Educators and students of various schools in Qatar were given special recognition yesterday for their efforts in using Knowledge-net (K-net) as a hub for educational initiatives and a core eLearning tool. The Supreme Council of Information and Communication Technology (ictQatar), in cooperation with the Supreme Education Council (SEC), held an awards ceremony yesterday at the Diplomatic Club where they honoured schools that participated in the second phase of the School K-net project, which made significant and unique achievements. The K-net, a three-way educational portal connecting users with resources, is currently deployed in 37 schools in Qatar. There has been steady progress in its adoption and in the recognition of the benefits of e-learning. “We’ve helped schools get a forward-looking strategic vision and have been working directly with more than 180 teachers in Qatar to provide support in operational activities, including addressing technical issues, delivering workshops and holding individual sessions,” said Slawomir Klos, e-Education Project Manager at ictQatar. IctQatar presented awards in eight categories to individuals and schools demonstrating excellence in technology-enhanced educational practices. “The extraordinary contributions of these individuals and schools showcase how to effectively integrate ICT into pedagogy with student-centric learning and help build virtual communities of teachers, parents and students in Qatar,” said ictQatar’s e-Education Manager, Dr Ghadah Omar Al Fakieh. A new K-net logo was also unveiled at the ceremony. It was chosen out of 20 entries submitted by 37 schools in Qatar. The project is one of the pioneering projects that highlight the cooperation between ictQatar and the SEC. From only eight participating schools in 2005, the project has grown to reach 37 schools. Plans are in place to include all Independent Schools next year in the K-net, which will be the gateway for various upcoming educational projects in Qatar. http://thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=Local_News&subsection=Qatar+News&month=June2009&file=Local_News2009061163917.xml

Follow us on our social media channels: @ILQlive @ILQlive @ILoveQtr ILoveQatar