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5 years ago
Gulf Insider talks to Mr. William Hurt, Chief Operating Officer of the American University of Bahrain on digital transformation, FinTech, and the evolving role of technology in education. What is the scope for digital transformation in education and what are the risks associated with it? The scope for digital transformation in education is as wide or narrow as institutions want to make it. AUBH came into existence at the peak of digital transformation in the region, facilitating our ability to become a leader in the field. As a start-up institution, we are inherently dynamic and we had invested heavily in technology from the beginning. We believe in the power of digital education to reach students in a profound and engaging way, enhancing their education through greater access to learning materials, instructors, and other students. As a result, our entire campus and our teaching models have been specifically developed to use the most advanced educational technology available. The risks of migrating to a primarily digital platform are twofold. First, not everyone has access to the required technology. Students who don’t have the right device at home to access programs such as Adobe Photoshop, etc., would not be able participate fully in live […]
5 years ago
The American University of Bahrain (AUBH) hosted a hybrid event on October 21, 2020, in collaboration with the U.S. Embassy in Bahrain, the American Chamber of Commerce, Amazon Web Services, and Microsoft, as part of the U.S. Embassy’s 2020 Discover America Week. The event was held on the University’s 75,000 square meter, state-of-the-art campus in Riffa and highlighted American technology brands and their pivotal role in education, in context with today’s evolving teaching and learning environments. Key U.S. Embassy officials attended the event in person along with senior representatives from the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham), while a larger number of guests attended the event online to ensure Covid-19 safety guidelines were respected. Discover America Week is an annual event organized by the U.S. Embassy in Bahrain to promote US-Bahrain bilateral trade and investment. It was designed to highlight the long-standing commercial relationship and history of the U.S. with the Kingdom of Bahrain. As such, Ms. Sameera Alatawi, AUBH’s Director of Information Technology, led a session with Mr. Zubin Chagpar, Head of Middle East and Africa, Public Sector, Amazon Web Services, and Mr. Hamad Al-Saie, Education Sector Lead, Microsoft, respectively, who demonstrated innovation in supporting the education sector and the […]
5 years ago
Gulf Insider interviews Dr. Susan E. Saxton, Founding President of the American University of Bahrain. When did you realize the pandemic was about to impact your day-to-day life and work? What immediate actions did you take and how ready was AUBH to adopt these actions? COVID-19 has changed the way that institutions globally deliver education,and the way that students approach their futures. As soon as we saw the pandemic take hold in Europe, we pro-actively mobilized our technological tools to be ready to move to an online modality. AUBH, as an institution, is in a fortunate position due to the structure of our business as a start-up, which means that we are naturally able to adapt and change very quickly. We moved to distance learning seamlessly, without missing any class time. I’m pleased that all of us, including staff, students, and support teams, have demonstrated the ability and desire to adapt and try new teaching and learning methodologies. We added measures to assist students who have had to return from studying abroad, who may not have access to all the necessary documents due to exam disruption. Being a recognized Cambridge English testing center, we were also able to offer applicants […]
5 years ago
At the start of a new academic year with COVID 19 continuing to affect the education of millions of students, as we continue to battle with the challenges and seize the opportunities, we are becoming more aware of the social and emotional impact of the pandemic on our young people. During these times, teachers across the region are doing their very best for their students, working hard to support their learning. In this new school year, we, at Britus Education, have a significant percentage of our students in Dubai, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia learning online, interacting with their teachers and peers ‘at a distance’. However, students are also in school and it has been my pleasure to visit classrooms and see children learning and enjoying the new term. However, there is something uncomfortable about watching a group of socially distanced children wearing masks and visors interact with each other and with their teacher. The current circumstances remind us very clearly that there is so much more to education than learning new knowledge – how can we, during a pandemic, provide our children with the social and emotional context to thrive and enjoy life? Whilst there may be a dearth of […]
5 years ago
Shaikha Latifa Al Khalifa, Co-founder & CEO of Clever Play Kids need a strong support system to thrive in learning be it in the classroom or online. With school, work and life in general disrupted so dramatically, how are parents to cope with the demands of future learning coming sooner than expected? Education experts often highlight the necessity of digital skills among students to train for future jobs. With schools abruptly shut down and shifted to online platforms, kids are not the only ones having to cope. Parents are challenged to quickly adapt to digital learning not only materially in terms of providing gadgets, tools and reliable internet connection but psychologically, in terms of getting into the right mindset to get a handle of the dramatic shift in learning platforms. Most parents would agree that the goal of providing continuity to learning amidst the pandemic and keeping children engaged within the safety of home is not without challenges. In the US, more than half of parents reported challenges with distance learning. With job disruptions and uncertain public health outlook wreaking havoc, parents’ stress is compounded by time management and child care issues. Yet, that is just one side of the […]
