ABU DHABI // Hundreds of teachers and principals representing dozens of private elementary and high schools in Dubai gathered to share their best maths and science teaching practices on Monday.
What Works Maths and Science, organised by the Government of Dubai’s Knowledge and Human Development Authority, offered educators various workshops aimed at getting schools to inspire and learn from one another.
“We were going to schools across Dubai and we were finding amazing practices, and we thought, why don’t we bring them all together and just share what’s working,” said Hind Al Mualla, head of engagement for the KHDA.
The workshop coincided with the release of the Programme for International Student Assessment results, in which schools in Dubai saw significant improvements in maths, science and reading among their 15-year-old pupils.
The emirate’s overall results were below the international averages, but significantly higher than the national ones. In maths, Dubai students scored 464, in reading 468 and in science 474. Whereas the national averages were 434, 442 and 448, respectively.
“This is a tremendous achievement,” said Ms Al Mualla. “We are certainly hoping to improve more through these collaborations.”
As educators moved from session to session, they were presented with innovative examples of what schools are doing differently to engage their pupils in maths and science.
Some teachers introduced iPads and education apps in their classrooms to hook their pupils, while others invited their students to dissect goat eyeballs, for instance.
“It’s very positive, you see what practices are actually going on in schools and they’re all learning from each other,” said Jeff Smith, director of Deira International School.
rpennington@thenational.ae
