ictQATAR Hosted Exeter University Professor for Interactive Sessions on ICT in Education

Doha, Qatar (20 January 2010):    To reach today's learners and prepare them to be successful in the knowledge age, teachers and principals must utilize information and communication technologies in the classroom according to Professor Rupert Wegerif. In two engaging sessions hosted by ictQATAR, Wegerif, a professor at the Graduate School of Education at Exeter University, discussed how traditional methods to education are not fully equipping today's students to succeed in the 21st century.

"There is clear empirical evidence that supports a coherent approach to education with ICT in today's knowledge age. To make teaching more effective across different curriculums, educators need to adopt a more dialogic approach, one that draws learners into a dialogue mediated by ICT," said Professor Wegerif.

The Supreme Council of Information and Communication Technology, ictQATAR, held the event with Professor Wegerif to give educators in Qatar the opportunity to hear an outside perspective on the use of ICT and learn practical ways for ICT to be implemented in schools across country.

"Professor Wegerif's profound research has important implications on the need for schools to integrate ICT into their pedagogy or risk leaving our children unprepared for the challenges of the emerging knowledge society," said Dr. Ghadah Fakieh, ictQATAR's e-Education Manager.

In his remarks, Professor Wegerif acknowledged that it can be difficult for educators to change their practices and integrate ICT into the classroom. "I think the best way for teachers to change and bring new ICT-based approached into schools is through collaborative action research. By forming a collaborative internet mediated community of practitioners in Qatar that are dedicated to sharing their experiences on the use of ICT, I am confident teachers and principals in Qatar can make considerable progress."

He argued that there are three primary ways in which ICT can make a concrete difference in education: collaborative dialogue at a distance, the use of games both as micro worlds and immersive environments, and 'making cool stuff' to help develops creativity. He advised educators not to worry too much on the technical side of technology, but focus more on how it can help enhance engagement with students.  "Focus on the thinking and the creativity in the curriculum and finding activities to motivate children by building face-to-face relations with them and then using that in ICT based projects."

Professor Wegreif has researched and published widely on the use of ICT to teach thinking skills and creativity. His books 'Thinking and Learning with ICT: Raising achievement in Primary Classrooms' (2004) and Dialogic, Education and Technology: Expanding the Space of Learning (2007) develop a dialogic framework for the use of educational technology to teach for knowledge age skills in a global context. He has led several funded research projects on the use of ICT in education and is currently leading a large international project funded by the European Commission on how to improve Science education globally which will include the development of international collaborative science projects using ICT for school students.

ictQATAR's e-Education program organized the event along with its ICT leaders group, a group of teachers in Qatar that helps promote the use of ICT in schools.  

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About ictQATAR
The Supreme Council for Information and Communication Technology (ictQATAR) connects people to the technologies that enrich their lives, drive economic development and inspire confidence in the future. ictQATAR is entrusted with two primary authorities: as the country's independent and fair regulator of the telecommunications market, and as the government body that nurtures innovative technologies to benefit those who live and work in Qatar.
www.ictQATAR.qa

© Press Release 2010