The 4th L&T Conference: Bridging the Divide

Effat College Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Learning & Technology: Bridging the Divide The Fourth Annual Symposium 29-30 March 2006 Jeddah Hilton Hotel

PROGRAM Day 1: Wednesday, 29 March 2006 All sessions in Hilton Hall 8-9am

Registration

9 – 11am

The Digital Divide: Understanding Technology's Promises, Challenges and Solutions There is concern over the degree to which technology can enable developing nations like Saudi Arabia to address complex educational, social, and economic problems. The concern is not simply about providing infrastructure, hardware and connectivity requirements; it is also about the ability to access, adapt and create knowledge through the use of available technology and how to manage the vast amounts of information now available. This first session provides an overview of the digital divide from different perspectives. It sets the tone for the symposium by demonstrating how technology's potential for changing the way we teach, learn and work is both challenging and promising.

Speaker(s): 1. Dr. William Dutton, Professor of Internet Studies, University of Oxford; Director of the Oxford Internet Institute (Oxford, UK) 2. Dr. Manohar Swaminathan, CEO, Picopeta (Bangalore, India) 3. Mrs. Katherine Roberts, Sr. Manager, Networking Academy Program International Partnership, Cisco Systems, Inc. (USA)

11-11:15am 11:15am12:30pm

Coffee Break

The State of Technology In Learning: Saudi Arabia and the Region Are we effectively utilizing technology to achieve strategic objectives in education? In this session, panelists will share their perspectives about where Saudi Arabia and other countries in the region currently stand with regard to effective integration of technology in education. Emphasis on innovative strategies implemented in different settings will help educators formulate roadmaps for the future Speaker(s): 1. Dr. Flick Douglas, ICT Curriculum Advisor, Ministry of Higher Education of Oman (Muscat, Oman) 2. Dr. Yousef Almozaini, Secretary General, Al Madinah Center for Community Development (Madinah, KSA) 3. Mr. Mohamad Khaldoun Dia, ICT Coordinator, Dar Al Fikr Schools (Jeddah, KSA)

12:301: 30 pm

Lunch Break

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Effat College Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

1:30 – 5.00 pm

FISH! Adventure for Educators This workshop provides the inspiration needed to help transform our classrooms, our students, and maybe even ourselves. In the context of our discussions about integrating technology in education, discover the some of the tools you need to create richer, more effective learning environments.

Speaker: Mrs. Helen Downey-Street, Video Arts Ltd. (London, UK)

5:00-7:00pm

Break

7:00pm

Gathering for Opening Night Ceremony

7:30-7:45pm

Welcome address Speaker: HRH Princess Lolowah Al Faisal, General Supervisor & Vice Chairman of Effat College Board of Trustees

7:45-:8:30pm

Keynote Addresses 1.

2.

8:30-9:30

Mr. Reza Mahdavi, Vice President Corporate Affairs and General Manager Global Learning Network (GLN), Cisco Systems, Inc. (Paris, France) Dr. Martina Roth, Director of Education, Intel Innovation in Education (Germany)

Effat-Duke Partnership: Learning, Technology & the Productive Global Society The technology available today brings the ideals of learning communities closer to reality and offers increasingly innovative ways of making the collective goals of society attainable. In this session, panelists will discuss technology's potential to transform learning, enhance local and international communities, and ultimately contribute to the creation of a more productive global society.

Speakers:

1.

2.

3.

4.

9:30pm

Dr. Haifa Jamal Al-Lail, Dean of Effat College (Jeddah, KSA) Mrs Kerry L. Laufer, Vice Dean for Institutional Development & Quality Control Effat College (Jeddah, KSA) Dr. Ghazi Binzagr, Effat College Advisory Board (Jeddah, KSA) Dr. Tod Laursen, Senior Associate Dean, Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University (Durham, NC USA)

Dinner

Day 2: Thursday, 30 March 2006 Sessions in Hilton Hall or Mezzanine level meeting rooms as indicated 8-8:45am

Low Threshold Technologies for Learning & Teaching (Hilton Hall)

Last updated: 20 March 2006

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Effat College Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

While efforts are underway to bridge the digital divide, one way for academic institutions to ‘digital leapfrog’ is by adopting low threshold technologies that can increase learning outcomes of their students and productivity of the faculty. Low Threshold technologies for learning and teaching are easily accessible, easy to use, dependable, and relatively inexpensive. This session will explore some of the highimpact low threshold technologies, their benefits, examples of usage and will provide an opportunity to experience one such technology in the session.

Speaker: Mrs. Shameema Parveen, Knowledge Officer, Edutech Middle East (Dubai, UAE) 9 – 10:30am

Parallel Workshop & Presentation Sessions Hilton Hall

Improving Teaching and Learning at a Distance Ensuring quality online courses and programs begins with proper instructional design and faculty who are willing to use a variety of techniques that encourage active participation from students. This session will discuss different teaching and learning techniques that include a systematic approach to designing effective instruction in a digital environment, creating a model that provides faculty with a structure for organizing course content, and developing a template that provides a consistent look and feel for courses and makes the technology transparent to the learner.

Speaker: Mr. Emet LaBoone, Assistant Director for Instructional Design, Development & Support, Institute for Distance and Distributed Learning, Virginia Tech (Blacksburg, VA, USA)

Mezzanine

Aligning Multimedia with the Cognitive Process This presentation offers a characterization of media to help in categorizing and identifying appropriate applications of various media formats. It also highlights the practical issues in the development and delivery of multimedia and offers practical guidelines to use in selecting media formats that are aligned with the cognitive process.

