Eighteen schools from Qatar have collaborated online with schools from around the world to come up with meaningful projects in response to issues of global importance at the annual International Education and Resource Network (iEARN)-Qatar programme.
The school projects, whose subjects range from environmental issues to cultural awareness to promotion of cultural tolerance, were showcased at the annual 2017 iEARN-Qatar Open House yesterday at HBKU Student Center.
“This programme is centred on the pedagogy of project-based learning which involves students in meaningful projects that are linked to their curriculum, but as well solve an issue of global importance. The motto of iEARN is “Learning with the world, not just about it” so while the students are working on these projects, they are collaborating online with schools from 140 countries around the world,” Anwar Abdulbaki, ICT for Education Manager at Reach Out To Asia (ROTA) told the media.
One of the important projects featured at the event was on mangroves in Al Khor and its ecosystem by Cardiff International School. After discussing topics on food chain and the animals in Qatar, Year 4 class of Emma Longstaff visited the mangroves.
“We looked at the different animals there and how they live and need the mangroves to support them. While we were there, we noticed lots of rubbish and then we started discussing how that affects the ecosystem and we started talking about saving the earth. We hope to go back to do a beach cleanup in a few weeks,” said Longstaff.
Another interesting project was by Ibn Sin Model School for Boys which focused on motivating Years 1 to 4 students to write more. “The project has helped them to build self-confidence and be more open in talking about their hobbies and their dream jobs,” said Nesma Mohammed Sherif, teacher at Ibn Sina Model School for Boys, who stressed the importance of the programme in exchanging experiences among participants.
Under the iEARN-Qatar programme, different kinds of evaluative tools other than exams are utilised to hone the learners’ 21st century skills.
“These skills are very important nowadays for students to become successful in their lives we assume overlooked by most traditional educational systems,” said Abdulbaki.
A non-profit organisation made up of over 30,000 schools and youth organisations in more than 140 countries, iEARN is represented in Qatar by Education Above All foundation’s (EAA) ROTA programme.
“iEARN-Qatar programme was started by ROTA to improve the quality of education of schools in Qatar and 116 schools so far have been involved with the programme since its launch in 2008,” said Abdulbaki.
Abdulbaki is hopeful on the prospects of the programme growing bigger in the future with a lot of interest from the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MEHE) as a number of Primary and Preparatory schools were involved this academic year.
Mohammed Al Naama, Senior Fundraising Representative at Education Above All spoke at the inauguration of the Open House.
This year, 18 schools and 432 students from across the country took part, and successfully completed their iEARN-Qatar projects. Other participating schools were Pakistan International School Qatar, Al Mahad International School, Al Saliyah Independent Secondary School for Girls, Ruqaya Preparatory Girls School, Umm Al Qora Independent Model School for Boys, Iqra English School for Boys, Al Ahnaf Bin Qais Independent Preparatory School for Boys, Michael E. DeBakey High School, Al Wafa Model Boys School, Halima Al Sadia Independent Primary Girls School, Al Markhiya Primary Independent Girls School, Abdullah Bin Rawahah Primary School for Boys, Doha Preparatory Independent School for Boys, and Maria Al-Qibtiyya Preparatory Independent School for Girls.
