The Future Of Education Lies Beyond Traditional Learning

by Amit Kothari, Executive Committee Member of Education Business Group

As part of its Reading Month initiatives, the Ministry of Culture and Youth hosted a talk session on its YouTube channel. The conversation about the importance of bedtime stories with Isobel Abulhoul, CEO and Trustee of the Emirates Literature Foundation and Ibtesam Al Bayati, children’s book author, was moderated by Youssef Abdel Bari. The speakers discussed the impact of reading to children and how it can be made a part of daily routine.

Amit Kothari, Executive Commitee Member for

Interstar Advisory, an Education Management firm based in the UAE, is also an Executive Committee Member of the Education Business Group and is responsible for all new business development, strategy, and finance.

Education Business Group (EBG), a nonprofit formed under the umbrella of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), currently services 53% of the city’s private school student cohort. Below are EBG’s long-term strategies that private schools in Dubai need to consider to help shape the generation of tomorrow.

 Wellbeing awareness - As students adapt to the new normal, mental wellbeing has become an outspoken, top priority for children, adolescents, parents, and teachers alike. It is thus essential for teachers to listen to any concerns they may have and demonstrate understanding as well as empathy. Regular check-ins have been implemented in some of the schools to offer students the opportunity to have oneto-one conversations with their teachers and reconnect in an open environment.

For younger kids, teachers tend to be role models and help shape their students in their transformation into young adults. It is common for children to mirror the way adult figures around them behave, so it is important for both parents and teachers to watch their actions and remain calm. Today, schools have been progressively incorporating mental health into the lives of children with activities such as yoga, meditation

practices, and breathing techniques. Additionally, schools have assigned dedicated wellbeing officers on campus along with school counselors to guide and support students.

 Sustainability and eco-literacy - Schools need to adhere to a

‘sustainability first’ ethos and maintain a green environment, initiate ecological activities, and ensure the inclusion of eco-literacy in the curriculum. Project-based education and place-based learning are great ways to introduce kids to environmental responsibility.

From growing their own fruits and vegetables, separating recycling bins, and reducing plastic use, to joining beach clean-ups, similar eco-friendly activities can become the stepping stone to building a sustainable mindset from a young age. Placebased learning also invites children to learn about the environment and study science in ecological locations and learn first-hand about nature.

From an operational perspective, schools could work towards minimising their environmental impact, utilising solar power for energy needs, recycling water for agricultural use, and implementing waste separation and wind energy generation.

 Collaboration - Fostering collaboration between students helps build interpersonal skills that prepare them for the real world. For younger students, Free Play contributes to the cognitive, physical, social, and emotional wellbeing of a child. When schools do not incorporate play into the curriculum, students tend to lack communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills. When children play, they learn to work together and figure things out without help from a teacher or an adult.

Interactive Learning Centers are another teaching strategy that can enhance the likelihood of positive peer-social interaction among students. The great thing about learning centres is that they are structured, so that students must interact with one another.  Safe learning space - Today, most public and private schools follow anti-bullying policies to protect children and encourage a friendly and inclusive environment. As most reported bullying situations arise at schools, staff and teachers should possess the know-how and tools to resolve such issues. Certificates such as mediation classes and conflict resolution workshops are necessary for teachers to effectively manage these situations. As some children are more reserved, teachers could be aware of the warning signs – for example, sudden withdrawal from activities, loss of appetite, and change of attitude towards learning and friendships.

In line with the anti-bullying program organised by the Council of the UAE in collaboration with UNICEF, schools in Dubai are continuously ensuring to build healthy and progressive relations between students, parents, caregivers, and educational staff members.

An embodiment of the UAE’s leadership to provide a holistic environment that builds future generations, these strategies support students to cultivate relationships and ensure a prosperous future for the community as a whole.

