Educators discuss creative approaches to STEAM classroom practices via the use of a diverse range of pedagogical strategies

As many as 1400 educational specialists and teachers gathered today in Abu Dhabi for the 7th annual IAT Technological Education Conference (IAT TEC) to engage in interactive workshops that will explore various methodologies on creative teaching practices and how to initiate a creative learning environment that will stimulate the imagination and nurture creativity, thus influencing student achievement.

Organised by the Institute of Applied Technology (IAT), which is part of the Abu Dhabi Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (ACTVET), the conference theme, "Transforming Learning through Creative Classrooms" aims to provide a platform for developing creative approaches to STEAM classroom practices via the use of a diverse range of pedagogical strategies.

Mubarak Al Shamsi, Director of ACTVET, said the two-day meeting is part of the national efforts to fulfil the UAE leadership's vision to make education a national and key strategic goal for shaping the nation's future.

The conference, he added, would update educators and other learning stakeholders and partners about latest learning technological trends that will empower them to instil advanced scientific skills in learners that unlock their creativity and critical thinking, so that they can find innovative solutions to different challenges they could face in the workplace.

The event will focus on bringing the academic community together to highlight and share creative teaching practices, creativity in the classroom in general and tips and tricks on how to overcome the challenges of implementing a creative classroom.

The conference will provide a wide variety of presentations and workshops to attract attendees and engage their interests, and as in the past IAT TEC conferences, the exhibition area will host the "iPresent" showcase in which teachers will present exceptional and innovative learning activities that they have created and implemented in their classrooms.

Workshops will discuss Differentiated Instruction: Perspectives and Challenges; Critical Thinkers... Creators and Innovators; Integration between Technology and Pedagogy, and Mathematical Thinking as a Creative Endeavour.

The Institute of Applied Technology prepares students for life and work in a changing economic environment where they will thrive in an era of increasingly rapid change. Besides acquiring the necessary technological skills there is a strong requirement for students to possess a well-developed set of higher-order skills. One of its goals is to stimulate the natural curiosity in young minds and cultivate a passion for learning whereby students will have the ability to think creatively and approach tasks, problems and situations with confidence and resourcefulness. Creativity skills can help learners to be: Motivated and ambitious for change, Confident in their abilities, Able to transfer their creativity skills to various contexts Able to lead and work well with others.