Etihad Museum, an entity managed by Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), the emirate’s dedicated entity for culture, arts and heritage, has launched a ‘Teachers Pack’ as part of the educational programmes to celebrate International Museums Day. 

 

The International Museums Day is celebrated on May 18, each year and co-ordinated by the International Council of Museums. On this day, museum directors have an opportunity to connect with the community and offer a range of special activities that highlight the role of museums in the lives of nations and peoples. 

 

This year's event was held under the theme ‘Hyperconnected museums: New approaches, new publics’.

 

Through this year’s theme, the focus will be on the how museums are adopting technological advances to reach a wider public beyond buildings and premises, and how they are using social communication channels to enhance visitor experiences and interactions with museums.

 

The ‘Teachers Pack’ will be distributed among teachers to help them structure their school visits to the Etihad Museum, in partnership with the Ministry of Education and the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) . 

 

The pack contains information, guidance and suggestions to ensure that the learning experience is enriched and aligned with school curriculums. It can be used as an extracurricular tool to support students' education and provide comprehensive information about the ‘Union of the UAE’ in the curriculum.

 

The pack also includes activities that are suitable for primary, middle and high school students to complete at the museum or back at school. 

 

They are designed to encourage students to learn through exploration and develop critical thinking and communication skills, supporting the museum’s purpose as a key educational and knowledge sharing centre for students and experts, as well as an iconic source of historical information for future Emirati generations. 

 

Abdul Rahman bin Mohamed Al Owais, the chairman of Dubai Culture, said: "We are delighted to join the world to celebrate this important occasion, which highlights the importance of museums and their role in preserving human heritage."

 

"We have chosen the Etihad Museum as it is a dynamic 21st century museum focused on inspiring visitors with the story of the founding of the UAE. The ‘Teachers Pack’ will help our teachers to share the dedication and commitment of the Founding Fathers to their students, while also highlighting their patriotic spirit to encourage younger generations to follow their example and develop their loyalty to the nation," he added.

 

Marwan Ahmed Al Sawaleh, the undersecretary for Academic Affairs at the Ministry of Education, said: "We are always keen to partner with entities and institutions that support our ongoing mission to develop an innovative educational system that enriches knowledge while also preserving the heritage and national identity of students."

 

"We praise Dubai Culture’s efforts to promote the Founding Father’s values among students through the ‘Teachers Pack’, which is part of the ongoing educational programmes that the Etihad Museum has launched in celebration of International Museums Day, stressing on the important role museums play in promoting the UAE’s cultural identity and passing it down to future generations," he added.

 

Dr Abdullah Al Karam, the director general of the KHDA, said the launch of the ‘Teachers Pack’ in celebration of International Museums Day, also coincides with the ‘Year of Zayed’ initiative.

 

"The ‘Teachers Pack’  is an important opportunity to enrich the learning experiences of children both inside and outside the school. It will teach new skills for the future and enrich a learners understanding of the culture and heritage of UAE," he added.-TradeArabia News Service