Month: March 2015

Posted on by Edsys

Private schools have become ubiquitous in UAE for some time now. But unlike the public education sector, its counter-parts were not monitored that often. As a result the quality of education took a dip, but the number of private schools went on increasing. Likewise, school fees were also becoming a major concern as most private schools had increased their fees several folds.

The lack of knowledge about where the trouble is also made it difficult for schools to improve its quality. The necessity of a body which collects such data was becoming unavoidable.

Enter KHDA

Prior to KHDA, parents, teachers and students had no clue about the performance of schools and had to blindly join schools based on hunches. The mission for KHDA at hand was to improve the private education sector. To help with this, they appointed the Dubai School Inspection Board (DSIB) to collect data on private schools.

The data collection is done on an annual basis and these data are made available online. The data can even be obtained through mobile apps. These data can be used by schools to improve upon themselves. It also allows parents to get an idea of which school to opt for.

Stats show that within the first 5 years of its operation, KHDA has witnessed 51% increase in schools labelled as good and outstanding. Apart from identifying the weaker schools, KHDA also does its bit to help improve the condition of these schools. This approach was to help those schools that could not improve by themselves. Adding to this, events like "What Works" are also conducted to enlighten teachers on what to do in order to improve quality.

Lessons to Be Learnt

  • All aspects of the private schools need to be monitored and help must be given to weaker schools to improve performance.
  • An information collecting body needs be appointed for this purpose.
  • Based on the information collected, a database needs to be formed which contains the list of schools based on their performance.
  • All the information collected needs to be made available to parents and students easily and nowadays a website is the best way of sharing all this information.
  • Schools must also be able to access this information and make use of them to improve. The data collected needs to specify the areas where the schools need to improve and take actions accordingly.
  • Transparency of information should be made compulsory and is considered to be the hallmark of good governance. For this all the information that is collected should be made available to the public.
  • The information parents and schools get needs to be authentic in order to be made useful.
  • The fee structure for a school needs to be constructed on the basis of the quality that they are willing to provide. Hence a neutral body such as KHDA could be of great help in identifying outstanding schools.
  • The database needs to be updated regularly based on a periodic scrutiny of the schools.
  • The role played by this body should not just be confined to collecting data and making them available to the public. They must also take responsibility to improve the quality of education by improving the condition of the educational institutions.
  • They must also be able to suggest methods by which the schools can improve their performances.
  • Collaboration of schools rather than competition is what is required to help develop the education system on a whole, than just focusing on particular school.

The performance boost of private schools has been so remarkable that other countries too can take a few tips from KHDA. Especially in a country like India where a new private school is built every month, such performance analysis could be vital.

Posted on by Edsys

 

“Formal education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune” -Jim Rohn

As a student, you were never trained to speak up in school nor at home. If you sat silently without daring to give a single opinion on anything, you may be staying the same even today. There might have been a moment when you wished to speak up, but didn’t have the courage to do so. You might have cursed the school you studied in for not grooming you to talk. You might have wished that you got an opportunity to express yourself and for those who did, you hailed them as heroes…the failure of traditional learning…

That is exactly why educators are leaving behind traditional teaching techniques and are adopting technology involved learning. In traditional learning, knowledge is limited to books but technology involved teaching provides greater opportunities for the students to learn and explore. Apart from that, it allows students to connect on a global level and earn deeper knowledge about a certain subject. To support technology involved learning there are many mobile and web applications, such as smartapps for preschoolers, available. The school apps, which are in the form of games or activities instill interest in students and make learning an easy affair. Apart from apps for learning, there are many applications that also ensure safety of students such as ParentApp and also allow effective interaction between teachers and parents.

Must Read:

     10 Cool School Apps for Teachers

The field of education has just begun adopting technology to classrooms and therefore, the students are yet to be acquainted with the changes. As a teacher, it is your responsibility to ensure that students are comfortable in the new classroom environment where Internet is the star.

