Written by Yolla Haybi
Translated by Lynn Waked
Ever since life began on earth man was seeking progress and development till he reached what we all stand before today; Educational sector enormously benefits of the technological progress via introducing the iPAD.
We are on the path of ending books' era as well as backpacks which, according to doctors' testimonies, have been causing health problems for students as their weight began to harm children's bones' development.
The iPAD encloses all necessary data books have had in addition to programs enabling students to a fast comprehension and understanding, for through a single touch, one is able to search the information he requests.
Eastwood College was the forefront of Lebanese schools in integrating technology throughout its educational environment by using the iPAD.
Eastwood College is an independent K-12 international school serving children in Lebanon since 1973.
The school provides internationally based and Lebanese-based curricula through two distinct programs.
Its vibrant student body is composed of students from over 20 countries from around the world; therefore, a focus on personalized attention to learners is a hallmark of the Eastwood College experience.
Eastwood College Director, Michel Khoury, said that all students in grades 5 through 12 will be using scholastic applications that have been developed by educational publishers and in house application developers.
"With the growing numbers of educational applications, interactive textbooks, and digital information available online, Eastwood College is introducing the iPad as a way to enhance classroom learning," he added and said that this major step is an effort to enhance the academic experience of each individual learner.
Khoury went on to say that collective work can be easily shared between teachers and students on the iPad with interactive learning applications replacing textbooks.
"By using their iPads for various coursework, students will be able to maintain digital bags of all their work throughout middle and high school that they can use to track their development, and to apply to colleges," he remarked.
A small comparative study of books and iPAD costs ads up to the benefits of the new educational iPAD technology.
An iPAD, which will serve students for several years, costs a USD 550 whereas the rental of books from school costs students between USD 350 and 450 every year.
Eastwood College has been the pioneer in using this new technology, yet this development must be spread later on to many private schools in Lebanon.
It is then deemed necessary that we ask; what about public schools and what is the government's role in this context?
The Ministry of Higher Learning and Education is heading toward adopting the electronic bag within the five-year rescue plan to improve education in Lebanon.
Current Higher Learning Minister Hassan Diab is keen to apply the aforementioned plan that had been set by former Minister Hassan Mneimneh.
To make this project true, there has to be a funding source.
Minister Hassan Diab had, in that respect, held a meeting with the UNESO regional office Director Abdul Meniim Othman.
The latter pledged exerting efforts toward realizing the project.
Until the completion of the electronic portfolio, the Ministry has begun applying the Tablet computer (Tablet PC) technology in many typical public High Schools.
Education Ministry has become bound to carry out relentless efforts toward developing the curriculum and keeping up with any progress that might serve education.
L.W.
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