Staff Reporter
QATAR-based NGO, Reach out to Asia (Rota), is to conduct a teacher training workshop as part of its Connect RotAsia programme, where teachers will be introduced to iEarn - the International Education and Resource Network.
iEARN is the world's largest non-profit global network enabling young people to use the Internet and other new technologies to engage in collaborative educational projects.
The training, to be conducted from March 20-22 at the Qatar Academy Senior School, is aimed at facilitating the establishment of the iEARN initiative in Qatar (iEARN-Qatar), a spokesperson said.
“The initiative will provide opportunities for students and teachers to collaborate through the network with over 120 iEARN communities around the world,” he added.
As part of the training module, teachers will be introduced to the iEARN concept and tools. The training will provide teachers with the planning skills to implement a 6-week online project between March and May. The online project will be executed with the support of iEARN coordinators.
A face-to-face workshop will also be held, followed by a project outcome presentation by teachers and students, it is learnt.
The iEARN-Qatar initiative will be implemented in three phases: establishment and initiation between March and July; capacity building of trainers and school coordinators and international expansion of iEARN-Qatar community between September and July 2009; and iEARN-Qatar connecting to the iEARN-Arabia regional network between September 2009 and July 2010.
The programme happens to be one of components of the Connect RotAsia-Knowledge Network initiative.
“This training workshop is in line with our vision and the Knowledge Network we envisage. The training is the first step towards establishing a sustainable iEARN-Qatar learning community. It is a major step in enabling developing communities to upgrade and acquire skills and gain access to technology for the purpose of education,” said Cherie Clark-Moore, head of Connect RotAsia.
“iEarn will also play a pivotal role in facilitating intercultural exchanges, besides bringing teachers and students together on an international K-12 community and best practices platformm,” she added.
Rota's Connect RotaAsia programme connects schools and higher education institutions in Qatar with similar institutions in developing Asian countries. The goal of the programme is to facilitate sharing of information, knowledge and educational resources, as well as building educational capacity in local communities.