Page 48 - Connecting cities and communities with the Sustainable Development Goals
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United for Smart Sustainable Cities
Connecting cities and communities with the Sustainable Development Goals
Sharjah Science Museum Mobile App (Gamification): The student will be able to use a mobile app on
their device to explore and navigate the space and solar system in new innovative ways based on
gamification approaches.
Al Amal School for the Deaf – Sharjah: Transform the classrooms into smart-interaction classrooms
equipped with technologies that facilitate the delivery of learning objectives for the deaf students
and enhance the collaboration and communication among the students as well as their teachers.
International School Collaboration: An initiative by MBRSLP to demonstrate smart-education
capabilities among connected schools in different geographical locations to facilitate collaboration
and an exchange of experiences.
Customized Interactive Digital Content: The programme created over 3500 customized Reusable
Learning Objects (RLOs) based on various subjects.
ICT plays a key role in enabling the project by means of tablets, laptops and mobile phones used by students,
teachers and parents. The following key ICT factors have contributed to the MBRSLP’s new learning
environment:
Connected schools: Schools are connected to a data centre that provides specialized education and
learning systems on a 24/7 basis.
Connected classrooms: Teachers and students connected to the network can interact through the
classroom management systems to deliver lessons and learning objectives.
Personalized tablets: Students are provided with personalized tablets that enable them to connect
to the learning management system which helps them interact with their teachers and classmates.
Personalized laptops: Teachers and principals are provided with personalized laptops loaded with
management systems designed to help monitor and manage their work.
Mobile access: Parents are provided with mobile access to interact with school staff and teachers, as
well as to review the conduct and performance of students and feedback on teachers.
Smart interactive display boards: A central hub for pushing electronic content and services to teacher
and student devices inside the classrooms.
Learning Management System (LMS) with advanced features and personalized accounts: The LMS
allows students to access lessons, test their skills and use interactive visualization tools to help
improve their learning.
Interactive content for students: The deployment of interactive content for students involves the
creation of RLOs aligned with MoE’s curriculum that are easily accessible.
2.2 Implementation
A phased strategic approach has been adopted to implement this programme. It considers the priorities of
the UAE education system and the objectives of the MBRSLP, as well as the readiness of schools and lessons
learnt from previous international programmes. The programme has leveraged the piloting approach first
followed by wider scale implementations through various regions and academic grades. During the roll-out
period, extensive review by project management was carried out, where monthly reviews and
recommendations took place to ensure project success.
Using a holistic approach and phasing mechanism, the following five principles have guided the approach of
the MBRLP implementation in 2015:
the leadership support from the Prime Minister’s Office and the shifting of the national agenda
towards smart solutions and better education;
a strong governance system, organizational structure and robust monitoring mechanism that enable
the MBRSLP and their partners to exercise a wide range of organizational and operational agility with
clear lines of accountability;
42 U4SSC series
