Microsoft recognizes 6 teachers as most innovative teachers in the region

Microsoft Gulf today announced that 6 teachers from around the Gulf have been recognized by the Microsoft Partners in Learning Program to be among the top innovative teachers in the world. Microsoft has selected fewer than 500 teachers to be part of this community of prestigious educators who have demonstrated expertise in innovative teaching as part of the Microsoft Partners in Learning initiative. These select teachers will now attend the Global Forum in Washington DC in November 2011.

The innovative teachers selected from the Gulf are: Bala Sadasivan from the Millennium School in Dubai, Shyni Sudheer and Nusrath Parveen from the Westminster School in Dubai, Yousif Mohammed Sabri Al Jetawi from the Al Butain Model School for Boys from Abu Dhabi, Michael Turcotte from the Darwish Bin Karam Basic & Secondary School in Abu Dhabi and Hilal Hamood Salim Al Hanaei from the Abu Said Al Khudary School in the Sultanate of Oman.

The selected teachers have been chosen based on their ability to:

- Practice innovative ways to teach 21st century skills to their  students;

- Make global connections by engaging with a worldwide community of professional practice;

- Knowledge of using and integrating Microsoft tools into teaching and learning.

These six educators along with Microsoft Gulf will drive innovative approaches in teaching and peer training in the United Arab Emirates and Sultanate of Oman.

According to Azza El Shinnawy- Education Lead, Microsoft Gulf, “It gives us great pleasure to recognize these talented individuals who are making the most of technology by using it in their classrooms. These educators take their passion for teaching, and inspire and equip students with the 21st century skills they need to compete in a globally competitive workforce.”

Speaking on the occasion, Mrs.Bala Sadasivan, Science teacher, The Millennium School, Dubai said: "For the new tech savvy generation students, teaching needs to go beyond classrooms, labs and school hours. Learning needs to be an exciting activity and not become a mundane chore. Using Microsoft tools like Mouse Mischief, blogging and community clips helped me achieve this and also helped me share my ideas with other educators."

According to Shyni Sudheer, Head of ICT, The Westminster School, Dubai, “The Windows 7 & Blogging project for teachers have transformed teaching at our school. Microsoft Mouse Mischief, Ribbon Hero, and Blogging are helping me to provide my students more innovative and creative classes. These tools have truly simplified a teacher’s life.”

"Microsoft has helped teachers to grow technically by constantly updating their faculty and creating a positive ambience of learning for different teachers around the world,” said Nusrath Parveen, from Westminster School. “Microsoft has made teaching and learning in the classrooms very exciting with its new innovative features of Windows 7, MS Office, SkyDrive etc. I'm proud to be a part of Microsoft Learning Program."

The Innovative Teachers’s Forum is part of Microsoft’s Partners in Learning initiative which honors innovative teachers and schools and showcases how technology can further educational transformation by being appropriately incorporated into curricula, teaching methods and the classroom environment.