Students from different school showing their projects in 'What works' makers event at the Emirates Aviation University at the Academic City on Nov 9, 2015. Photos by Rahul Gajjar / Khaleej Times
Dubai - Innovation and collaboration in Dubai's schools were the buzzwords at the education event, What Works.
Published: Mon 9 Nov 2015, 11:00 PM
Last updated: Tue 10 Nov 2015, 1:10 PM
The preset formula for a successful life needs to be reversed, said Dr Abdulla Al Karam, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director-General of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA).
"The age old, preset formula where you study and work to become successful, eventually leading to happiness must go. Now children need to be happy and kept in a creative, innovative environment for future success. That is one of the keys to innovation," added Dr Karam. Innovation and collaboration in Dubai's schools were the buzzwords of the day when teachers and top educators gathered for the second 'What Works' of the academic year, 'What Works Makers'.
'What Works' - the education event organised by schools for schools - saw an electrifying gathering of more than 600 teachers, school leaders, and educators from all subjects from private schools at the Emirates Aviation University in Dubai International Academic City on Monday.
The theme highlighted how schools in Dubai are creating advanced prototypes of unmanned machinery. The students' demonstrated their skills in coding, embedded electronics, design, and all computer-related things.
Speaking to Khaleej Times on the sidelines of the event, Dr Karam said almost a year after the innovation strategy was announced, the journey for innovation has begun. "Fear towards the system has been removed from the mindsets of educators and now people have an excuse to stay outside and explore creativity."
Steering clear of all negativity, Karam insisted that success, creativity, and innovation, comes from a happy place. He said that students in Dubai will be the forerunners for innovation in the county.
When asked about suggestions to school officials on 'innovation ideas for 2016', Karam said: "Within the framework of the new education system, children will be encouraged to ask questions, and any kind of unnecessary restrictions that stop children from achieving their potential must be removed. Learning starts with happiness. If children are happy, everything else will fall into place."
He said that concept of soft skills have become outdated. "Survival skills are the new soft skills. There should be increased focus on value education."
dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com
'Robotics is the future for these students'
Eighth grader boys from the GEMS Modern Academy Samarth Kambli (13), Aditya Achari (13), and Piyush Awasthi (12) were bursting with energy as they explained their prototype unmanned bot for mid-sized to large scale industries.
Speaking about the future of robotics, Awasthi said this machine can be used in huge warehouses and airports as loading and unloading docks. "It works using colour and ultra-sonic sensors. Smaller robots can be used for shopping malls and smaller places, and bigger ones can be used at warehouses and airports," said an excited Awasthi.
"There are prototypes of these bots in the Netherlands, Germany, etc. The equipment will reduce man power and can also be controlled from an external device," added Kambli.
The boys' teacher Eriyath Lakshmi Devi who is leading the Innovation department at Gems Modern said: "It is exciting times for innovation in schools. Children are grabbing on the opportunity to show off their talents in creating and innovating. The school also presented a device that can charge laptops and mobile phones using a stationary bike.
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