Microsoft, Aldar Academies host ‘Microsoft in Education Day’

Abu Dhabi / Emirates Business

As part of its ongoing commitment to students and teachers around the world, Microsoft collaborated with leading education provider Aldar Academies to host a ‘Microsoft in Education Day’. Involving a day of edtech training, the event was organised to highlight the positive influence technology has in the classroom, and how it transforms teaching and learning in today’s digital era.
The day of training was held at Aldar Academies’ Al Mamoura Academy, where tech experts from both organisations delivered select training to teachers from across its seven academies in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain.
“2016 was our year of innovation and excellence, but the progress can’t stop there.” said Nilay Ozral, Chief Executive Officer, Aldar Academies. “Our purpose is to empower the next generation to shape the future, and this is only possible when the teachers themselves are experts in new education technology. Our partnership with Microsoft helps us spread this expertise across the network by equipping our teachers and students with a common set of tools that encourage collaboration and enhance teaching and learning. By unifying the technology we use in and out of the classroom, we’re reinforcing the Aldar Academies standard of teaching
excellence across our seven academies.”
572 educators from 7 schools; West Yas Academy, Al Mamoura Academy, Al Ain Academy, Al Bateen Academy, Al Muna Academy, Al Yasmina Academy, and The Pearl Academy – attended hands on training sessions in both English and Arabic. They were shown how to most effectively apply programmes including Office 365, OneDrive, Office Mix, Sway, OneNote, Microsoft Classroom, and Minecraft in Education.
The participants learned how Microsoft Office and its suite of applications enable educators to transform their teaching methods by creating collaborative and interactive lessons, capturing ideas, and sharing videos and course materials. Through this approach, the learning that happens inside the classroom can continue outside.
“This is an exciting time in the field of education. With modern workplaces continuously evolving, it is crucial that we tap into student potential to prepare them for a technology-centric job market.” Said Ahmed Ameen Ashour, Education Industry Lead, Microsoft Gulf. “We are excited to collaborate with Aldar Academies to work with experienced educators, in order to impact learning environments and enhance student achievement through the transformative power of new-age technology”
The attendees were also introduced to Microsoft’s Education programs such as Imagine Academy and the Microsoft Educator Community (MEC). Microsoft Imagine Academy is a programme designed to help academic institutions offer students and faculty learning solutions for ICT skills training and certification, as well as technology essentials for professionals. Meanwhile, MEC is a platform created by Microsoft to provide online training opportunities for educators and offer peer support through the open exchange of expertise. Teachers separated by thousands of miles can discuss everything from teacher-training to lesson plans, and can share innovative practices that have proven beneficial to students, earning badges and certificates throughout the process.
During the event, Aldar Academies and Microsoft also recognised the 17 teachers who have become Microsoft Innovative Educator Experts (MIEE). The title demonstrates their effective use of technology in the classrooms, to pave the way for better learning outcomes. Aldar Academies’ MIEEs will work closely with Microsoft to lead innovation in education, advocate and share best practices with peers and policymakers, provide insights for Microsoft, and become thought leaders in the edtech space.
Microsoft also lauded Aldar Academies’ achievement as the first education network in the Gulf region to have all 7 schools join the ‘Microsoft Showcase Schools’ programme, which identifies innovative leadership and teaching in classrooms around the world. Showcase School leadership teams are part of a global professional community that embraces technology as a key enabler of institution-wide transformation.
“Microsoft’s education programmes are focused on finding new innovative ways to equip students with the tools needed for success inside and outside the classroom.” Said Ashour. “Our Showcase Schools are setting excellent examples of applying purpose driven innovation in ways to build more meaningful connections, motivate students and provide them with engaging education; empowering them to achieve more.” he added.
At the closing of the Microsoft in Education day, each participant received a Microsoft Innovative Educator (MIE) badge and certificate, acknowledging that they have learned the fundamentals of using Microsoft tools in the classroom. MIE certification is designed to act as the first step on a journey of joining a professional learning network of enthusiastic educators.
“Today was extremely important to us as a leading, forward-thinking education provider. We saw teachers train with a sophisticated set of online tools that have been designed to help us deliver better learning outcomes” said Andrew Turner, Head of Education Technology, Aldar Academies. “Tools like Microsoft OneNote allow students to collaborate on projects 24/7 from their own homes, while teachers can share best practice with each other in a similar way. We also saw Minecraft in Education, which brings gamification to the classroom to better engage pupils. Some of these tools will be used by students when they enter the working world, so it’s important they’re exposed to them early on.”