Regular check-ins have been implemented in some of the schools to offer students the opportunity to have one-to-one conversations with their teachers and reconnect in an open environment

From an operational perspective, schools could work towards minimising their environmental impact

INTERSTAR ADVISORY

A CLEANER, MORE HYGIENIC WASHROOM FOR CHILDREN

THE PAST FEW YEARS HAVE PUT AN UNPRECEDENTED SPOTLIGHT ON HYGIENE ACROSS THE GLOBE, ESPECIALLY IN SHARED SPACES SUCH AS SCHOOLS. IN WASHROOMS. FOR INSTANCE, DAMP HANDS CAN TRANSFER UP TO ONE THOUSAND TIMES MORE BACTERIA THAN DRY HANDS, SO IT’S IMPORTANT TO PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH EFFECTIVE HAND-DRYING FACILITIES TO HELP MINIMISE THE SPREAD.

Dyson hand dryers produce up to 85% less CO2 than other hand dryers and can dry 18 pairs of hands for the price of a single paper towel

This is why warm air dryers are commonly used in shared washrooms as a hand-drying solution, but unfortunately, not all hand dryers are created equal. Some warm air dryers can flag up some very real hygiene concerns, including using unfiltered air to dry hands or requiring activation through a physical button.

These same warm air dryers are also often guilty of high energy consumption - an unwelcome contribution to a school’s carbon footprint and expenses.

Dyson hand dryers are exceptionally cost-effective, costing up to 99% less to run than paper towels

SAVE ON COSTS, WASHROOM SPACE, AND CO2 EMISSIONS

Several things should be taken into consideration when choosing a hand dryer:

 Robustness and reliability: schools should invest in hand dryers that will last and be able to withstand multiple uses per day.

 Efficient filtration of the air: hand dryers should have filters to remove particles, including bacteria and viruses.

 Fast drying: Damp hands can transfer up to one thousand times more bacteria than dry hands and children might not wait around to dry their hands properly with an inefficient hand dryer.

 Energy efficiency: schools should be looking to transition to energyefficient hand dryers meaning lower annual running costs, maximising school savings.

 Carbon footprint: schools should look for hand dryers that show reduced CO2 energy consumption (i.e. Carbon Trust certified). So, where is it possible to find all of these requirements within one product? The answer is Dyson Airblade hand dryers, which help to create a cleaner, more hygienic washroom for children.

All of the hand dryers are touchfree and include HEPA filters, which capture 99.95% of particles as small as 0.1 microns, including bacteria and viruses from the air, ensuring hands are dried with cleaner air, not dirty air. Additionally, Dyson Airblade hand dryers can help schools save on costs, washroom space, and CO2 emissions, with no single-use paper waste.

This latter point is important, as paper towels have a high carbon footprint, closely followed by warm air dryers. Dyson Airblade hand dryers produce up to 85% less CO2 than other hand dryers and can dry 18 pairs of hands for the price of a single paper towel. Put simply, Dyson engineers have developed a machine that not only works effectively and hygienically but also has a lower impact on the environment than other hand-drying methods. Dyson Airblade hand dryers are exceptionally cost-effective too, costing up to 99% less to run than paper towels.

REVOLUTIONARY AIRBLADE™ TECHNOLOGY

Only a Dyson dries like a Dyson. Since the launch of the first Dyson Airblade™ hand dryer in 2006, the company has continued to evolve, innovate, and improve its hand dryer technology.

Airblade™ technology scrapes away water at 690km/h. Additionally, the Dyson digital motor V4 uses digital pulse technology to draw up to 20 litres of air per second through the machine, for fast hand drying. offices, or high-traffic environments. Each has been designed to ensure that space in the washroom is being utilised to its full capacity. To find out which Dyson Airblade™ hand dryer is best suitable for your school and the space you have available, book a consultation by visiting www.dyson.ae

If you need any additional guidance, you can contact DysonProfessionalMea@ dyson.com or call 04 4487132 where one of the company’s expert advisors will be able to assist you. When you are ready to order your dryer, this can be done directly online where you will be asked to pick a date and time for delivery and installation. Once installed by Dyson’s team of professionals, your dryer will be ready for use immediately.

So, should you consider switching to Dyson? Consider installation time, noise, speed, hygiene, energy savings, and maintenance, not to mention the fact that all Dyson Airblade™ hand dryers come with a five-year warranty, and we think the answer is self-evident!

Damp hands can transfer up to one thousand times more bacteria than dry hands Some warm air dryers can flag up some very real hygiene concerns

DYSON

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