Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — The number of Summer Training platform users has exceeded 1.15 million within a fortnight, specifically from July 4 to July 16, according to the ministry of education.

Over 406,326 persons working in various educational positions have joined 3,516 training programs as part of the Summer Educational and Professional Development Programs. The programs are being run in conjunction with the educational departments and government-run universities across the Kingdom.

Dr. Ahmed Al-Juhaimi, general supervisor of the National Institute for Educational and Professional Development thanked minister of education and his deputy for supporting the programs launched by the institute on July 8 to help all staff in educational posts develop professionally.

The programs, Dr. Al-Juhaimi added, also help enhance the performance of the education sector and create an environment conducive to training that depends on information technology and encourages creativity.

“The summer programs include specialized modules based on the needs of professional development. All modules are meant to improve the professional performance of participants according to professional standards of teachers in order for them to raise the quality of teaching and enhance the culture of professional development among educators,” he explained.

The ministry forged a partnership with eight domestic universities to offer 108 training programs as part of the Summer Educational and Professional Development Programs 2020 (third phase – remotely) during the summer holidays.

Two phases of the program were completed between March 22 and April 16 in collaboration with educational departments and the National Center. During the two phases, nine universities offered 65 training programs attended by 13,190 participants, focusing on the professional development of the ministry’s staff working in educational posts.

The partnership between the ministry and the domestic universities includes the provision of education consulting, implementation of educational and professional development programs on the universities’ Blackboard Platforms, and training courses and programs concentrating on the use of digital applications and systems found on the ministry’s standard education system.

The partnership offered virtual class management courses, interactive presentation of curricula, remote assessment and evaluation methods, digital education communication tools, Google and Microsoft applications and open digital education and training platforms.

Special courses were offered on means to manage the class environment virtually and more efficiently and ways to manage files between teachers and students using cloud computing, as well as design of interactive and exciting curricula, merging education with technology using Microsoft applications and the preparation of e-tests in line with the 21st century skills.