Computer technology has reached every household and even kids in IB Schools across the Middle East and other regions, are being introduced to the wonders of PC, Web 2.0, cloud computing, and other such trendy topics. What not can you do with coding? Intelligent programmers are changing the way we work and communicate, to achieve maximum efficiency, at reduced costs. Learning to code has become as simple as learning ABC, thanks to Coding Platforms like Code Monkey, which is pretty well-known in the UAE. This award-winning tool is appreciated by over a million users and has changed the way students approach coding.

Our dear Planet Earth is currently facing issues such as; global warming due to increased pollution and deforestation. Forests are being cut down to make tall buildings for the ever-growing population. Is there a solution to combat this problem?

Well, technology alone cannot solve such a grave problem, but it can definitely contribute towards making our planet Earth a better place to thrive in.

Through this article, we aim to highlight some of the environmental problems that can be tackled via technology, in an endeavor to give a gift of a greener planet to our future generations.

What is Green Technology and how does it work?

Green technology is the only sensible way forward. It basically includes the production of technology that is in sync with the environment and causes less or as good as no hazards to the surroundings. Responsible engineering ensures our natural resources are intact and the raw materials used in manufacturing, do not negatively impact the climate. The idea of green technology is to protect the remaining resources and reverse the undue harm already done to the environment.

Artificial Intelligence and machine learning provide a vast gamut of opportunities to develop newer technologies that are more sustainable and gentler for our planet. Let us look at some of them.

Electric Vehicles

Vehicle emission is a never-ending problem that affects cities and urban development. In the year 2020, only passenger cars accounted for about three billion metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, across the world, including the GCC region. The answer to this is a quick ‘switch to EVs’. Electric Vehicles are retrofitted with more energy-efficient engines and the harmful emissions are nearly zeroed down. Fossil fuels like petrol and diesel are eliminated, as the battery can be charged on electricity and it is also a cheaper option. Solar panels can be used to provide the required energy to power up the EV car batteries, thereby proving to be even more advantageous. The Electric Vehicle Sales Market is projected to reach 15,070.2 vehicles by 2027 in Dubai and UAE markets.

Sustainable Farming

It is indeed a mammoth task to feed 8 billion people! This puts a lot of pressure on agriculture and farming, thereby leading to adopting some unreliable sources to increase yield quickly and earn some bucks. However, now that technology has become a hero, it is being integrated into farming activities to practice the ethical growth of food crops. Smart tractors, GPS technology, and the use of crop management systems are being used increasingly to avoid the usage of harmful fertilizers and thereby save lives. It also improves livestock and the yield of milk production, thereby benefiting the owner. Technology and farming, therefore, are a perfect match made in heaven. AgTech in GCC regions is especially a challenge due to the arid conditions, depleting groundwater levels, and harsh temperatures. However, the government is making fruitful efforts in the right direction to improve the condition and set an example for other regions.

Robots that help make the planet Greener

There is a Robot that can monitor the seabed and tell us what the condition is down under. Collecting samples of oxygen can help researchers find a solution to maintain ecological balance for the underwater world. The pipe crawler Robot can enter the sewage pipeline and find any defects or leakages within. This saves many lives of men who would have to do the hard work of entering the sewage system and manually clean up the blockages. Waste was usually dumped into landfills and left to rot without any monitoring. The new Waste Recycling Robot is now a superhero that is saving lives. It helps in the segregation of matter as per; plastic, glass, and metal, and then streamlines the recycling process. Now that we have seen how Technology integration is making the world greener and saving us from getting completely doomed, it is best to understand and educate our children in time, so that they can grow up into responsible citizens and use the appropriate technology to foster a healthy living.

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The world has always been inching towards the electronic and automation age. The COVID-19 pandemic has fast-tracked it ever so smoothly that it is predicted that within the next decade, over 50% of jobs will be automated. Cities like Dubai have always been highly digitalized, hence you will find the use of robots highly prevalent and slated to increase exponentially.