If you are thinking about ways you can prepare the students for a connected world, here they are:

1. Encourage Students to Speak Up

Every student may differ in terms of character and behaviour. Some may be smart and extra active while others may be shy to even speak a word out. The reserved behaviour won’t help them in future especially while attending an interview. Therefore, it is necessary to motivate the students to speak up. In the Internet connected world, students may find it much easier to speak up since they don’t meet anyone in person but just have to give an opinion. This adds to the confidence of students and hence, the teachers should ensure a positive environment for students to come forward and speak their mind out.

2. Student Blogs

Blogging is being practised in many schools across the globe. It provides students an opportunity to think creatively and write anything related to the currently relevant topics. Blogs are one of the best tools for students to raise their voice and give opinions.  Ask students to update their blogs on a regular basis and share the links to the blogs so that other students can go through the blog posts and comment.

3. Ask for Feedback

Just like you have an opinion on the performance of every student you teach, students too have something to say about your teaching. But, they rarely get a chance to voice their opinions. You can ask your students to give their feedback on your teaching via Internet. This can help you to improvise your teaching skills. It is also a way to show that their opinions do matter.

4. Tell them that you don’t have all the Answers

Usually, teachers are considered to be equal to an encyclopedia. They are expected to know about anything and everything on Earth and are expected to answer every question a student asks.  Prove them wrong this time and encourage your students to explore and find the answers themselves. This gives the students a better understanding of the subjects themselves and to make use of the connected world to the fullest.

Recommended Read:

Top 12 Classroom Management Tips

5. Let them Understand the difference between Progress and Performance

Without putting efforts, nobody can achieve anything. Also, in education, performance of students is evaluated on a regular basis. Hence, it is not sufficient for the students to perform well just once. They should make regular progress in their academic performance in terms of grades and understanding of the subject. Technology involved learning provides a better platform for students to explore every subject in depth and for the regular analysis of their performance.

6. Offer Engaging Topics

In traditional learning, teachers don’t usually discuss about a topic further with students once it is taught from the text book. Be different and starts discussing about topics relevant to the subjects students learn. Let them use all kind of technology and Internet to find out more about the subject and have a better understanding of the same.

7. Digital Story Telling

Give this activity a try. It is the modern version of already existing story telling in schools. Ask students to narrate a story based on a particular theme, a historical event or about life on the other corner of the Earth. This helps students to think more and develop their creativity. They also get to learn about different culture and how they are different.

Posted on by Edsys

“Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today”-Malcolm X

What we learn today is to be put to use tomorrow. But it’s not easy to face the competition in future just using bookish knowledge. Technology had stepped into the field of education long ago. Books have been replaced with gadgets and lessons with apps such as smartapps for preschoolers that are in the form of games or activities to instil interest in students.

“Children must be taught how to think, not what to think”-Margaret Mead

Unlike traditional learning which provides limited knowledge to students that is just confined to the textbooks, technology involved learning provides a much wider platform for them to explore every subject in depth. With the blending of technology with education, students are given the opportunity to make independent choices, to think and to face challenges.

Changing trends…

Technology evolves with time and schools are supposed to be updated about the changes made and introduce students to the same.

The current trends in technology involved learning are:

SMS/texting in classroom

About a decade ago, schools had prohibited students from bringing mobile phones or any other gadgets of the sort. But now, schools use text messaging as a tool to connect with students as a part of e-learning. It involves SMS quizzes, surveys and texting of questions to students before teaching a chapter in class. Text messaging can also used to remind students to bring a study material or to do homework and to connect with a generally shy student.

Use of apps for parent-teacher communication

Before, parent-teacher communication meant the parent-teacher meetings that were held post examinations in schools. Many parents tend to miss the meeting due to their work or other reasons. For such parents, the apps for parent-teacher communication, such as the ParentApp are a blessing. ParentApp provides the opportunity to parents and teachers to interact with each other whenever they have time. Also, parents are provided with reports regarding their child’s performance in school and the latest happenings in the child’s school.

Social media in classroom

You usually use a social media network to connect with your friends and family. But some schools have come up with the idea of using social media platforms such as twitter to connect with students and to hold discussions about a particular topic.

Free online courses

You want to learn two courses or more at the same time? If it was before, you had to wait for one course to be completed before you start another. But online courses have made it easier for you to learn whatever you want. The classes will be held in the form of webinars and study material will be in the form of e-books.

