Guidelines are in response to the innovative initiatives by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan and in line with the designation of 2015 as the 'Year of Innovation' in the UAE

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 9 March 2015: In response to the initiatives launched by H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, to promote innovation in education throughout the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and in line with marking 2015 as the 'Year of Innovation' in the UAE, the Mohammed Bin Rashid Smart Learning Program (MBRSLP) today announced the completed guidelines for the MBRSLP Innovation Council, whose members have recently been appointed.

MBRSLP Innovation Council consists of a group of teachers responsible for generating creative ideas to help develop the Program and strengthen it through field experiences. Members have access to students and teachers, and through research will ensure that the Program meets the required needs and maintains a standard of excellent on a continuous basis.  The Council will also encourage inter-school sharing working between school boards.

The MBRSLP Innovation Council guidelines call for making regular field tours to promote exchange of innovative ideas and practices between schools, holding regular meetings with students and teachers alike to discuss and select the best innovations in curriculum development and extra-curricular activities.

"Since the Program was initiated in 2012, we have encouraged innovation in education to build a new generation of knowledge-seeking and innovation-oriented students away from the traditional routes of learning. We seek to encourage creative minds that produce new ideas and contribute to a true knowledge economy in the UAE," said Mohammed Gheyath, Director General of MBRSLP.

MBRSLP has recently launched a number of initiatives, including the Smart Radio across select schools starting this semester. The new platform will allow school radio broadcasts to be transmitted through the Internet allowing students to actively participate in and engage with each other and with their schools.

MBRSLP plans to hold periodic training for members of its support teams, in addition to special qualification exams and special courses to ensure members are certified. Training will be especially important to parents who will be able to track their child's performance through the Programs online platform which provides access to view lesson plans, assignments and progress reports. A designated Principals' Portal is intended to stimulate knowledge exchange between various school principals and allow them to share best practices and encourage peer to peer learning, increasing cooperation between the participating schools.

In the first semester, MBRSLP provided 3,543 laptops for teachers and 800 smart boards in classrooms, reaching 24,328 students across 146 schools in the UAE, including Grade 7, 8 and 9. Teachers received tablets and smart board training, including an introduction to computers, Operating Systems and internet resources.

The training equips educational administrators with both the confidence and knowhow to capitalise on the offerings of a smart classroom, design lesson plans and tests, and engage with students and their parents, using the MBRSLP portal.   

For more information on the Mohammed Bin Rashid Smart Learning Program, please visit:
www.smartlearning.gov.ae

Facebook.com/SmartLearningAE

Twitter.com/SmartLearningAE

Instagram.com/SmartLearningAE

For more information, please contact:
Noura Alawadhi
n.alawadhi@smartlearning.gov.ae
+971 4 230 0000

Nizar Saab
nizar.saab@theportsmouthgroup.com
+971 4 369 3575

Amina Grimen
Amina.Grimen@theportsmouthgroup.com
+971 55 298 6070

About the Mohammed Bin Rashid Smart Learning Program
The Mohammed Bin Rashid Smart Learning Program is a catalyst for change working to transform the UAE's education system in line with UAE Vision 2021 by raising the standards of education to meet international standards, while setting new precedents in smart learning worldwide. The Program presents a comprehensive approach inclusive of students, teachers, parents, and principals to work collaboratively to build future leaders. Similarly, the Program works hand in hand with the vision of the Ministry of Education, ensuring that the education system is constantly evolving and is up to date with global changes.

The Mohammed bin Rashid Smart Learning Program came into formation by Ministerial Decree No. 25 of 2012, which also created a Supreme Committee to oversee its implementation. H.E. Hussain bin Ibrahim Al Hammadi, the Minister of Education, is Chairman of the Supreme Committee joined by committee members, H.E. Dr. Abdul Qader Al Khayat, Board Member of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) and the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Information and Communication Technology Fund (ICTFund) which funds the Program, and H.E. Huda Al Hashimi, Executive Director of Strategy and Policy in the Prime Minister's Office.  

The Program integrates modern technology and innovative teaching methodologies with traditional tools in order to transform the education system into a dynamic and interactive learning experience for educators and students alike. With the use of Smart Learning teaching techniques, teachers can focus more on the individual performance of each student and empower them to showcase their strengths and grow new skills. The learning process in Smart Learning Classrooms includes the support of tablet devices and laptop computers as well as smart boards alongside the existing teaching tools.

 The Program started in 2012 with its Pilot Phase, which took place in 14 government schools with Grade 7 students. Phase I of the Program covered 123 schools and fully implemented Smart Learning techniques with 11,000 students in the 2013/14 school year. Phase II of the Program will include 25,000 students from Grade 7 and 8 during the 2014/15 academic year, as well as Pilot Phase for Grade 9 students. With every academic year, the Program will proceed according to a systematic plan to absorb more students and schools until it reaches all UAE government schools by the year 2019. As the Program progresses, regular updates of all its elements including technology devices, teaching methodologies and supporting platforms will be made available.

© Press Release 2015