The one-day festival, held under the theme of Sharing the mobile learning experience, saw hundreds of educational and technology experts from the Higher Colleges of Technology and other UAE-based institutions gather to discuss, share and deconstruct ideas, developments and best practices relating to mobile learning (mLearning) in the UAE.

 

This learning forum is a continuation of a series of highly successful instructional and collaborative training and instructional events that took place over the 2012/13 academic year, which involved the UAE’s federal higher education institutions. 

 

In keeping with the concept of those previous events, this mLearning Festival provided an occasion for educators to share their experiences and ideas, through conversations, case studies, workshops and panel discussions about using mobile technology for teaching and learning.

 

The sessions had the purpose of sharing ideas and experiences surrounding teaching and learning with mobile technology. Some of the session topics discussed includes: Boosting student productivity in iPads, Using iBooks widgets to engage students, Mobile Learning in Language Education: An Impact Study and Differentiated Learning in Foundation Level Classes.

 

The event programme incorporated showcases from publishers McGraw Hill, Pearson and Oxford University Press, as well as sessions facilitated by Apple, Microsoft, Samsung, Blackboard, Gartner and Ellucian. There will also be a showcase of the BMW Road Safety Awareness Program, which is being undertaken by HCT Foundation students.

 

Dr Tayeb Kamali, vice chancellor of HCT, said the MLearning Festival was a perfect follow-up from the 2012 launch of the Federal Mobile Learning Initiative, as it continues forwarding the momentum of mobile learning.

 

“HCT has achieved so much in the field of mLearning and the integration of the mobile technology into our teaching and learning pedagogy.”