Curriculum Standards Annual Conference

Nearly 450 school leaders and teachers packed the Salwa Hall of the Sheraton Hotel to engage in lively interactive discussions on the importance of the curriculum how to encourage and motivate learners using the curriculum. An equally stimulating afternoon session followed with subject specific workshops on “Innovative curriculum activities that have an impact on learning” where subject coordinators learning other options to teaching Arabic, Science, English and Mathematics.

In his keynote speech, John Tait, Executive Director of Multi Serve, Middle East stressed on what the effectiveness for learning that a broadened view of what constitutes the curriculum and who leads it in schools can bring. He presented the audience with different options of teaching and learning; the stages of curriculum development; and how various external factors affect the design of a school curriculum. The interactive discussion allowed school leaders and teachers to raise questions on various issues encompassing the curriculum.

In their presentation, staff from Abu Baker Aseedeq Boys Independent Primary School showed that all students had different learning styles, and increased student achievement and outcomes can only be realized when each student’s needs are met.

During the afternoon session, subject specialists from the Curriculum Standards Office (CSO) provided subject specific workshops on “Innovative curriculum that have an impact on the curriculum.” Al Khaleej Independent Elementary School for Boys in collaboration with the mathematic specialist from the CSO demonstrated an alternative to teaching mathematics through using the thematic approach. This approach allows teachers to teach mathematics through themes by relating mathematics through real-life situations.

“Teaching mathematics thematically is an excellent alternative and interesting option to teaching as it incorporates applied, discovery and conceptual learning elements into the classroom as well as takes the students out of the classroom,” says Joseph Newkirk, mathematics specialist at the CSO.

The Arabic, English and Science subject coordinators also ran their workshops simultaneously