It may be said that learning programming or Coding is an integral part of the future and will be considered to be one of the most desired skills resulting in the highest-paid jobs all through the UAE. Learning to code allows you to control the robots. You can create and bring to life your ideas while learning other useful skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving and collaboration. Robotics can be started as early as 6 years says Robotify, an award-winning online robotics platform. Students simply have to create an account that will give them access to multiplayer platforms which present real-life challenges in extraordinary virtual environments. They can learn coding in an easy, fun and accessible manner as Robotify is an in-browser application and so does not require the purchase of additional software or hardware. The Robotify platform’s use is advocated by many schools in the GCC as it is affordable and accessible. Parents must try to give their children coding lessons to facilitate the progress of the next generation.

Man has been using tools for thousands of years. They have evolved from rudimentary implements to simple machines to today’s highly articulated robots. There is an ever-increasing number of robots being used in the industrial sector. They work right alongside humans, aiding in, assisting with and sometimes even taking over their tasks. Robots are even used in therapy sessions for children.

However, the Middle East is also of the opinion that robots are taking over your jobs and they will only contribute to unemployment. Initially, they only replaced the heavy lifting but now are making forays into tasks like logistics, driving and even inventory management. It cannot be denied that they are a looming threat to low-skilled and middle-skilled workers.

On the other hand, it is considered that automation may have a negative impact on only some labor segments and a positive impact on others where they can create more jobs, lower production costs, increase productivity and be consistent in quality. It would be prudent for the working class to now strive for higher-skilled, higher-paying jobs while being skilled and educated enough themselves to fill those roles. For example, the menial tasks of sorting, transporting or stock-piling etc., can be left to the robots, while the tasks that require higher skills such as quality checks etc can still be completed by humans.

Productivity growth is what business is all about. Low pricing, maximum output and quality of labour all contribute to total factory productivity (TFP). The Middle East invests highly in the training of its labour and the output-capacity of its machines, computers and robots. The synergies of all these factors result in an efficient business model. Hence, remaining up-to-date with the latest technology is paramount for them. Robots are consistently making the hardware part of the TFP efficient. All other factors remaining constant, it will still lead to more productivity growth. Productivity growth is further linked to GDP growth. Analysing data from over 15 years showed that across 17 countries, the increasing use of industrial robots raised the annual GDP growth by 0.36%.

There will always be two sides to this story but the role and positive impact of robotics in the future cannot be denied.

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Patterns are all around us! The honeycomb pattern of your fancy jewelry box is formed by joining hexagons together, and the mosaic pattern on your floor mat was conceptualized by using a mixture of squares, triangles, and circles, to design this wonderful piece of art. Appreciating patterns all around us is such a pleasurable experience. Then why do we not like to study the basics of it in school?

What is a Pattern?

In Math, patterns are not limited to shapes and figures. The subject goes broader and deeper by including number patterns, geometric patterns, and Fibonacci patterns. Basically, it is the observation of repeated objects or numbers, that the child can identify and continue the same sequence, to form some meaning out of it. Patterns can therefore be finite or infinite, as one can continue forming patterns in the same sequence until asked to stop. Before we understand the different types of patterns in detail, let us highlight some benefits it brings to the student.

How Learning About Patterns Helps

Patterns are a pre-Math concept and even toddlers in kindergarten across GCC regions are encouraged to play with patterns and discover their own potential.

• Arranging colors, letters, and shapes, helps children make predictions about what next. They become better observers and start to think deeply.
• In some way or the other, patterns convey the message that every day we must follow discipline, to lead a fulfilled life. Kids learn it is important to have a bath before going to school, spend 15 minutes reading, and pray before bedtime. All our daily rituals follow a pattern and learning it at an early age can improve the student’s productivity in school and build fine character traits.
• Logical thinking can be established by practicing patterns. As students get comfortable with the topic, they get accustomed to using analytical thinking and come up with a solution to any problem they face in life or while studying. This habit instills confidence and improves the self-esteem of students. Most early learners in UAE are trained to think logically, at as early as 3+ years of age.
• Creativity is fostered, as once they learn the sequence, they will be in a position to recreate the same and build new patterns from scratch. Being creative at an early allows trying out new ideas and bring them to life.

