lecturer at Lancaster University; Dr. James Ashby, president of research & development at CORE ETL; Robert Budnik, the co-founder of Live Text; Janet Hale, founder and CEO of Curriculum Mapping 101 and Steven Thyberg, vice president of business development at CurricUNET.

This historic conference will see hundreds of education experts and practitioners network and showcase best practice in curriculum design through the integration of technology, which will allow curriculum development to meet the requirements of modern societies, and to also create standardized curriculum for the present and the future.

Dr. Tayeb Kamali, Vice Chancellor of the Higher Colleges of Technology said the conference was a vital step in the integration of transformative, mobile technologies in the higher education field.

"The Curriculum Conference is a first for this region and it will demonstrate that the United Arab Emirates places great value upon the continuous improvement in teaching and learning, the solid commitment to student engagement, and to the excellent preparation of graduates for a lifetime of productive work and useful citizenship," Dr. Kamali said.

"The Higher Colleges of Technology maintains a commitment to excellence in education and a hallmark of our learning model is the strong focus on successful student learning outcomes in technology and innovation, educating our students for the 21st century," he added.

"This conference is part of the Higher Colleges' ongoing commitment to develop and implement strategies in order to embed cutting edge, 21st century learning processes into our curriculum, which will lead to greater student learning successes," Dr Kamali concluded.

The event will also include a number of workshops and break-out sessions where conference delegates will be able to interact with their peers and experts in the field of curriculum design and alignment. One interesting workshop will feature Maya Tariq Al- Hawary, the deputy director and principal of the DWC High School, who will share with delegates the DWC High School as a case study and how it is applying "futuristic technologies" for standardized curriculum delivery.

Conference and Institute delegates will include educators and specialists who are interested in advancing teaching and learning into the 21st century through curriculum development and design that incorporates digital content and technology integration.

This conference cohort will also include curriculum designers and specialists, administrators, heads of departments, program coordinators and tertiary faculty/instructors interested in curriculum development; Ministry of Education and Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research representatives and teachers; K-12 school administrators and teachers, and MENA region educators.

Incorporated into the conference will be the announcement of the winners of the Nikai faculty and student awards for excellence in teaching and studies, in the 2011-2012 academic year. The annual awards are worth Dhs25,000 each and the winners receive cash prizes, electronic equipment and a certificate.

The Nikai student award is given to a deserving HCT student who fulfills the criteria high standards of academic excellence including a minimum GPA of 3.5, community service efforts, significant contributions to student life and college activities and the student's awards/distinctions received. The Nikai faculty awards are given for each semester and are awarded to innovative programs, projects or initiatives which enhance student learning and skills.

The awards will be presented by H.E. Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan and Nikai Group of Companies Chairman Mr. Paras Shahdadpuri.