The Arab Bureau for Education in the Gulf States (Abegs) and the International Society of Technology in Education (ISTE) have jointly launched a new programme to prepare educator-mentors in the region.

The Abegs/ISTE Standards Coaching Certification programme, which was unveiled at the Gulf Education Supplies Solutions (Gess) exhibition in Dubai, is designed to provide sustainable support and training to classroom teachers on the effective use of technology and digital resources for learning, said a statement.

Educators who participate will learn strategies and gain knowledge about how to prepare teachers throughout the Gulf for digital age teaching and learning.

At the completion of the programme, participants will be certified as coaches (mentors) to train other educators on how to implement the ISTE Standards.

Ali Alkarni, director general of Abegs, said: “Teachers are the focus of our work. Investing in technology will not enhance learning unless teachers are equipped with pedagogical skills so that they can meaningfully integrate technology into instructional strategies in their classrooms. We believe ISTE is in the best position to help deliver this vision.”

The ISTE faculty will lead two, three-day workshops for Gulf region, followed by virtual professional development. The participants will demonstrate their learning through assessments to earn the certificate, which will qualify them to facilitate the ISTE Standards Teacher Training programmes in their home countries or regions.

Brian Lewis, chief executive officer of ISTE, said: “We’re honoured to be collaborating with ABEGS on this multiyear effort to train a new cadre of educators to lead a transformation of learning and teaching across the region. This new professional learning programme is designed to help aspiring teacher coaches fully implement the ISTE Standards in a modern, digital learning environment.”

The programme is being piloted in Bahrain, Yemen, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar. Upon completion, participants will be prepared to lead professional learning using the ISTE Facilitators’ Guide in Arabic. - TradeArabia News Service