As the 2016-17 academic year begins for school leaders and teachers throughout the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, a number of events and workshops this week are being conducted by Abu Dhabi Education Council’s (ADEC’s) School Operations’ Professional Development Division in conjunction with the P/12 Curriculum Division.
All teachers have started work in their classrooms from August 21st and 22nd 2016 in preparation for the arrival of students next Sunday. The rest of the week is reserved for various curriculum workshops by subject and cycle.
Ms. Fatima Al Bastaki, Cluster Manager and School Principal at the Hamdan bin Zayed School explained that during the week, school staff received required resources for their schools, while school leaders were looking into staffing details such as re-affirmation of certain designations. Different topics were also raised during the beginning of the week, such as suggestions on ways to further raise the overall school performance of a school and ways by which teaching and learning practices can be further boosted as per 21stcentury learning skills.
“School leaders have received a guide book that will help assist them in taking highly informed and constructive decisions throughout the year. The week is already proving to be positive, with minute details being raised. In addition, highly interactive professional development workshops are being delivered for all sorts of subject teachers, and collaborative work is being conducted to ensure a smooth transition for students once they arrive,” said Ms. Al Bastaki.
Teachers of all cycles will participate in a series of curriculum workshops led by Academic Quality Improvement Officers (AQIOs), Heads of Faculty and ADEC Curriculum Team members in a number of subject areas including Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects like Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics and Digital Technology Innovation (DTI).
Speaking about Professional Development, Shaikha Al Suwaidi, Teacher of Arabic language Cycle 2- stated: “Professional development is extremely important, we appreciate that ADEC provides us with this type of investment. It enriches the educational process and is considered good and effective planning for the benefit of the student.”
There will also be trainings in Arabic, Islamic Education, Social Studies, GeoScience, Art, Music, Career Guidance, English and a Great Writers workshop.
Health safety officers will be receiving training this week as part of an initiative to promote a holistic approach to student development, and psychologists across Cycle 3 schools will be receiving Career Counselling trainings to support them in assisting students to make informed decisions about their future.
Mathematics and Science which have been previously taught in Arabic will now be taught in English as part of the scheduled Abu Dhabi School Model roll up for Grade 9 students.
