‘Projects’ the most common jargon that we hear in offices is a reality of the corporate world today. There are teams who are allocated different job tasks and all work when put together forms a project, which is then presented to the management. By definition, a ‘project’ is an individual or collaborative effort that is carefully planned in order to achieve a particular aim.’

How can project-based learning be applicable to an Educational Institute? Well, in today’s highly competitive world, each school is trying to outdo the other and the IB culture is picking up pace. The ‘student-centered’ learning approach is being given more importance, where the child is the center of focus, and the lesson plans are incorporated basis the grasping capabilities of the student. Progressive regions such as Dubai in the Middle East, therefore pay focus on project-based learning due to a number of good reasons.

Here are a few advantages of the Project-based learning approaches:

#1 Collaboration

Usually, a project is a joint or collaborative effort by students who work together in groups on a topic that is assigned by the class teacher. While doing so, interaction takes place and there is an exchange of ideas. Students learn to foster friendships and learn about their own strengths and weaknesses. Another important skill they develop is the importance of listening skills. Good listening can help students develop the right attitude towards the workplace and learn to maintain positive relations with everyone. As they put it, ‘When there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved.’

#2 Critical Thinking

Academic knowledge and technical capabilities are great in a workspace, but alongside that, additional competency such as ‘Critical Thinking ability’ gives a boost to the applicant’s resume. In the context of academic space, Critical Thinking means going beyond books or merely memorizing facts. It involves problem-solving and coming up with solutions using an evidence-based approach. Working on a project topic, say, ‘Gravity in our Solar System’ is a great way to get students digging the internet for information, referencing white papers, picking up a relevant book on Solar System from the library, and even interviewing relevant people from the industry. Executing a project in a hands-on manner will enhance the learning process manifold.

#3 Creativity

Chalk and paper barely give students the chance to express their creativity. A teacher-centric approach becomes more like a one-sided conversation where the aim of the school is to complete the assigned topics and get students to appear for exams. Contrary to this, project-based learning focuses on up-skilling the student by not only focusing on the academic aspect but also developing the student holistically. When assigning project work, schools in the UAE and other regions not only grade students for the quality of matter but also for the way it was presented and how innovatively the slides are designed. Children learn to use apps like Canva, Figma, and Slideshow Maker, which contributes to their knowledge of technical skills. Thus, project-based learning is the Holy Grail to unlocking creativity among students. TechnoKids follows a project-based approach and divides computer science lessons into modules. Students can collaborate, participate, and evolve at a solution, to enhance their coding skills and technical capabilities.

#4 Empowerment

It’s easy to study the Questions and Answers from an important pool of bank, but real empowerment is gained when students are given the freedom and independence to use their skills in the best possible way. IB Schools in GCC and other developed regions, organize an incubation cell that promotes the exchange of ideas and debate between teams, thereby empowering students to put their views forth. Executing a project comes with the division of roles and responsibilities, where one person assumes the role of a project leader. The project leaders then decides how to assign the tasks amongst others depending on each one’s strengths. Assuming a position of leadership at an early age empowers children to be more independent and identify their own capabilities. Celebrating one’s own achievements and reflecting upon oneself, is good progress in itself.

In conclusion, ‘learning by doing’ via project work instills a love for learning and passion which cannot be discovered in the pages of a textbook.

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Kids look forward to Summer Breaks and are happy not having to go to school for an entire month. Initially doing nothing and just relaxing at home seems interesting, however as days pass by boredom sets in. Our restless children suddenly have nothing to look forward to and may become lazy or cranky due to lack of activity and stimulation. As a parent, you need to find ways to keep your little ones busy, even during the slack period of the Summer Vacation. But how do you pick an activity that would be of interest to your middle-aged growing kid? Read through the Blog, to find out more.

Firstly, let us read some pointers about why Summer Breaks are beneficial to kids.

• An excellent opportunity to spend time with friends and family members.
• Unwind and de-stress from the mundane tasks of studies.
• Good time to travel and explore different cultures, places, and food.
• Identify and develop a hobby that might turn into a passion later.
• Up-skill by signing-up for an internship or volunteering for a social service project.

