iEarn students during the final ceremony at the Qatar National Convention Centre.
DOHA: The 20th Annual iEarn (International Education and Resource Network) International Conference and 17th Youth Summit, organised by Reach Out To Asia (Rota), concluded with participants agreeing to increase relevant usage of technologies in education to reach out, learn and build a better world together.
“This year’s forum has proven that the iEarn agenda has never been more relevant. We are working together with all the educators to achieve progress and to realise our aspirations of a world where everyone is connected and where everyone can benefit from and participate in the digital world,” said Rota Executive Director Essa Al Mannai.
Kicking off the final day of iEarn conference, delegates grabbed the opportunity to participate in one of the panel sessions dedicated to social media tools in education.
The panellists discussed the innovative developments in communication and information technology of the social media revolution are connecting teachers and students in new ways that require a rethinking of traditional forms of teaching and learning. They also dwelt on the pros and cons for different social media tools and discussed how to utilise them in a meaningful way in classes.
The first day of the conference introduced the participants to some successful iEarn projects using mobile technology and analysed the basic pedagogical foundations of mobile learning related to iEarn projects.
Following this, participants witnessed a web based project - ‘MY HERO’ - that offered an archive of thousands of stories of heroes from all walks of life, who have impacted their community by saving lives, bringing positive changes or helping people become better.
World-renowned speakers Dr Mohammed Ally and Dr Essam Heggy addressed the participants about building bridges and solving the educational divide and space science as a motor to build and inspire future generations.
The delegates also had the opportunity to participate in several workshops and seminars by Julie Lindsay, Claudia Batista, Cathy Healy, Salman Al Muhannadi, Justin Kramer and Ben Robinson.
Students from participating countries had the chance to showcase their traditions and culture in a cultural night, a four-hour show of talent that manifested the meaning of ‘the global village’ in a spontaneous yet spectacular celebration of the cultural diversity within the iEarn network.
Meanwhile, participants had the chance to tour the Museum of Islamic Art, experience safari at the inland sea and visit Souq Waqif. Rota has provided scholarships for 30 teachers and students to help them travel to Qatar and attend the conference which was live streamed and watched by over 2,000 people online.
The Peninsula
