Educators from around region discuss means to improve learning

DEAD SEA — Educators convened on the eastern shores of the Dead Sea on Saturday, to network, engage and learn.

More than 1,000 educators from across the region are taking part in the second Teacher Skills Forum, which this year focuses on themes related to early, concept-based, differentiated and STEAM learning, which pertains to science, technology, engineering, arts and maths.

Revolutionising education to cope with changes taking place in the world, namely the digital revolution and the influx of information, is a requirement that Arab countries "cannot afford to neglect", experts said at the opening of the forum, held by the Queen Rania Teacher Academy (QRTA) and the International Baccalaureate (IB).

"The 2015 teachers forum seeks to provide participants with the opportunity to learn new pedagogies and develop innovative ways to integrate technology in education, while discussing means to improve classroom education and overall school communities," QRTA CEO Haif Bannayan said at the opening, held under the patronage of Her Majesty Queen Rania.

He added that the two-day event, taking place at the King Hussein Bin Talal Convention Centre, also aims at bridging the gap between theory and practice when it comes to teaching.

The forum includes 132 training workshops, half of which are being presented in Arabic, according to Bannayan, who noted that the QRTA initiated pre-conference activities which enabled teachers to explore answers for their pressing education-related issues.

"A total of 383 teachers and 115 speakers took part in the pre-conference activities," he said.

George Rupp, chairperson of the IB board of governors, underlined the significance of the forum.

"We are meeting at a time and in a place that cries out for commitment beyond self-preoccupation and understanding that focuses on the challenges of respect across cultural differences."

He commended Queen Rania's efforts to develop education, noting that she has been "invaluable in encouraging and sponsoring outstanding educational ventures throughout Jordan and across the region".

"In particular, I congratulate her on the development of this teacher’s academy, which promises to become, or already is — an indispensable forum for teachers in the entire region," Rupp noted.

Also at the forum, Senator Haifa Najjar presented a paper focused on education in Jordan and challenges facing it.

She stressed that teachers are the Kingdom's tool for change and prosperity, a belief that stems from their ability to inculcate concepts of openness, respect and good citizenship among the younger generation.

"Educators should seize the opportunity to regain their role as social activists whose role goes far beyond closed classrooms," Najjar said.

David Hawley, chief academic officer for the IB, detailed ways through which teachers can motivate students to think and find solutions to different challenges they face.

In an interview with The Jordan Times on the sidelines of the forum, Ratna Ghosh, professor of English at McGill University in Montreal, expressed her enthusiasm about the forum.

"The future of our countries lies in the hands of teachers," she said.

Ghosh is participating in a forum session titled "The Right to Be Different", which tackles ways in which teachers can maintain students' different identities.

After living in "homogenous" societies, the world is entering a new era, when differences are colliding rather than celebrated, according to Ghosh.

"Globalisation, international migration, imported labour and the influx of people in and out mean that different cultures, religions and languages are coming together. We have to recognise these differences," she said.

"Difference does not mean deficiency. Teachers should respect and celebrate differences in children, because if they have good identities, they will be secure people," Ghosh added.

The professor underlined the importance of this concept in fighting radicalism, which thrives on people's lack of belonging.