Microsoft successfully concluded the BETT Middle East, a global education technology exhibition and congress series, held in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC), that took place in Abu Dhabi.
The event held Under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, included keynote addresses, speeches and interactive panel discussions comprising of illustrious speakers from around the world, touched on topics including STEM education, change management, educators leveraging social media platforms, the future of higher education, learning environments and teaching in the 21st century.
Anthony Salcito, Vice President, Worldwide Education at Microsoft, delivered a keynote address at BETT Middle East 2017, for the second consecutive year on “Enabling the Digital Transformation of Education to Empower Student Success” with focus on shifts in the technology job market and how the digital divide can be bridged through immersive learning initiatives.
“Over several decades, Microsoft has worked with institutions and educators around the world, and gained a deep understanding of how technology in schools can transform the learning experience,” said Salcito. “We continue to bring our leading-edge products, services and programmes to bear on this challenge, always taking into account that technology is not the lone agent in such transformations, and can even complicate or slow down the process if not implemented with due diligence. We recommend that education leaders take a curriculum-focused approach to technology adoption, keeping in mind their educational goals, and then integrate those technologies that facilitate tangible benefits for students and teachers.”
At the event Microsoft also released the findings from a new education survey of nearly 650 educators in the Middle East and Africa. The study revealed that the biggest factor needed to successfully transform teaching and learning experiences was educator skill sets – in particular, knowing how to make the most of available resources and tools; as a 55% majority believe that teachers can lead the digital transformation both inside and outside the classroom.
