Bilingual STEM
Anglo-Arabic learning platform
ITM’s Andy Homden assesses the significance of a joint initiative from the UAE’s Al Ghurair Foundation and Discovery Education for first language Arabic speakers.
Language and access to learning
International education is overwhelmingly offered in the medium of English and of course great emphasis is placed in international schools on the acquisition of English language skills from an early age. But as international education becomes increasingly affordable and accessible to children around the world, how often does language stand in the way of older students new to international-style programmes, who might not have had access to strong English language learning in their primary education?
In this context, it is interesting to hear of a recent announcement by the Abdulla l Ghurair Foundation (AGF) about the launch of their new ‘STEM Connect’ programme in the United Arab Emirates. This initiative provides students between the ages of 13-18 with access to the latest digital skill-based learning opportunities in the medium of Arabic as well as English. Although aimed primarily at Emirati students in government schools in the UAE, its potential relevance to Arabic first language students elsewhere is striking.
Programme elements
According to the AGF, STEM Connect ‘addresses topics at the intersection of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math’ In order to do so, a collection of ‘short and dynamic lessons, aligned to the UAE grade-level national curriculum’ have been curated to support STEM educators teaching in the medium of Arabic with the aim of ‘stimulating curiosity, developing critical thinking skills and encouraging students to think creatively’ in this key area of learning.
Dr. Sonia Ben Jaafar, CEO of the AGF, told ITM that;
“STEM education is crucial and it is vital that young Arabic speakers have full and equitable access to this area of the curriculum. By designing engaging learning activities, we wish to foster academic excellence and empower Emirati students to become innovators and leaders who will shape a brighter future for the UAE. We want to highlight real-world challenges and encourage students to solve both local and global issues while highlighting potential career connections which links classroom learning to diverse STEM careers, showing students the real-world applications of their studies.
“It was important for us to demonstrate to students how they could use skills across various disciplines, including math, literacy, the arts, and health in a variety of careers and therefore we wanted to provide opportunities for hands-on activities using digital content, enabling students to build, design, and innovate as a result of taking part in the programme.”
Collaboration
The Foundation wished to make materials of the highest quality available. Dr. Ben-Jaafar again:
“This is where our collaboration with Discovery Education has been so important. Their state-of-the-art digital platform, multimedia content, instructional design and innovative classroom tools are so impressive and can support learning wherever it takes place. This was exactly what we were looking for – something that could enable educators deliver equitable learning experiences. We believe our bi-lingual STEM provision will be a real game-changer for Arabic speakers and their teachers not only in the UAE, but potentially further afield”.
Michael Savitz, Discovery Education’s International General Manager is equally enthusiastic:
“Discovery Education is proud to expand their partnership with the Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation to bring high-quality STEM instruction to students across the UAE. This collaboration will give UAE educators further access to the innovative resources they need to create dynamic digital learning environments that nurture student curiosity, drive deep engagement, and prepare learners for success in the classroom and beyond.”
What next?
At the end of the program, students will present their projects at a special event, celebrating their achievements with family and the community. But taking things a step further, this programme could also be of real benefit to first language Arabic speakers in developing educational contexts – something to be very much welcomed.
Andy Homden is the CEO of Consilium Education and the editor of International Teacher Magazine.
FEATURE IMAGE: Unsplash+In collaboration with Getty Images
Support Images: Unsplash+In collaboration with Getty Images Dentistry, and by Jeswin Thomas on Unsplash
About Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation
The Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation (AGF), established in 2015, is the largest private philanthropy dedicated to education in the Arab region. AGF is committed to empowering Emirati and Arab youth by providing access to quality educational programs. Through various initiatives and strategic partnerships, AGF equips the next generation with the skills and knowledge needed to contribute to the sustainable development of the region. To date, AGF has positively impacted over 118,000 Emirati and Arab youth, fostering their growth and contributions to the region’s development. Learn more at https://www.alghurairfoundation.org/
About Discovery Education
Discovery Education serves approximately 4.5 million educators and 45 million students worldwide, and its resources are accessed in over 100 countries and territories. Inspired by the global media company Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. Explore the future of education at www.discoveryeducation.co.uk. Stay connected with Discovery Education on social media through X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