Here are a few ideas to spend Summer Break Productively:

#1 Enroll for a Sports Camp

During normal hectic school days, there is hardly any time for children to catch up on their physical activity. So, the best time to do so, is during the breaks. A sports camp is perfect to get the heartbeat pumping, make new friends, and learn a bit of discipline. The best part is that students get to try our different kinds of sports activities such as; horse riding, football, swimming, and even golf. Learning a new sport each week seems like an exciting agenda! Expert coaches guide and train students to come out of their comfort zone and develop confidence, which is the key to any skilled athlete. A healthy go-getter spirit on the cricket pitch will translate into inculcating a habit of healthy competition even in the classroom, later on. Check out local sports camps in your neighborhood across Dubai.

#2 Hobby Classes

There are umpteen number of hobby classes that run special programs during vacations. Check with your kid what he or she is inclined towards perusing and then find a local hobby class in your vicinity. Creativity can be discovered and children get to expel their energies in a positive fashion by joining an art class, learning to play an instrument, trying their hands at cooking or baking, and even gearing up to dance to the tunes of salsa. Other options include; photography, jewelry designing, coding class for the nerds, and acting or drama lessons. Hobbies are a man’s best friend and a guaranteed stress-buster.

#3 Go on a Vacation

Wondering what’s so productive being on a vacation? Well, as they say, ‘To travel is to take a journey into yourself.’ This basically means to figure out yourself and your purpose in life, it is important to travel and explore the world. When you travel from the UAE to a vacation spot in Bali, you are opening up doors to so much information, that you wouldn’t find in the school textbooks. Knowing people, interacting with them, eating different food, snorkeling with sea creatures, and trekking on mountain tops, invigorates the soul and makes children even stronger emotionally. Investing time in traversing the globe, is the best gift you could offer your children. Coming back to school and telling stories from your vacation is such a proud moment for most preschoolers in GCC regions.

#4 Extend a Helping Hand

Foreign Universities give brownie points to students who have gone beyond their call of duty and been an indispensable part of society. Well, there are numerous NGOs in the Middle East to help underprivileged children or even elderly people who have no families. Singing up to volunteer there is a noble act and quite gratifying in the end. Setting the right values at a young age, means you are raising children to be helpful members of society, instead of just focusing on money and personal career growth. Words like empathy, sympathy, donation, and brotherhood, teach us to become a little more sensitive to others, especially in this busy digital age that we live in.

#5 Up-skill While You at It

We are not necessarily implying ‘studying’ during a summer break, but more like a brain-stimulating activity that helps children go beyond what is taught in the classroom and have fun while researching more on topics of Math or Science. Mathletics, as a platform works wonders for kids who wish to increase their MQ (Math Quotient) and delve deeper into the subject. Learning Spanish or French in an Arab-speaking region is a good welcoming change, and eventually makes our children smarter by keeping the brain agile. Reading books that you couldn’t find time for during the school schedule, is also another activity to consider during the summer break.

So what are you waiting for? The summer break is just around the corner and there’s plenty to do. Your body, mind, and soul will thank you for spending these days-off well before you get back onto the old routine.  

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In today’s highly competitive and digitalized world, Robotics has become an important topic of discussion. AI – Artificial Intelligence is the buzzword everywhere, as various functions that a human would usually do are now being automated. For example, there are apps that auto-generate content, prepare complex codes, and even smart tools that can design a complete website from scratch within minutes. How fascinating is that! If you are stuck while programming, just ask ChatGPT, ‘Buddy this code has a bug, how do I fix it?’ and in the blink of an eye you would have the answer. Just Chat it out with an AI and get most of your queries answered. Then there is the ever-evolving Metaverse. A universe that allows you to meet friends virtually, even if one person is in Dubai and the other peer resides in Paris. Great way to get people closer and socially connected on the net! In every industry field, be it medicine, IT, automobiles, real estate, and even education, robots are ruling and adding value to human lives. Through this Blog, let us look at some of the advantages vs. drawbacks of introducing Robotics programs in Schools.

Here are a few good reasons to incorporate Robotics in Schools

#1 Right Age to Introduce Robotics to Children

When children are in their prime years, learning is more effective. The brain develops rapidly at 7 years of age and therefore the student is eager to receive all kinds of information and retain it for a lifetime. Most IB Schools in the UAE have an agenda to support the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) structure, and therefore integrating the study of Robotics works wonders. The focus has now shifted from mugging conventional History & Geography chapters, to actually studying what is relevant in the job market and focusing on getting learners ready for great career opportunities.

