First day of business

Monday, March 31

Don had asked us to get together for breakfast in the morning to review the program and make last minute changes as needed, visit the World Trade Center - the site for: 2008 Global Forum on Technology & Innovation in Education, and get to know the Gulf Education and Training Exhibition (GETEX) local organizers of the Forum. This was also a great opportunity to get to know other ISTE representatives at the forum. The GETEX – ISTE Global Forum will address:

• Engaging ICT Strategies for Academic Disciplines
• ICT Literacy for Students and Faculty
• ICT and English Language Learning
• ICT, Creativity and Innovation
• Leadership for ICT in Learning
• One-to-One Programs: Technology for Each Student
• Online and Hybrid (Blended) Learning for Students and Faculty
• Projects for Worldwide Learning and Collaboration
• Safe and Responsible Use of ICT and the Internet
• Using Technology to Meet Individual Needs
• Web 2.0: New Tools for New Schools

I feel so privileged and honored to be among such talented group of people.


From right to left (Arabic style :-)
Don, Darcy, Julie, Hall, Lynn, Chris, Betsy, and myself.

• Dr. Donald G. Kenezek - Chief Executive Officer, Internation Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), Washington, DC
• Dr. Darcy Walsh - Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Executive Director of the University of Texas Telecampus
• Dr. Julie K Little - Interim Director, Educause Learning Initiative
• Hall Davidson - Director, Discovery Teacher Network
• Dr. Lynn Nolan - Senior Director for Education Leadership, ISTE
• Chris O'Neal - Director, Technology and Administrative Leadership Outreach Program, Curry School of Education, University of Virginia
• Dr. Betsy Lowry - Director of Online Learning and Distance Education, Johns Hopkins University School of Education, Associate Director, John Hopkins University Center for Technology in Education
• Sam Farsaii, Director of Instructional Technology, Irving ISD

After the meeting we headed out to the center for the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA). where we were introduced to the staff under the leadership of Dr. Abdulla Al Karam, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director General of KHDA.

Upon entering the building and in the board room, the first thing you notice is the presence of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE, Ruler of Dubai. Most fascinating is the caption below the picture. It says it all - it is all about education as an investment.









After the meeting I was convinced that Dubai authorities are absolutely determined to spare no expense to insure the best quality of education and resources. To insure this endeavor, they have already started building free zones such as Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City, and Dubai Knowledge Village . These cities will insure the future of Dubai is prosperous through investment in education.


Thought for the day
The belief around here is "build it and they will come". Who is there to argue with their unparalleled success? Dubai has grown three times it's size in the past five years. At this rate I would not be surprised if it would over take New York before the end of the next decade.