What is the Innovative Education Forum? |01 June 2011

 
Innovative teaching is important in students’ development

The Microsoft Partners in Learning Innovative Education Forums are a series of country-level, regional, and global events celebrating the achievements of innovative teachers and schools leaders.  The forums are annual events that recognise and reward innovative teachers who practice the elements of 21st century learning in their own classrooms, and then incorporate these skills into the student learning environment.  Teachers take part in a competition to win an invitation to the global event, and a chance to win top honors worldwide. 

Aside from the opportunity to be selected to take part in the Middle East African or the World Wide Innovative Education Forum hosted by Microsoft, teachers gain the chance to be connected to a worldwide community of peers to exchange ideas, explore potential approaches and develop skills.  They will be shown how to start something new in their classrooms with quality resources that help integrate ICT into the curriculum and inspire students.  They will also develop new skills through online learning and conferences, and access a wide range of educational resources to use in the classroom.

Through the use of technology available at their schools, teachers can diversify their teaching strategies and bring in more innovation to stimulate student interest and curiosity.  Innovation helps open up pupils’ minds, increases their self-belief, allows schools to respond to world changes and to keep pace with the changing needs of their pupils.

To improve students’ access to technology, schools should aim to create opportunities where students can share innovative ideas, projects and collaborate with peers in other schools.