Speaker: Junaid A. Siddiqui, Lecturer, Deanship of Academic Development King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (Dammam, KSA)

Mezzanine

Integrating ICT in the Classroom: The Teacher’s Role Teachers are a crucial component in changing educational strategy to establish and improve the use of ICT (Information & Communications Technology). The government of Saudi Arabia has recognized the priority of expanding the use of ICT in education to make learning and teaching easier for the new generation. This session shows how ICT requires a change in the traditional role of the teacher, who in addition to classroom teaching will require other skills and have other responsibilities. It will also provide a perspective the current state of ICT usage in Saudi Arabia and highlight some practical tips for integrating ICT in the classroom

Last updated: 20 March 2006

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Effat College Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Speaker: Akila Sarirete, Computer Science and Information Systems Lecturer and CISCO Coordinator, Effat College (Jeddah, KSA) Mezzanine 10:45am12:15pm

Beginners' Lab

Parallel Workshop and Presentation Sessions Hilton Hall

Designing Educational Multimedia: Basics and Strategies Multimedia software is any software which uses more than one medium, including text, sound, pictures, video and animation. In this workshop, participants will learn the basics of planning and creating their own multimedia projects using FrontPage, a common authoring tool.

Speaker: Mr. Mohamad Khaldoun Dia, ICT Coordinator, Dar Al Fikr Schools (Jeddah, KSA)

Mezzanine

Developing Problem Solving Skill in Math and Science Using the Squeak Environment Problem solving skills are best developed in students when the problems are real and students construct their own solutions rather than follow an algorithmic approach. The Squeak environment allows student to not only gain meaningful understandings and insights into concepts in mathematics and science but to also have fun while they develop a variety of higher order thinking skills. Squeak is a learning environment in which students build Etoys and Sim Stories, runs on many different computer platforms and is absolutely free. This session will outline exactly how students in many countries are using Squeak as an investigative and reporting tool. Participants will learn the basic of Squeak and discover how to download their own versions of Squeak at no cost.

Speaker: Dr. Flick Douglas, ICT Curriculum Advisor, Ministry of Higher Education of Oman (Muscat, Oman)

Mezzanine

CoRNEA: Fusing Technology in the School Management Environment This session will discuss how technological advancement has transformed the school management system using CoRNEA towards achieving a total solution to develop a "thoughtful learning" in a conducive and linked environment. Participants will share the experiences of the practitioner at the school level in exploring the use of technologies to deliver and manage educational materials more effectively by using CoRNEA. A demonstration of the School Management System using CoRNEA will also be featured.

Speaker: Dr. Sharifah Meriam Syed Akil, Custommedia Sdn Bhd (Malaysia)

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Effat College Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Mezzanine

Beginners' Lab

12:30-1:15pm

Lunch

1:30-3pm

Parallel Workshop and Presentation Sessions Hilton Hall

Communication Tools for E-Learning Advances in communication technology now allow learning to escape the confines of the lecture hall and enable teachers to reach students in new and innovative ways. This workshop will introduce a variety of tools currently gaining popularity among educators, and explore the creative ways in which they are being used. Participants will gain experience with tools such as blogs and podcasts. Strategies for their effective use will also be discussed.

Speaker: Dr. Annette Lagman, Chair of Department, Computer Science & Information Systems, Effat College, Jeddah, KSA

Mezzanine

Creating Effective Tutorials with Multimedia The use of instructional software to develop course materials has has become increasingly less complicated. The various instructional tools on the market today are much more user friendly and encourage faculty to develop courses at a distance with greater opportunity for interaction. Participants will receive experience in creating a narrated presentation using PowerPoint that can be widely distributed.

Speaker: Mr. Emet LaBoone, Assistant Director for Instructional Design, Development & Support, Institute for Distance and Distributed Learning, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA

Mezzanine

Integrating the Internet in the Classroom: The Future of Search Engines Search Engines are one of the most widely used resources on the World Wide Web, particularly in educational settings. This session discusses two types of search engines: search engine directories and search engine spiders. The future of search engine technology will also be discussed, and participants will have the opportunity to compare some desktop search interfaces.

Speaker: Dr. Tayeb Brahimi, Consultant, ALITAD Medical Equipment and Trading (Sharjah, United Arab Emirates)

Mezzanine

3:15-3:45pm

Beginners' Lab

Parallel Presentation Sessions Hilton Hall

Current Trends in Global Media Highlighting current developments in global media, topics in this session include: global media trends, media and the economy,

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Effat College Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

opportunities in the Middle East related to digital information, and media and the future market.

Speaker: Mr. Fred Wang, Salon Films (H.K.) LTD. (Hong Kong) Mezzanine

Blended Learning: The Future of Education in Saudi Arabia Blended education is directed mainly at working professionals interested in improving their knowledge and skills either for personal fulfillment or career advancement. It involves a blend of face-to-face interaction and independent learning experiences, uses variety of multimedia tools, and depends to a large extent on on-line learning.

Because the Gulf region represents one of the fastest-growing elearning markets in the world today, this session aims to initiate discussions to help better define the objectives and methods of blended education in Saudi Arabia.

Speaker: Dr. Zohair Sebaie, Founder of Falah International University

Mezzanine

Digital Transformation in Education: A Look Ahead This session discusses worldwide experiences in utlilizing technology to enhance teacher and student learning.

Speaker: Mr. Sam Al-Schamma, General Manager, GCC Countries, Intel Corporation

4-5pm

Closing Panel Discussion with Featured Presenters (Hilton Hall)

Last updated: 20 March 2006

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