#2 Hands-on Practical Learning

Just like Math requires us to understand the formula and apply it wherever appropriate, coding requires us to understand computer language and apply it as per suitability. This requires practice and hands-on activities that support the process. Robotify is an excellent platform where children learn to code virtual robots by working on their computers. There is no need for any external hardware, thereby reducing the cost of coding sessions. Robotify has been endorsed by educators in GCC regions for its user-friendliness and gamified modules that intrigue students to delve deeper and have fun while studying.

#3 Creative Thinking Skills

Students love to indulge in activities where they can explore their creativity. What could be more exhilarating than coding an app from scratch and using creativity to build a Robot that dances when the light turns blue? There are Robotic competitions that invite students to participate and showcase their inventiveness. Have you heard the news about that 15-year-old boy from Sharjah who constructed a humanoid robot that can speak in 7 languages at an Olympiad? Then there is another lad from the Middle East who got an opportunity to showcase his waste segregating Robot at Expo 2020. Such ingenuity is only possible if schools encourage youngsters to take up Robotics as a passion.

Some downfalls of teaching Robotics in Schools

#1 Too much exposure to screens

Children anyways spend a lot of time scrolling through their phones and are even addicted to social networking platforms. This robs them from exploring nature, interacting with friends while playing a sport, or building strong relationships with parents. Being a screen nerd may even affect the child’s emotional well-being, as he gradually finds it difficult to share his feelings because of being isolated for long hours in a room practicing how to crack a code. At the end of the day, a Robot can’t replace human touch or interaction

#2 Additional Burden of Studies

While it is lovely to aim that your child becomes an all-rounder by expecting him to be good academically and in extra-curricular domains, it may adversely affect the child’s morale. Parents who put pressure on their kids lead to the child developing withdrawal symptoms, becoming moody, and losing interest in studies. All work and no time to unwind makes Zack a dull boy!

#3 It is Expensive

Setting up a coding class includes investing in appropriate software, and hardware and hiring trained instructors who charge a hefty fee. Other than this, miscellaneous expenses on electricity costs and buying laptops for each student may also count as a hindrance. However, as we have already spoken about Robotify earlier in this Blog, it is a much cheaper alternative and is quite effective to get students started on their Robot coding journeys. In conclusion, though there are pros and cons to everything in life, we must have the ability to choose wisely. Compared to the many advantages of preparing students for the future, we guess the cons can be overlooked. However, remember to not pressurize the child, as interest in any new subject develops gradually. Let children be inspired and develop a genuine love for coding vs. being a burden on them.

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According to the reports published by UNISEF in 2021, about 240 million children suffer from disability. Learning disability (LD) is becoming a serious concern as more & more kids are identified with symptoms that restrict their full potential to thrive during the most important developmental years in school. Most LDs are identified in pre-school years, however some students don’t find out until college years.

Types of Learning Disabilities

#1 Dyslexia:

In dyslexia the learner has a problem reading as he has a difficulty matching letters to its sounds. Dyslexia is a disability that affects the part of the brain which processes language and speech. This is the most common type of LD and 1 in every 10 children suffer from Dyslexia.

#2 Dysgraphia

The handwriting of children with Dysgraphia isn’t too clear. There are issues with spacing between words, and the legibility isn’t proper. Dysgraphia hampers the fine motor skill development of students at young age and thus it hinders the overall development process.

#3 Dyscalculia

Dyscalculia is a disorder where it becomes rather difficult for the child to comprehend numbers and math calculations. Students have trouble identifying numbers, counting, and performing multiplication & division functions.

#4 ADHD

The symptoms of ADHD include difficulty in focusing and the child becomes hyperactive, leading to impulsive decision making. The traits are usually demonstrated by the age of 6 and it causes one to suffer at school, due to short attention spans and having problems staying organized. If not treated or controlled, it may lead to Anxiety disorder later.

Above, we have mentioned just a few types of LDs, but the list is even more expansive.

Coding in Schools

Coding has become a mandatory subject in schools due to the IB culture picking pace up in Dubai and other Middle East regions. Robotic extra-classes are held on campus and children are encouraged to participate in inter-school Robotic competitions to display their tech prowess.

Now the question arises, how can a student suffering from learning disability study coding or try their hands on inventing a Robotic masterpiece?

When teaching coding there is a combination of language, analytical skills, reading skills, and vocabulary involved, which students with LD lack.