3D printing

Visual learning is always more effective than theory. Students tend to learn faster and understand a subject completely using 3D printing. All you have to do is print 3d models of all complex structures and use them to teach students.

The future trends in technology involved learning will be:

Digital textbooks

The field of education is all set to undergo a tremendous change by going paperless. Students won’t be carrying around textbook but a tablet or a gadget of the sort with digitalized versions of textbooks stored in them. This move can help the schools save huge amounts of money.

Time management tools and communication software

In future, students may not have to attend school on a regular basis. They will be able to sit at home and connect with teachers via communication software to attend classes. There are various time management tools available in the market so that educators can ensure that students are completing their assigned tasks on time.

Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)

At present, Employees in many offices rely on their own devices such as laptops, tablets etc. to work rather than using company owned systems. He “Bring Your Own device” practice has shown to increase productivity among employees and saved the companies lots of money in terms of products and computers. This trend is soon going to hit educational institutions as well.

Cloud-based apps

Cloud computing is getting popular these days and very soon, you will see it entering the world of educations. Many cloud based tools are going to be used where sharing of information will get easier.

Open textbooks

Open textbooks are gaining popularity in schools around the globe. They are digitalized textbooks in print, e-book or audio format that can be downloaded, improvised and shared by students, teachers and parents.

The trends in educational field are quick and happening. Hopefully, the upcoming trends will change the face of education sector by providing wider platforms for students by letting them think deeper about subjects and preparing to face various challenges.

Posted on by Edsys

You come into the class when the bell rings, teaches what is there in the books and leave when the period ends!

This is the case of most classrooms around the globe. In the beginning of the academic year, it may appear to be fine but further into the year, the routine starts getting monotonous for both teachers and the students. The students will stop paying attention to your class and they will not show any interest in your lectures. That’s the biggest failure you can encounter in your job as a teacher.

“A favourite teacher becomes a permanent inspiration and admiration in a students’ heart for a life time”-Ty Howard

Yes! To be loved and remembered by your students forever is quite an achievement. For that, you have to make your classes much more interesting and win over every student of yours. You have to come up with activities that can spice-up your class and also make students aware of the academic progress they have made so far. Add an extra dose of fun and let your students interact with you regarding any subject other than you reading out things for the class.

Not getting any ideas?

Here are 10 great ideas that you can use to turn your dull and boring class to a place brimming with activities:

1. Resolution blog

You can set start   this activity at the beginning of an academic year. Like a new year’s resolution, you can ask the students to set a goal for the academic year that they can fulfil by the end of the year. Let the students begin the activity by creating a blog to track their progress. They can create a video or text post to explain about the resolution and its importance. Help the students to create a plan to achieve the goal they have set and post it in their blog. Have them post updates on a daily or weekly basis and help them to analyse their progress towards achieving the goal so far and to identify the challenges that lay ahead. Also, allow them to post comments on classmates’ blogs and provide necessary advice.

2. Student-led conferences

Usually, when parent-teacher conference occurs, students stay as silent spectators. They just watch parents and teachers discussing about the students’ academic progress so far. But, this time, let the students have the upper hand in parent-teacher conferences. Let them organize their work till date and share it with their families. This provides confidence to students to take care of their learning and also to identify their growth and challenges.

3. Student tech leaders

Technology has found its way to classrooms long back.  Most schools use apps such as smart apps for preschoolers and gadgets that aid in teaching. But you may need little assistance while introducing new technology to classrooms. The student tech leaders can help you out. Just like an employee is hired in a company, you can ask students to apply for the “tech-leader” post by writing an essay on leadership and love for digital learning. From the selected students, you can hire 4-6 people to be the tech leaders. You can utilize lunch breaks to discuss about the new apps and devices that are to be introduced in the class in the following week. On the day you introduce the new technology in class, the tech leaders will serve as helpers for you and assist you at times of need.

4. Social media day

This is a great way to engage students and teach them to be more social and outspoken. You can use social media platform to discuss about a particular theme or idea and even engage the whole school in it.

