Dubai schools invest in tech as learning goes online amid Covid-19

Schools in Dubai are transforming learning amid the unprecedented coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak. Academic institutions are advocating the widespread use of exponential technologies, making digital-related investments the new normal.

Preparing students to use technology effectively is an essential real-world skill especially under these unprecedented circumstances, as artificial intelligence (AI), augmented and virtual reality, data science and computing systems gain traction in a widely connected world powered by the internet of things (IoT).

Schools are investing in these programmes, as they ramp up to develop ed-tech solutions aimed at helping pupils to succeed academically.

Pedagogy has vastly become an online exercise

A host of school groups explained how technological advances have become imperative to provide quality remote learning to pupils.

Krishnan Gopi, Group Chief Disruption Officer, GEMS Education, said: “Our technology disruption journey is aimed at creating agile, scalable and future-ready technology capabilities for the education needs of today and tomorrow. The successful execution of our financial year (FY) 18-20 initiatives has helped us achieve significant strides in enhancing the end-to-end customer experience, process efficiencies, generating additional revenue streams, cost optimisation, technology standardization, control improvements and fortifying corporate data and assets.”

He added, “In addition, we have built an innovative intellectual property suite of products and solutions, which includes: Phoenix, an end-to-end school management platform; Phoenix Classroom, an advanced learning management system; Pulse, an education customer relationship model (CRM); Connect, an enterprise mobility platform; a health and safety and child safeguarding system; a digital re-purposing platform; a unified view of our education apps; and GEMS Alumni, a platform to connect GEMS alumni.”

Schools revamp network infrastructure & invest in R&D

Dr Brian Gray, Principal, Springdales School, Dubai, said, “We have made some significant expenditures to support online learning from latest models of laptops for all the teaching staff, revamped the entire network infrastructure and doubled the bandwidth capacity to eliminate lag time, increase speed and do away with incidents of drop out.”

The school is also investing in research and development (R&D), as AI-based permanently mounted cameras, which have the capacity to move with the teacher, have been installed. The device can also be voice activated to Zoom, an American communications technology company headquartered in San Jose, California, on the interactive whiteboard in real time.

“A budget of over Dh1.5 million has been allocated towards this. We have remained committed to using Microsoft Teams, although we are now able to see up to 96 students and other staff such as school leaders online in the one call. Our strategy is to spend our funds wisely by increasing training and building expertise on using ‘teams’ for the foreseeable future,” Gray said.

Institutions spend on subject-specific applications

Institutions are also enabling improved file-sharing modalities within secure digital learning spaces, promoting connected learning as part of a dynamic learning environment.

“In terms of costs, teachers and students have discovered a vast wealth of free digital resources applicable to learning from the foundation stage (FS) years to the sixth form and how best to use these in online and classroom-based sessions. These are complemented by carefully selected resources that come at a cost but are fundamental in ensuring a progressive curriculum can meet the specific needs of each and every student,” he said.