File photo of Doha Learning Days Festival
Qatar-based educators intend to bring proven innovative education solutions from across the world into classrooms.
They said that new teaching and learning practices implemented by 2022 WISE Awards winners in different parts of the world are ideal to be implemented at schools in Qatar.
In early February, a masterclass was presented by 2022 WISE Awards winners, during Qatar Foundation’s World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) Doha Learning Days Festival, which showcased informal, experiential learning experiences.
The six projects represent a growing resource of expertise and sound educational practices. In bringing forward and supporting these models, WISE is building a network of recognised changemakers in education. The masterclass served to demonstrate the potential of their “local” innovations to be adapted for different contexts and help bring about a transformation in education globally.
A science educator and a Teach For Qatar alumna, Amani Naser said, “I participated to learn about the ways in which education can be spread outside the classroom. During the COVID-19 pandemic, challenges arose in relation to the use of technology and its availability at home, and it is good for us to teach our children that they can continue learning even outside the school walls, in addition to paying attention to existing issues related to mothers, children and their education, and teachers and their development so that they can play their role properly.
“The activities and workshops (at the festival) were great, and we are proud to benefit from the experiences of specialists from all over the world and to draw new ideas from them and apply them in Qatar,” she told The Peninsula.
The masterclass demonstrated WISE’s emphasis on the role of educational leadership in supporting a more equitable and inclusive future for learners. It also gave a glimpse of discussions to come at the global WISE summit in Doha from November 28 to 29.
Megan Huggins, an educator at Doha Academy, said, “I got many ideas to bring into my classroom, especially for maths, and how students could do more project-based learning. It was fascinating to hear different ways to incorporate what’s happening in the real world into learning and use a more cross-curricular approach, where learning is spread across several different academic subjects, such as math and literacy.”
The six winning projects were Remake Learning – a US-based peer network of over 1,200 teachers, artists, librarians, designers, learning scientists, out-of-school-time educators, technologists, and school administrators — connects students with learning experiences. Focused on designing learning in low support environments to improve quality, relevance and engagement, Internet Free Education Resource Bank (IFERB) by Education Above All is a universally accessible collection of project-based learning resources enabling exploratory and student-led learning.
Pivotal in building ‘civic muscle’ among youth in India, Climate Change Problem Solvers by Reap Benefit activates action-oriented citizens called ‘solve ninjas’ through a two-month mentor-driven programme that supports them in developing affordable, quantifiable energy solutions to everyday climate issues.
Childcare Social Franchising by Kidogo is improving access to high-quality, affordable early childhood care in Kenya. Promoting an environment where children learn and thrive through social and emotional competency development, Education for Wellbeing by AtentaMente Consultores AC, provides free professional development to public school educators, a curated social-emotional learning curriculum for students, and parenting resources to foster systemic change.
Opportunity EduFinance, by UK-based Opportunity International, provides children with opportunities to learn in better quality schools through social finance, while also maximising the impact and value of education investments.
Shahd Dauleh, Learning Ecosystems Associate at WISE, said, “The winning projects reinforce education as a powerful tool to address the most pressing issues facing our society and it has never been more important to strengthen this connection. WISE recognises the centrality of schools, and of education, in our societies, but also how embracing
innovation can help educators tackle pressing challenges.”
Since 2009, 84 projects have won WISE Awards for their innovative nature and positive contributions, but also for their potential for scalability and adaptability.
