"Urgent Need" for Greater Involvement of Educators and Classroom Teachers to Ensure Better Integration of Technology into Education
Dubai, United Arab Emirates: A new study developed by researchers at The British University in Dubai (BUiD) examines the impact of technology in education, and questions whether the introduction of computers into the classroom has had sufficient benefits for children in the Middle East.
The research, which was developed in collaboration between experts in the University's Faculties of Education and Information, has been discussed at a number of international conferences. In particular, it is among the first studies to examine the overall impact of the introduction of computers into schools with a particular focus on the Middle East's education sector.
A major theme is whether teaching with computers has any impact on the depth of processing in learning for children, or whether the use of tools like the internet has merely increased the volume of information that children are exposed to.
"The British University in Dubai continues to examine the issue of computers in the classroom, using our perspective as the first research-based postgraduate university in the region to understand the issues from both the technological and educational sides of the discussion," said Dr. Clifton Chadwick, Senior Lecturer, The British University in Dubai.
"My own view is that teachers need to compensate the mechanical tendencies of the computer and ensure that the medium does not distort educational ends. This urgently requires more active participation of psychologists, educators and classroom teachers," he added.
The Faculty of Education is currently working with schools across the UAE to examine the role of computers in teaching children across a range of age groups.
Experts in the Faculty of Informatics are also heavily engaged in a number of research projects looking at the wider potential of using cutting edge technologies to organise and manage information for education.
"Collaboration between the Education and Informatics department is providing a significant amount of new data and helping us to better understand the role of technology in the classroom. In this way, we are contributing to a key discussion with the UAE's education sector, and our dialogue with both Ministries and educators is proving extremely fruitful," said Dr. Naz Awan, Lecturer, British University in Dubai.
The project is made possible by BUiD's strategic decision, at the direction of its governing council, to dedicate at least 40 percent of staff time toward research activities, bringing teaching hours well below the national average and into line with the typical teaching loads at leading international research-based universities.
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About The British University in Dubai
The British University in Dubai (BUiD) is the Middle East's first research-based, postgraduate university. The University was established to facilitate access to world-class education, training and research in the Middle East. BUiD aspires to the highest, internationally recognized British standards as reflected in its partnership with the University of Edinburgh, the University of Birmingham, the University of Manchester, Cardiff University and the Cass Business School at City University, London. Each has a five or five-star rating in the UK national Research Assessment Exercise that signifies research of international standard.
The not-for-profit university offers full and part-time Masters Degree programmes and Continuing Professional Development courses in Information Technology, Project Management, Human Resources Management, Sustainable Design of the Built Environment, Finance and Banking, Education, and IT Management.
All BUiD's current Masters Programmes have received Initial Accreditation Eligibility Status from the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research's Commission for Academic Accreditation.
The founders of the University are the Al Maktoum Foundation, the Dubai Development and Investment Authority, Rolls-Royce, the British Business Group and the National Bank of Dubai. The University is governed by a Council under the chairmanship of Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum.
The Emirates Group, DUCAB, Atkins, Dubai Duty Free, Hyder Consulting, the Emirates Foundation and DUGAS are supporters of the university through financial contributions or the provision of scholarships. For further enquiries call BUiD on +971 4 391 3633.
© Press Release 2008