Different Types of Patterns

Number Patterns

This is the most common type of pattern taught to children. As the name suggests, numbers are made to follow a certain pattern and based on this a certain sequence is made.

The Different kinds of number patterns are as follows:

Arithmetic Pattern

Arithmetic equations like addition and subtraction, have to be applied to guess what is the common link between the numbers laid down.

Example 1:

78 – 83 – 88 – 93 – 98 ____?

Can you guess the next number in this pattern? The way to solve it is to look at all the numbers carefully and then find a link that binds them. In the above example, the numbers are increasing by +5, and so the last number in the sequence will be 103, because 98+5 = 103.

Example 2:

Let’s take another example as follows.

6 – 9 – 12 – 15 – 18 – ___?

As we can see that the numbers are increasing by 3 and therefore the answer will be 18+3 = 21.

Such fun Math pattern exercises can be practiced using the Mathletics platform. This online tool is being used by Schools across the Globe, including US, Australia, and the Middle East. The pedagogy is designed keeping in mind the IB School’s curriculum and the practice lessons are pretty fun to solve via gamification.

Geometric Pattern:

To guess a geometric pattern, one needs to be fluent with multiplication and division. Finding it hard to get your child to memorize tables? Well, simply switch to Mathletics, and find interesting study material that will motivate students in Dubai to learn tables quicker.

Example 1:

7, 14, __, 28, ___

As we can see, this is the 7 times table and the missing numbers are 7×3 = 21 and 7×5=35.

Example 2:

256, 128, ___, 32, 16 The above sequence is in descending order, so the values keep decreasing progressively. Here we know that the numbers must have been divided by 2.

256/2 = 128

128/2 = 64

64/2 = 32

32/2 = 16

Fibonacci Pattern

This name sounds funny to pronounce. However, it requires great mental dexterity to identify and then solve the pattern equation. In this type, the two previous numbers are added to form a sequence and that’s how you get the third number in the link.

Example 1:

3, 1, 4, 5, 9, 14, ___? In the above example; 3+1 = 4, 4+1 = 5, 5+4 = 9, 9+5= 14, and 14+9 = 23.

Now that you have kind of understood the importance of having to study Mathematical patterns, you can buy books, search the net, or subscribe to Mathletics to practice this with your child at home and at school.

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Reading and writing go hand-in-hand. When you read more, you can write well.

A website that is highly regarded in the Middle East and encouraged by most schools is the ‘Reading Eggs’ website. It is an online library of over 3000 books with comprehension quizzes at the end. It is a very popular platform, especially with most schools in Dubai as it recognizes that reading is an integral part of children’s development, and it facilitates the user by making it available anywhere and anytime. Reading Eggs uses facts based on scientific research and tools that suit every child’s interest. Using the Reading Eggs library is a good start for budding writers right from the age of kindergarten. It will help your children remain engaged and build a vocabulary that will help in the writing thought process.

Children from a very early age display emergent writing skills; from scribbling on walls in their toddler years to writing short paragraphs as soon as they can spell. You as parents can foster a writing habit by encouraging them with activities and tasks. Reading aloud to them, dancing to nursery rhymes and ensuring writing and coloring materials are freely available to them are a few things that one can easily do. Sharing their world and asking them questions will also fuel their imaginations and inspire their creativity.

Even if they haven’t learned how to write yet, you can help by writing what they narrate to you. It could be about their day at school, their visit to grandma or even to the local store.

Writing for children begins in stages.

The first is pictographs or visual representations of what they create in their minds. This is the pre-literate stage or the scribbling stage and forming of lines that almost resemble alphabets. At this stage applaud all and any efforts to write.

Ask them what their creation means and they will be excited to tell you the elaborate ideas and fantasies behind the simple artwork.

After steady progress at school with words and spelling, they graduate to the Emergent Stage where they are able to write words such as their name or mom and dad. At this point, they begin to associate the letters with sounds and their meanings. During this stage reading to your child proves to be helpful for him in recognising certain words. For instance, if he were to see the word dog over and over again in a book, he may learn it faster than any other and may also think about writing his own story about a dog.

