What will schools look like in 2030?
Bringing school students together to design their own primary school of the future, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) office turned into an innovation lab on Thursday, November 26, 2015.
Twenty schools participated in the ‘Primary School of Future’ competition hosted by KHDA in partnership with ATLAB, a LEGO Education solutions provider, as part of the UAE Innovation Week. During the competition, students had an opportunity to rethink their school environment and transport themselves to 2030 to design a primary school of future.
Hind Al Mualla, Chief of Creativity, Happiness and Innovation at KHDA said, “There is no limit to creativity and school students proved it with their ideas during the UAE Innovation Week. The future schools reflected a focus on open wall-less classrooms, urban farming, renewable energy and raising pets. These ideas show us that schools will change over the next few years.”
From space-saving skyscraper schools to mood lit classrooms, the designs showed creativity and resourcefulness while keeping the focus on keeping education simple and uncomplicated. A three-member jury judged the innovative school designs, with a real school investor taking a closer look at the models.
The UAE Innovation Week also saw school students provide coding lessons to KHDA employees. The students took part in maker activities to reuse and recycle everyday objects to inspire new creations in a 35-foot shipping container.
“The events at KHDA during the UAE Innovation Week were a celebration of student ideas. It provided a platform for students to explore on their own and become part of the Dubai’s changing education landscape,” added Hind.
The future school designs will be showcased at KHDA throughout the week in an ‘innovation exhibition’ open to public.
