Internet in classroom to 'open up opportunities'

Dubai: Technology in the context of education could offer pupils and academic institutions a range of opportunities, said academics and officials.

Shammema Parveen, knowledge officer at Edutech, a provider of technology-enabled solutions to academic institutions, said technology plays an academic and administrative role in schools.

All student data such as academic performance and qualifications, experiences, extracurricular activities and payment schedules are registered in a system accessible to the pupils, teachers and parents.

Through a portal, she said, "the parents could see the performance of their children on a timely basis. They don't have to wait for the parents' meeting. And they don't have to wait for a report card to come in".

The technology also tracks a pupils's absences; a computerised system automatically sends an SMS to the parent when a pupil fails to show up on a school day.

On the academic front, she said, "the lessons are customised for every pupil on what they should be learning. They have access to their materials, homework, and requirements within the system".

Shammema said at least 15 private schools in the UAE use the administrative system and 40 schools in the UAE use both the learning and administrative system. The Ministry of Education mandates the administrative system, she added.

Public schools have a different kind of a system, described as "technology-based learning system", to help them learn English, Mathematics and Sciences.

Edutech, she said, recently implemented smart classrooms in 22 schools in coordination with the Abu Dhabi Educational Zone.

The computer-based environment of smart classrooms "gives the pupils the opportunity to practice in their own time and pace".

Badria Yousuf, Head of the Software section at the Ministry of Education, said the ministry is working to implement technology in the learning and administrative aspects.

The process requires training the administrative staff the basics of computer usage. Currently principals of 163 public schools are required to complete the International Computer Driving Licence programme.

The Dubai National School uses both the learning and administrative systems. The Dubai Modern High School stopped sending printed circulars two years ago and relies on SMS and the internet.

But there are use of technology in schools and classrooms has some challenges. Technology should be used in the appropriate measures and to address the right kind of problems, said Shammema.

The challenge is to match a specific technology with the requirements of the pupils. Finding teachers fluent in technology-based education was another challenge, she said. The Vice-principal of the Dubai National School, Zafer Baker, said local and Arabic-based curriculums should advance the use of technology in education.

Parents, he said, would argue that the internet could distract pupil's attention since the World Wide Web has many alluring and un-educational features.

IN TOUCH
E-mails help schools keep parents informed

Rahela Nanjiani, a Pakistani housewife, said she started using email when her daughter's new school asked for an email address to send circulars and notices to.

She now checks her email at least once a week to stay up to date with the goings-on at her daughter's school.

Rahela believes email is more convenient because it allows the school to contact the parent directly instead of relying on the student to deliver the message.

"Its easier to keep up to date with the school, especially if the student is in a situation when she has to miss school for a long time," she said, adding that her daughter often forgets to giver her notices from school.