UAE universities embrace mobile learning

Leading global experts in mobile and digital learning are in Dubai for the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) Mobile Learning Festival, where they discussed world’s best practice for online learning. Hundreds of educational and technology specialists attended the inaugural event recently, where a series of workshops and panel sessions were held to facilitate the sharing of ideas about the most effective ways of utilising new mobile learning technology.

The festival celebrates the remarkable uptake of mobile learning technology in the UAE. In September 2013, His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, launched the country’s Federal Mobile Learning initiative, which transformed teaching at the UAE’s three federal higher education institutions.

The revolutionary initiative is one of the world’s largest nation-wide mobilisations of mobile learning in education, with over 14,000 students at the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT), Zayed University and UAE University provided with iPads and accompanying digital learning content.

HCT’s Centre for Applied Research and Training (CERT) and Pearson recently announced their intention to establish the UAE Centre for Mobile Learning, which will provide technology, course design, and faculty development design to the UAE federal higher education institutions as well as the wider market.

Ada Lanzaro, Pearson’s Product Development Manager for English Language said: “Pearson is committed to ensuring its products have a measurable and positive impact on the learning outcomes of those who use them. We have made a public commitment to efficacy, which includes guaranteeing the effectiveness of our mobile learning solutions. In order to create mobile learning technology that can demonstrably help people learn and progress their lives, attention needs to be paid to all phases of the production process, from the initial concept and planning stages, right through to the implementation and review of the product.

“It is crucial that people tasked with the important job of designing mobile learning content understand how to structure and develop the material so that it meets learning outcomes while maximising interactivity, accessibility and engagement — and ultimately creates a successful learning experience for the student.”

Lanzaro said the UAE’S commitment to digital and mobile learning is impressive, and will help to produce graduates who are ready to thrive in a global, 21st century economy.

“At Pearson, our focus is on creating active, dynamic learning environments that help people to progress their lives through learning.