Reach Out To Asia (Rota) has hosted an iEARN (International Education and Resource Network) teacher training workshop on project based learning methodology.
A group of 124 teachers from 20 independent and private schools attended the workshop. The event provided the opportunity for the participants to collaborate with an online network of educators and learners across 140 countries.
iEARN is a non-profit organisation that connects schools and youth organisations worldwide via a virtual network to empower young teachers and students, encourage inter-scholastic collaboration, and promote debate on world issues in real time.
The programme allows participants to take advantage of the collaborative features of iEARN, which enables them to meet national requirements and enhance personal development.  
For the third year running, the training workshop was organised in collaboration with the National Centre for Educational Development, College of Education at Qatar University, and sponsored by Muntajat.
Shamma  al-Dosari, ICT for education specialist at Rota, said the iEARN-Qatar programme equips teachers with the skills to empower students to realise their full potential and make positive contributions to their communities.
“The workshop is a truly global initiative that has been specifically tailored to meet the needs of teachers and students in Qatar. iEARN’s model of global project-based learning allows young students to acquire skills in critical thinking and cross-cultural awareness while connecting their learning to real world issues, making learning both challenging and enjoyable,” al-Dosari added.
Since the programme was launched in 2008, more than 670 teachers from 110 schools have attended iEARN-Qatar workshops and participated in numerous iEARN projects with their students.
The programme also offers educators an opportunity to join the Rota Knowledge Network for professional development to enable them to integrate internet technologies and project-based learning into their curriculum.
Marwan Muftah, Arabic Language and Islamic Studies Department co-ordinator at Michael E. DeBakey High School who attended the workshop, said: “The programme enabled us to further our professional development and introduced us to an invaluable global learning network. I look forward to incorporating these innovative teaching methods into our curriculum, which will enrich my students’ learning experience.”
The iEARN-Qatar programme builds on the basic principle of  project-based Learning by connecting classrooms around the world via an online network.
iEARN is the world’s largest non-profit global network that enables teachers and students to use the internet and other technologies to collaborate on projects that enhance learning and make a difference in the world. More than 50,000 educators and two million youth across 140 countries make up the global education network.
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