5 years ago
School leaders and their teams are busily working towards being ready for the new school year. Of course, this year, everything is different. COVID-19 continues to exert a grip on our lives and this has an inevitable impact on schools and schooling. COVID-19 is likely to be here to stay until a vaccine is developed and administered worldwide, therefore schools will be planning to offer alternative approaches to learning for the whole of the 2020-21 school year. As schools prepare for a very different start to the year it is important that school leaders remember their moral purpose, vision and strategic direction. COVID-19 has created a ‘new normal’, but the fundamentals of education remain the same – students deserve to receive a quality learning experience in a safe environment provided by schools that are trusted by their parents. So, how are schools preparing for the new school year? Carefully, is the most obvious answer! So, as a parent, what can you expect from your school? First, you should expect to have high levels of clear communication that keep you fully informed about the plans a school has to ensure your child is being given the opportunity to learn. You can […]
5 years ago
In this episode of Education_BH, Gulf Insider talks to Julie Anne Gilbert, Infant School Head Teacher of the British School of Bahrain. The interview answers the following questions:
5 years ago
Gulf Insider interviews Susanne Penner, BC Offshore Representative of the Canadian School of Bahrain. What sets the CSB apart from other schools in Bahrain? Canadian School Bahrain aims to deliver global education in an engaging and safe environment while developing children’s wellbeing and embracing their confidence in their culture. Below are factors which set CSB apart: What is the British Columbia curriculum and what is unique about it? The Canadian School Bahrain (CSB) offers the British Columbia (BC), Canada curriculum. The BC Curriculum is an internationally renowned education program of the highest standard. This curriculum teaches students through fostering a lifelong love of learning. This outstanding program offers a balanced, concept and competency-based, inquiry approach to teaching and learning that is personalized and focuses on the whole child. Along with literacy and numeracy foundations, the curriculum emphasizes on building a set of core competences. The Core Competencies are sets of intellectual, personal, and social and emotional proficiencies that all students need to engage in deep, lifelong learning. BC students at Canadian School Bahrain will receive a Personal Education Number (PEN) which is a nine-digit number that follows the student through their B.C. education path from Early Learning, to Grade 12. […]
5 years ago
Shaikha Latifa Al Khalifa, Co-founder & CEO of Clever Play When one thinks of summer – camps, the smell of outdoors, free play, exploration, and friendships can’t be far behind. Summer adventures are perhaps the best thing that could happen to kids after months of quarantine and remote learning. But is it even possible at this time? Never have school routines and academic calendars been so dramatically and abruptly disrupted as in recent months. The onset of the CoVid pandemic invites us to look at out-of-school enrichment pathways and informal education as needful reinforcements. STEM for Summer The world is looking ahead at a fast-approaching future, one that is characterized by constant flux and steady uncertainty. As jobs continue to appear and disappear according to the dictates of technology, parents and educators are prompted to look at the bottom lines. Focus is directed towards skillsets and mindsets that provide the baseline for any future endeavor. It is a given that every learner must gain digital literacy. In combination, human-based skills must likewise be developed in equal if not greater measure to reap the optimum benefits of technical skills. Human skills also known as soft skills are the ties that bind […]
5 years ago
Gulf Insider interviews Ms. Abby Saadeh, Principal of the Canadian School of Bahrain. When did the CSB start and currently which grades does the school offer? The Canadian School Bahrain opened its doors in 2019. CSB is certified by the British Columbia Ministry of Education and is the first certified BC offshore school in the Kingdom of Bahrain. The school offers a unique education program teaching the British Columbia, Canada curriculum integrated with Bahraini Social Studies, Islamic Studies, and Arabic Language. Currently, the school offers Nursery to Grade – 5, and we are planning to offer Grade -6 from the next academic year. How strong are the Arabic and Islamic subjects at the CSB? Ms. Aisha Janahi – our School Director with over 30 years of experience in education in Bahrain – is focusing on maintaining a strong integration between the British Columbia (BC) Canada curriculum and Bahraini Social studies, Islamic studies, and Arabic language at the highest standards. What do you mean by the ‘student-centered’ approach? The Philosophy of Canadian School Bahrain is to provide global education with a holistic approach, focusing on developing the child’s core competencies of communication, creative and critical thinking while developing positive personal and […]
11 hours ago
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