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Sheikh Mohammed launches biggest e-learning platform
 Sheikh
Mohammed with a student during the launch of Madrasa e-learning platform in
Dubai on Tuesday. - Wam
Students will get the chance to answer one question daily to
enter a raffle draw and win $1,000.
Over 50 million Arab students across the world will now learn science and
math subjects for free, thanks to the new e-learning platform that Dubai
Ruler launched on Tuesday.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime
Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, launched Madrasa (www.madrasa.org),
an educational platform that provides 5,000 free Arabised videos in general
science, math, biology, chemistry and physics to students from kindergarten
to grade 12.
Students can win $1,000 a day
The eLearning platform will present the daily 1000x1000 competition that
poses one question a day for 1,000 days. Students will get the chance to
answer one question daily to enter a raffle draw and win $1,000.
All students have to do is register on the website, read the question of the day
presented on the platform, watch its related video, and then submit their
answers to enter the raffle draw. The competition gives away $1 million (Dh3.67
million) worth of awards. |
The Mohammed Bin Rashid Arabic eLearning Project, considered the biggest in
the Arab World, is the first outcome of the Translation Challenge that was
announced last year, calling for researchers, and professionals in the Arab
World to translate, design and produce 5,000 videos and 11 million words of
educational content into Arabic.
During the launch ceremony, Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global
Initiatives (MBRGI) also announced the 1000x1000 competition, which will
give students the opportunity to win $1,000 by answering one question a day
for 1,000 days. The competition will give away $1 million worth of awards.
Over the past year, over 52,000 volunteering teachers, engineers,
researchers, university students, government employees, technicians and
graphic designers across the Arab World applied to contribute to the
platform in fields of translation, voiceover and video production, and
publication.
Addressing a crowd of delegates, ministers, students and volunteers during
the ceremony at Madinat Jumeirah, Sheikh Mohammed said, "I said last year
that our first priority is education, second priority is education and third
priority is education. I would like to tell you that [this platform] is just
the beginning. Our journey will continue."
The e-learning platform aims to bridge the knowledge gap in the Arab World
and reignite the civilization's glory and development in math and science.
Last year, Sheikh Mohammed affirmed that high quality education in science
and math is integral to rebooting any civilization's development.
He added, "The project contributes to improving the quality of education in
the Arab world, and I call on all those who have the ability to do so to
launch similar initiatives."
"My message to Arab students is: Education is your future and your weapon to
navigate life."
Students will be able to access the platform on their computers or mobile
phones. They can download the app - link on website- that is available on
Andriod and iOS.
Just the beginning
Highlights
- 5,000 Arabic educational videos
- 11 million words of educational content translated into Arabic
- To over 50 million Arab students across the world from kindergarten to grade 12
- 5 subjects of general science, biology, chemistry, physics and math
- $1,000 prize for 1,000 days
- $1 million total giveaway prize for the 1000x1000 competition
- 52,000 applications from volunteers to contribute to the platform through the Translation challenge launched in 2017
- 300 translators, university students, proofreaders, designers and voiceover artists produced the content on the eLearning platform
- New subjects including Arabic language, computer science, engineering, programming, artificial intelligence, and space science to be added to the audiovisual platform.
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Sara Al Nuaimi, project manager at MBRGI, said the platform addresses the
lack of educational material available in Arabic.
"Students and teachers across the Arab World often found educational content
in English, among other languages. The best way to motivate children to
learn difficult subjects like science and math is through engaging
audiovisual content that will simplify their educational process," said Al
Nuaimi.
The foundation received an overwhelming 52,000 applications from volunteers,
among which 300 were selected after a number of assessments to translate,
design, edit and add voiceovers to videos. Al Nuaimi said volunteers were
selected based on their language capabilities and clarity of voice among
other criteria.
The 5,000 videos were translated from a library of materials developed by
Khan Academy, a non-profit educational institute that provides online
educational videos in various curricula.
Al Nuaimi confirmed that the portal will be frequently updated throughout
the year. In the future, the platform will see new educational courses on
subjects including Arabic language, computer science, engineering,
programming, artificial intelligence, and space science.
"The 5,000 videos is just the beginning. We aim to expand the portal and
provide more content to make it the top digital education reference for
students in the Arab World," she said.
Sheikh Mohammed had personally overseen the overall progress of the
challenge, including video selection, content translation and voiceovers for
the videos. He even lent his voice to an educational video, along with his
son Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai
and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai.
October 16, 2018 |
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Courtesy Galadari Printing and Publishing LLC
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