ICDL Arabia has launched a new initiative specially designed for teachers in the region that will help empower them to adopt  modern teaching strategies using the information and communication technology (ICT) and cyber safety in the classroom.

The governing body and certification authority for the ICDL certificate program in Egypt, the GCC States and Iraq, ICDL Arabia said the move will help teachers to upgrade skills they need to develop modern teaching strategies using ICT in their teaching practices and allowing them to achieve educational goals more efficiently.

The ‘ICDL for Teachers’ initiative enables the use of ‘smart’ classroom devices, such as smart boards, projectors, personal computers, and tablets by teachers for a more interactive learning experience, said the ICDL in its statement.

The enhanced ICT skills enable teachers to simplify routine tasks, such as planning lessons more efficiently; enhance communication with students and parents; improve collaboration between educators; and adopt cyber safety within the school environment, it added.

Aside from enabling them to use ‘smart’ technology in the classroom, the initiative will also enable teachers to become skilled with subjects such as IT security including cyber safety, online collaboration, project planning and social media.
Candidates will be awarded ICDL certificates upon successfully completing the course.

Jamil Ezzo, the director general of ICDL Arabia, said: "According to a recent research report, the recurring spend on education in the GCC is poised to reach $150 billion by 2016. The region’s governments along with the support of the private sector are keen to upgrade facilities in the education sector to offer a better learning experience to its students because of its vital role in the region’s growth and prosperity."

"International research has shown that ICT has a positive impact on students’ performances and encourages them to become resourceful and learn independently," noted Ezzo.

"Technology makes lessons more retainable by employing a variety of different learning styles helping students digest information in new ways and improve their retention levels," he added.

Ezzo pointed out that radical changes needed to be adopted in the classroom in order to improve the quality of education in the Mena region.

"The traditional classroom and current practices are no longer effective and the ability to use common office applications is inadequate for the modern day classroom. We launched ‘ICDL for Teachers,’ as a new initiative to empower teachers with essential ICT skills to engage their students in learning using a variety of instructional methods and resources aided by technology," he added.

According to him, ICDL Arabia is already working with Qatar Supreme Education Council and Bahrain Ministry of Education on empowering teachers with latest ICT skills, and is in talks with other educational authorities across the region to seek co-operation on this new initiative.

Ministry of Education in Oman was the first to adopt ICDL IT Security program for its Teachers and staff back in 2013 and so far thousands have been certified.-TradeArabia News Service