Abu Dhabi: A host of experts are lined up to speak in the second edition of the Global Teachers’ Forum, Qudwa 2017, which begins in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.
Being held under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, the two-day global forum at the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi seeks to achieve greater recognition for the teaching profession.
Three main thematic tracks will define the forum: Ask, Share and Advance.
The ‘Ask’ track includes teacher-led ‘Teacher Talk’ sessions in collaboration with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Leading teachers and experts from around the world will address topics such as the integration of active learning strategies in the classroom, the impact of effective alternative education (AE) methods on teaching innovation and how to create more inclusive learning environments for students with special needs.
The evolving role of technology in the classroom will also be addressed in these talks including the gamification of teaching, social media as a platform for future learning, and the information and communication technology (ICT) skills that are vital for future student success.
‘Meet the Mentor’ sessions will feature leading global figures who have had a positive impact on their societies.
From the UAE, Shaikha Lubna Al Qasimi, Minister of State for Tolerance; Noora Mohammad Al Kaabi, Minister of State for Federal National Council Affairs; and Jameela Salem Al Muhairi, Minister of State for Public Education, will headline the sessions.
Also from the UAE, Dino Varkey, chief executive officer of GEMS Education, as well as Victor Saad, vice-president of SABIS, will share the spotlight as home-grown, global success stories in education.
A host of other speakers will be sharing their thoughts during the two-day forum. UK-based, TED Prize-winner Dr Sugata Mitra will explore the positive role technology can play in education and the impact it has on revolutionising the way students learn. The others are Dr Scott Bolland, cognitive scientist and founder of New Dawn Technologies and a strong believer in the power of artificial intelligence to unlock human potential; Daniel Lerner, New York Times best-selling author; Marwa Kassem, learning consultant; Nesma Farahat, education programme manager of the Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation for Education; and Basel Ajlani, learning consultant at Microsoft who will present the latest Microsoft programmes that enable students to succeed and help teachers develop their careers through online courses that support classroom lessons.
