Project outline:
 
The Arab Innovative Teachers Forum focus is to bring together top Arab innovative educators and education managers for the purpose of sharing experience, networking and identifying the means to further collaborate to shrink the digital divide in the Arab educational systems.
 
The Forum is based on a hands-on approach:
 
The first day of the Forum centers around the design and production of ICT-based material.
 
Coached by local education specialists and armed with cameras and innovative determination, participating teachers and educators will literally embark on a city tour to compile data to be used by small teams of participants for the production of ICT-focused teachable material. The resulting team work will be entered into competition before a jury and pooled together in a shared document for free use back home by all participants.
It will also be part of the exhibition during the second day of the Forum. A detailed briefing on the logistics will be provided to participants on arrival.
 
This activity has three major objectives:
1.     To share ICT focused content design and production experience through practical collaborative work between Arab educators.
2.     To experiment with embedding culturally relevant “realia” in content design and production for Arab learners specifically,
3.     To energize inter-Arab contacts and consultations on the ways and means of managing ICT issues in the educational systems; which could lead to further collaboration.
 
The second day features – among other activities -  an exhibition of innovative productions by participants and a panel discussion on ICT and education in the Arab world. The materials produced during the first day will also be displayed for all to evaluate, then it will be presented to a jury for final assessment.
 
Experience sharing is at the heart of innovation and improvement. During the third day, selected participants and education managers will talk about their work experience, success stories and failures. This will be an opportunity for all participants to see the common issues running across the Arab classroom. Discussions will follow.
 
The Forum will fold with awards distribution, special awards and closing remarks.
 
If you think this Forum is for you, please contact us at
http://www.arab-itf.com/contact.aspx
 
Workshops
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How does it work?
 
1.    Getting ready:
 
On the morning of the first day of the Forum, once registration, briefing and group assignment have been completed, participants will leave the hotel for the content material hunt.
The content material hunt: Teachers will be divided in three groups. Each group will stay together for the whole trip. Groups will be accompanied by education specialists working as coaches.
Each group will be split into teams of 5 to 8 participants. Each resulting team will then decide on the visited landmark data to use for content design. 
 
2.    Sightseeing for a purpose:
Each group will visit three major landmarks in Rabat. The aim is discovery and enjoyment as well as data gathering for content design.  
 
Participants will take pictures, notes; ask questions on site and collect data on the sites visited.
 
3.    Innovative Teachers @ work
 
The data compiled on the visited landmarks will be reviewed, discussed, processed and finalized into some form of teachable lesson/unit/chapter for an agreed period of time and an agreed target level of learners in an Arab school.
 
4.    Coaches available:
Coaches will be around all the time to assist, share their experience and guide the teams. A sample content design template will be provided. The resulting material will be put into competition and three prizes will be awarded to the three best productions. All produced material will be common property of the participants. The bottom line here is to work together to produce ICT focused localized material, have fun sharing experience and explore potential expertise collaboration.
 
Some useful links to explore: (good pictures and good French practice.)
http://www.rabat-maroc.net/oudaias/les%20oudaias.htm
http://www.rabat-maroc.net/la_tour_hassan2.htm
http://www.rabat-maroc.net/chellah/chellah.htm