ITWorx has successfully rolled out the second phase of Qatar’s groundbreaking Knowledge Net portal – which provides teachers with smart IT tools and students with access to learning resources anytime, anywhere – to an additional 37 schools.

One of the Middle East’s leading software professional services firms, ITWorx has tied up with Qatar’s Supreme Council of Information and Communication Technology (ictQATAR) for the project.

The move follows the success of the first phase of the project for which ITWorx, the global experts on the Microsoft Learning Gateway for schools and higher education, developed and rolled out Knowledge Net to an initial 12 independent Qatari schools.

“Qatar is a benchmark for transforming an economy into an information-based society. Bringing computers into the classroom for all lessons, in every subject, is an essential part of adapting the education system to fit the needs of the 21st century,” said Hossam Badr, regional director - EMEA, ITWorx.

“e-Learning changes the way teachers teach and students learn. Students benefit from learning at a faster pace while teachers collaborate better with colleagues. Parents monitor the progress of their children, even if in different schools, and communicate directly with staff, giving the school a far more central role in family life.”

The Knowledge Net portal, which is based on the Microsoft Learning Gateway, allows students to receive and submit assignments, share information with each other, and research projects from anywhere with an Internet connection.

Teachers can send and receive homework assignments, provide feedback to students and parents, upload study material, and prepare and grade exams online.

Students and teachers also benefit from vast electronic resources of Britannica encyclopaedia in preparing their assignments and learning resources. While Tawasol, a sub site of KNET, allows teachers from different schools to interact with each other and exchange their educational experience electronically.

“Building on the foundation laid by Phase I of Knowledge Net, we have rolled-out Phase II with new portal features to improve user experience and enhance technology’s support of student achievement,” explained Dr. Ghadah Omar Al-Fakieh, ictQATAR e-Education Manager.

“Additional training has been provided to teachers to assist them in integrating Knowledge Net into their teaching practices to maximize the portal’s benefits and ensure students deepen their technology skills so they can realize their goals.

“KNET has proven to be beneficial for students, parents, and teachers alike,” Dr Ghadah pointed out.

Retaining the expertise of WSP Edunova UK, a specialist education consulting agency, ITWorx extended Qatar’s online learning environment and provided full training to teachers in this new phase.

ITWorx, a Microsoft Gold Partner since 1997, customised the Microsoft Learning Gateway in both English and Arabic to cater to the independent schools’ needs.-TradeArabia News Service