After the Emergent stage comes the Transitional stage where they graduate to forming rudimentary sentences. Celebrate his writing and communication and ignore the grammatical errors he is bound to make. Encourage him to write more by making writing a part of his play, such as writing a menu card or stop and go signs for when he is playing traffic policeman.

Finally, all children will move on to the Fluent Stage where they will better their spelling and write anything between a few sentences to a short paragraph. Encourage them to write beyond a fictional story such as in a journal about their day, a letter or even a greeting card. It is okay for you to help share the writing work at this stage as some children think fast but write slowly. So offer assistance to alleviate any frustration creeping into their work.

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We’ve heard and read about Metaverse in the news and all-over social media, but what exactly is it? In simple words, Metaverse is a world that is virtual. Any ideal scenario that you wish to adopt can be transported into Metaverse. It is in a 3D format, and you can take it as far as your imagination can soar. Even Facebook rebranded its name to Meta and made a huge announcement to enter the metaverse market.

Just as you would communicate with a friend in real world, in the Metaverse, an artificial Universe is created, allowing users to interact with their buddies and coded Characters or Avatars. This seemingly interesting parallel world is used for different purposes, such as, online gaming, education, and even for difficult training purposes.

Here are some fascinating facts about Metaverse:

• According to stats, there will be a time in the near future (2026), when a quarter of our population will spend at least an hour daily in Metaverse by 2026.
• Corporates will start selling their products to consumers vis Metaverse.
• Facebook, the tech giant has already invested around $10 billion in the Metaverse business.
• Metaverse has limitless potential and biggies like; Microsoft, and Google are setting a higher benchmark to evolve their own version of Metaverse.
• They say marriages are made in heaven! Well, not anymore. Even marriages happen on Metaverse. Yes, this is for real! In India, a couple got married via the Yug Metaverse and many such events are underway to scale their social circle.
• Dubai’s Ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum declared that they are well on their way to creating a Metaverse ecosystem and the investment of $4 billion will be made by 2030. They also reported doubling the number of blockchain companies and creating 40,000 jobs.
• There’s something called as Metaverse coins and just like you invest in Bitcoin, investors will find their share of profits by investing in this $800 billion industry (by 2024).
• Sci-fi movies can be streamed on Metaverse World. And for this you do not need to invest heavily in any expensive device, simply buy a pair of VR headsets.
• Another astonishing story is about Gucci – the Luxury Fashion Brand that everyone knows about. Gucci made a digitalized version of its most famous Signature Bag and auctioned it on Metaverse. And guess how much it got sold for? A whopping $4,115 is what it made. Would you pay that much to not even have a bag in your hand, but just own it virtually? Well, only time will tell where the world is heading!
• What one experiences, becomes one’s reality! Binding this concept together, corporate training is now being preferred on Metaverse as the 3D phenomena offers a realistic scenario to employees or trainees who need the necessary induction and training. For example, if someone needs technical skills to perform work on heavy machinery, the Metaverse provides a safe space for trials without the fear of any hazards.
• Conferences between different nations across the globe can take place virtually, all thanks to Metaverse. So, a summit between leaders of the Middle East can hold a conference with American delates, seamlessly without spending on travel.
• The Covid-19 Pandemic did leave numerous countries devoid of tourism, including the GCC regions. What if another such scenario happens in the future? Is the tourism industry ready to take a big hit again? However, Metaverse is here to give tourists an authentic experience of a famous destination, before actually booking a ticket to get there. Similarly, hotels and 5-star luxury properties will benefit by putting up their project on exposure, so that guests get a feel of what it is like to experience such Luxury and get enticed to actually take the decision of booking the hotel for a night stay or a plot of land in UAE.

Now that you are aware of what Metaverse is and how technology is rapidly evolving, it is essential for Schools to catch up with changing times. Tech courses are not uncommon in IB Schools that abide by the STEAM curriculum. Technokids is one such learning platform that delves deep into teaching kids the basics of Computer Technology and even offers multiple projects to K-12 students to test their tech abilities. The biggest investment in your child’s future today would be gifting them courses on Technology so that they don’t feel left out when they Graduate from School.  

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