Sharjah: Children at Al Amal School for Deaf Students can now study in the comfort of their homes, using sign language videos, thanks to the introduction of the Mohammad Bin Rashid Smart Learning Programme in their school.
Al Amal School for Deaf Students, which is part of Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services introduced the programme to 14 grade eight and nine students.
“As part of the programme, 14 students were provided with tablets, 12 teachers were provided with laptops and the three grade eight and nine classes were provided with fast internet,” said Mohammad Gheyath Director General of the programme during a press conference on Monday.
Gheyath said based on the outcomes and success of the programme in the school, it might be introduced in other classes and even other special need schools.
They were provided with software that allows teachers to integrate sign language videos, said Samer Abu Ltaif, Regional General Manager, Microsoft Gulf.
“With the Microsoft Mix programme, the teachers will be able to add sign language videos to the PowerPoint to help explain the question better. They will also be able to access the content from home and study at their own pace and time.”
The principal of the school, Afaf Al Haridi, said the smart learning programme helped the students overcome restrictions.
“Before they were restricted to studying only in the classroom and the teacher, but now they can reach the info when ever they want and have the explanation through PowerPoint. We are creating the video and the powerpoints of each subject to help them reach the information easier.”
Student Abdul Hady Bassam, Palestinian, 16, said the introduction of the programme helped him understand faster.
“The information is easier to understand, carrying an Ipad is also a lot easier than a carrying a bag ful of books,” he said.
Biology teacher Fairooz Saqr also commended the programme saying: “Students understand the subject better and they are actually enjoying the process. It also makes the student more confident and dependent.”
The technology introduced by the students was provided and fully funded by the programme’s partners: Hewlett-Packard (HP), Microsoft, Etisalat, ITWORX Education and Carawan Electrical Mechanical Works.
