The use of laptops, iPods and text messaging can help engage today's student in the classroom, while traditional classrooms — which have, by and large, not changed much over the last 20 years — lead to student disengagement. Educationalists are increasingly realising the need for teaching environments and faculty development to keep up with the pace of technological change. The emphasis on technology will be shown through a special feature at GESS 2010, the Gulf Educational Supplies and Solutions exhibition, being held at the Airport Expo Dubai from February 23-25.
In a special feature titled 21st Century Learning, David Sample, an expert in integrating IT (information technology) into classrooms will speak on what the classroom of the future will look like, how students will learn in the future and the research that has been conducted on the use of technology in classrooms.
Educational tools
This year's fair will display tools and technology that make learning interesting, engaging and fun from Austria, Australia, the UK, Germany, USA, China, Hong Kong and the UAE. School administrators/owners, teachers and parents, keen on learning more about state-of-the-art educational equipment, will be able to get first-hand information along with demonstrations of the latest equipment and solutions in the market.
Microsoft Gulf announced recently that it will showcase its latest academic software at the event. The technology vendor's presence at the event is in line with its efforts to provide access to high-quality education experiences through technology. Its educational offerings including new solutions such as its Microsoft Office Academic Toolkit; Microsoft Learning Gateway and the already popular live@edu will be exhibited.
Zaki Khoury, business manager, Microsoft Gulf, said: "Microsoft has made a long-term commitment to working with governments, educators, students and industry partners to expand the world of learning through technology to implement better ways to transform education for the benefit of students and teachers."
Master classes
A Global Education Forum (GEF) is being held alongside GESS. It will host a series of master classes and workshops by experts. Classes will be held from 6-7.45pm and will include sessions such as Using Technology to Appeal to Today's 21st Century Learner, Supporting the 21st Century Global School, ICT (Information Communications Technology) in Primary and in Early Years Education, Special Educational Needs — Multi-sensory Solutions, Use of Software for Basic Math and Adaptive Learning.
Promethean is slated to debut its award-winning ActivClassroom for Everyone. This collaborative classroom learning solution now has Arabic character recognition.
Also being represented at the fair are McGraw-Hill and PSquared. The latter provides broadcast equipment to educational sectors in the UK. It will be exhibiting its school radio packages.
Renaissance Learning will bring its successful reading software, Accelerated Reader, to the region. Also scheduled to be present is Britannica Online which is already helping the faculty and students at the Higher Colleges of Technology to access its online content, graphics, videos, audio clips, homework planners, interactive games and quizzes.
If teaching is your calling and education your mission, GESS 2010 promises to be an exciting place to learn, assimilate and understand. For more information visit www.gesseducation.com
- The writer is director of Counselling Point. She has more than 22 years of experience in the fields of education and child welfare. E-mail counsell@eim.ae or visit www.counsellingpoint.com for more information.
