Khalifa Foundation encourages paperless classrooms and learning environments

Abu Dhabi: Around 2,000 students were provided with 95 iPads and 97 laptops at several universities to move towards paperless classrooms and learning environments across the UAE.

The Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Zayed University, UAE University, and the Higher Colleges of Technology to provide the appropriate climate for students, whether a citizen or resident, to receive a high-quality education in a very comfortable atmosphere.

“iPads can improve the standards of education, be a motivation and an incentive for students to complete their studies and overcome all obstacles. In addition to iPads, we have provided other humanitarian aids, which is considered the largest in the domestic arena, to alleviate the financial burdens on some families, who have low income and can’t afford the education tuition of their children,” Mohammad Hajji Al Khoury, director general of the Foundation, told Gulf News.

iPads and similar tools actually do make a difference, if supported with guidance from instructors, Gulf News has learnt.

“It is a great initiative to provide students with iPads and improve the learning process within the classroom. I would have to say that some teachers are not yet used to iPads; however, students can use them easily and find what they need. We do exams and online assignments on iPads to find a more creative approach to a familiar lesson. We also use smartphones to connect with students from other universities across the world,” Wade Muncil, English lecturer at Higher Colleges of Technology in Madinat Zayed and Ruwais, told Gulf News.

“The textbook is quickly becoming a thing of the past and being replaced by e-texts and students are becoming proficient in making and publishing their own iBooks,” he added.