5. Backchanneling

If you are hesitant about letting your students enter twitter, you may try Backchanneling. Backchannel is the practice in which you use networked computers and have real-time chatting sessions online where you discuss various topics and give live remarks.

6. Narrate a story with a map

You usually use Google maps to explore a location. But, have you thought of other possibilities in utilizing Google maps? What about telling a story? You can ask your students to choose different locations from Google maps and develop a story. They can post the updates of story development in their blog.

7. Book trailers

With technology dominating over books, children don’t seem to be fascinated by story books like we were. This activity is an excellent opportunity to encourage reading among students. You can ask your students to read a book of their choice and then create a book trailer using different applications available.

8. QR codes

QR codes motivate group learning. Instead of carrying around study materials and things of the sort or calling out each person to demonstrate their part in an activity, you can create a video demonstrating a particular lesson or describing the activity and the role of each student in the activity. Then, you can simply print the QR code with the name of the lesson or activity and place it in the allotted space from where students can scan it to find out about the losson or their tadk in the activity.

9. Challenge Based Learning

Traditional learning meant simply learning out of the textbooks. That could help in earning grades but the knowledge cannot be put to use outside the school campus. With the future following the principle of “survival of the fittest,” those students who still follow the traditional learning techniques may find it hard to survive the competition. Therefore, it’s time to replace traditional learning with challenge based learning which allows students to face a challenge and to discover or explore a subject in depth.

10. Virtual Field Trip

You may not have many places to visit with your students in your city and you may be tired of visiting the same museum or zoo over and over again. Why not try a virtual field trip using Google’s connected classrooms? Students can take a trip on their own or you can arrange a virtual field trip by joining with an organization.

Posted on by Edsys

“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” – Anonymous

Teachers are experts at teaching while parents are experts in their children. Healthy relationships between teachers are parent can boost the kids. Effective communication between the two is of great importance for grooming students in the best possible way. Many teachers consider that building a powerful relationship with the parents of their students is futile.

Get Best Free Parental Apps (Check it Now)

Classroom education is not merely about grades and scores, it’s a way of moulding children to become better human beings and to achieve knowledge about the world around. The relationship of a child with his/her teacher and parents are completely at different levels. Only 13% of a child’s time is spent at school and the remaining 87% is at home and communities.

Follow these 11 simple tips to ensure better relationship with the parents of your students:

  1. Every academic year should begin with a parent teacher meeting
  2. Greet the parents and smile at them every time. A warm, positive and friendly encounter can make a lot of difference.
  3. Learn the name of all the parents and declare the intention to maintain better relationship with them. Make clear the positive effects of a good parent-teacher relation on their children
  4. Always maintain communication with parents. Not only to report the  bad incidents of the child but also appreciations of the child should also reach them
  5. Find a translator if the parent cannot talk the language of the teacher. Never hesitate to maintain contact with parents
  6. Ask queries about children. Ask parents to inform the teacher if a child faces any personal problem that disturbs him/her
  7. Listen to the parents and also encourage them to speak for the children
  8. Enquire about the talents of each child. A good teacher always aims at the overall development of his/her students
  9. Parents can be invited to participate while making important decisions. Listen to their opinion and arrive at a conclusion depending on that
  10. Share with parents even the minute achievements and developments of their children
  11. Teach parents the simple techniques that can be used at home for teaching their children

Research indicates that when parents communicate with the teacher of their children and involves in their child’s education, children are more successful in school and education.

Due to busy schedule, sometimes it becomes a little difficult for teachers to concentrate on each student. Management Software can help teachers in managing a lot of tasks, and more time can be dedicated to the development of students. Students who are aware of regular communication between teachers and parents trust the teacher a lot more and are likely to put more effort towards studies.

Get Best Free Parental Apps (Check it Now)

Likewise, a student who knows that his/her teacher rarely or never communicates with their parents often pits the two against each other. That is counterproductive and will create problems for the teacher. Building trust with parents can be advantageous to students’ progress. Welcome parents as your education/teaching partners.

Parents and teachers should understand their responsibility towards children, increasing the trust between them. The relation can help in moulding the children and also equips them with confidence for the future. Children must be well-educated in this electronic era; the positive side of everything must be taught to them. Sharing is caring.