2 Jordanian teachers to take part in global forum

Two Jordanian teachers will head to the US along with dozens of their peers from across the world to take part in the Partners in Learning Global Forum in Washington, DC, on November 7. Suhair Abu Hamad from Um Kolthoum School and Fatima Al Alem from Huraima Secondary School will compete in the forum where innovative projects involving the integration of IT in classrooms will be recognised, according to Myrna Seikaly, office manager/citizenship lead at Microsoft Jordan. The two teachers, who are part of a group of 21 educators from the Middle East and Africa taking part in the forum, were honoured as winners at the regional level during the Microsoft Middle East and Africa Innovative Education Forum 2011 held recently in Aqaba, she told The Jordan Times on Thursday. “The forum in the US highlights creativity in integrating technology and IT in curricula and the education process. Winners will get certificates and will have the chance to exchange ideas on their projects,” Seikaly added. “Winners from across the world will be able to access a portal where they can communicate with each other and share expertise in integration of IT in classrooms, a matter that reflects positively on the education process,” she noted. During the forum in Aqaba earlier this month, Abu Hamad was ranked second in the knowledge-Building category for her “A Friend to the Environment” project, while Alem took fourth place in the innovation in challenging circumstances category for her project called “Adolescence”. Alem uses modern teaching techniques by integrating in the classroom to make it more interactive and well-structured, according to a Microsoft statement. The Aqaba forum, attended by more than 200 teachers, school leaders, judges and other educational professionals from over 25 regional countries, recognised innovative teachers who creatively and effectively use technology in their curriculum to help improve the way students learn, the statement added.