Those suffering from ADHD may find it difficult to pay attention to the intricacies required to code a topic and thereby apply problem-solving approaches to debug the software.

Looking at this topic from a positive periscope, there are advantages that can actually improve the condition of students with LD. Let us highlight how this can happen;

Confidence Building Exercise

It is true that students who have LD usually seem to have a low self-esteem. Coding is a practice that makes the learners confident, because one is allowed to experiment and use easy Scratch programming with drag & drop feature to give the computer commands and make it do as told. Just imagine what a boost it is for a student who is a little weak in studies, to be able to create his own App which may solve the problems of a society. Thus, many schools in GCC encourage integrating Robotify as a platform to start teaching coding of Robotics at an early age, to everyone in school.

Creates a Sense of Inclusiveness

When assigned a group activity to the class, especially a one that’s a coding project, the student with LD feels involved, as he feels a part of the team and can actually contribute towards realizing the goals. Inclusive Education has been embedded in IB school culture across the UAE and team-bonding gives students an opportunity to increase their inter-personal skills. The best part about group-work is that strengths and weaknesses are analyzed and basis each one’s capabilities, work is assigned or divided.

So, next time as a parent if you are hesitant of enrolling your kid into coding or Robotics classes, research the advantages one can gain, which may better the child’s condition and improve the condition of being LD.

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In today’s highly busy world, we hardly find the time to invest in quality reading. Browsing through the headlines and reading a two-liner gist on Social Media, is considered adequate to learn about events that are going on around us. Let alone the time factor, there are numerous benefits of Speed Reading that you did not know. If you are a bookworm or even a beginner, you should give this article a read.

#1 It is good for the Brain

Comprehending the verses of articles at top speed offers your brain the exercise that it needs, in order to stay agile. We’ve heard the common phrase which says ‘Use it, or lose it’. This is applicable to brain development too. Challenging your system to grasp the context speedily, will only enhance the information-receiving process of the brain and help with memory retention.

#2 Increases vastness of Knowledge

Normal reading is done at approximately 280 words per minute, while speed readers are capable of reading between 400-700 words per minute. Speed reading through an exciting novel allows you to finish cover-to-cover in less time, thereby making time for you to purchase new books and read some more. You now have a handy tip on how to accomplish your goal of reading 70-100 books a year and gain a mammoth of information!

#3 Improves Emotional Well-Being

Reading is an immersive experience, more like meditation. Unwinding with a good book after a long workday is the best way to calm down. Speed reading in a way improves your emotional well-being because your focus is on the text and other worrisome thoughts are out of the bay. Reading Eggs is an excellent Reading Platform for kids. It has a comprehensive library that helps children choose a book of their interest and read it via the app or purchase a physical copy. Thus, Reading Eggs is quite popular in the Middle East and other developed nations where such educative apps are given preference.

#4 Habit Forming

If you do an activity over and over again, it becomes a habit. Reading is definitely a good habit to follow and once you get addicted to speed reading, it becomes a part of your everyday routine. Enjoying the process will help you become a voracious reader and even be respected for it. Friends and colleagues will come to you for recommendations on the next best book to read, and it is a matter of pride, thereby giving you the confidence to follow your passion even more deeply.

#5 Solve Complex Problems

Challenges may come unannounced and finding a quick solution to a problem needs fast thinking. Reading Buffs who are already accustomed to speed reading are equipped to tap their subconscious mind and derive a resolution almost instantly. If you don’t want to let your life problems get overwhelming, start a Reading Eggs subscription in Dubai or across UAE regions, to get started on this wonderful speed-read adventure.

#6 Better Time Management

As already discussed earlier, the most common complaint is not having enough time to dedicate towards a profound activity like reading. Often there is an internal dialogue as to how much time should you allocate to reading a novel per day. Ideally, spending 30-45 minutes a day is enough, and being quite efficient at it, you will manage to complete a considerable chunk of the book, allowing you the time to focus on other mundane daily activities. If you reside in any of the GCC regions, you may even visit a library or opt to read while having coffee at a café. Either way, you can pause – read – and continue your day as usual, if developed the correct technique of rapid reading.

To conclude we would like to add, that don’t just be a reader, be a smart reader! Keep yourself motivated to read and create an impressive impact within your community by setting an example. Knowledge never goes to waste and the market is flooded with an ocean full of books out there. So, go pick one up and get reading!

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