Teaching tools for the new age

The Global Forum on Technology and Innovation in Teaching and Leading, part of Getex Dubai 2010, has revealed that faculty members of educational institutions in the region are increasingly becoming more interested in how latest advances in education technology can improve the process of teaching, learning and professional development, as reflected by their growing numbers in the event.

Several faculty members from various colleges, universities, primary and secondary schools have booked their participation at the exclusive Global Forum, which will offer in-depth discussions about digital-age teaching tools and resources, including online, laptop learning, Web 2.0 tools and multimedia.

Anselm Godinho, Managing Director, International Conferences and Exhibitions (IC&E), organisers of the event, says, "Expenditure on education and learning by both the private sector and the government remains exceptionally high this year across the Middle East. Education is being valued as a very important long-term investment, which is why we have designed the Global Forum to provide an avenue for academic institutions in the region to optimise their education technology investment.

"We expect faculty members, who are at the frontline of educational institutions, to again make up the bulk of visitors as they are often the ones who are most eager to learn more about the latest development in classroom technology.

"Technology by itself is not enough. Effective development comes from the social and didactic norms used in conjunction with the technology. The forum explores how lesson plans, delivery and pedagogy can all be reworked to take advantage of new media."

Variety of topics

Aside from school faculty members, the Global Forum is also expected to attract school administrators and support staff, officials from the public sector and government ministries, ICT/IT managers and games and sport trainers.

Other key topics that will be discussed during the forum include instructional and administrative productivity tools/resources, assessing technology integration programmes, supporting research for technology implementation, mobile devices, digital citizenship and digital age learning experiences.

Getex Dubai 2010 will also incorporate the HRD and Training Forum, which will address the most pressing issues related to HR development in the region, in addition to Getex Dubai's three main segments: Student Recruitment, Education Equipment and Technology and Careers and Training.

Getex Dubai 2010 expects more than 20,000 learners to enrol in various undergraduate, postgraduate, vocational and training programmes being offered by more than 500 international education providers during the exhibition.

Global Forum lines up influential speakers

The high-profile speakers at the Global Forum include Dr Lynn Nolan, Senior Strategic Initiatives Officer of International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), USA; Dr Don Knezek, CEO of ISTE, USA; and Stephen Cox, Director of Strategic Professional Development, GEMS, UAE. Other keynote speakers attending are Chris O'Neal, ISTE faculty member, Professor at the University of Virginia and Technology Director for School District in Virginia, USA; Jared Mader, Director of Technology, Red Lion Area School District, USA; and Dr Ian McKenzie, Head of IT, Emirates College for Advanced Education, UAE.