Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC), AMD (NYSE: AMD) and the AMD Foundation have partnered to enhance science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) skills among teens in Abu Dhabi through game design workshops and teacher trainings. This is the first time ADEC, AMD and the AMD Foundation have collaborated on a program that equips teachers with transferrable knowledge and tools to train new instructors on game design.
Ten teachers and 77 Emirati female and male students from grades 9 to 12 will participate in hands-on, gaming technology workshops through AMD Foundation's signature education program, AMD Changing the Game designed to inspire youth to learn critical STEM skills. The program teaches young people how to create their own video games on important social issues.
The Abu Dhabi program, which began on July 10th and will run through July 21st at The Al Marwah School, involves students in game design workshops, community service programs and digital literacy boot camps. These workshops will provide students with techniques to further develop their STEM skills, critical thinking and problem solving abilities. The program also instructs teachers on how to best implement these STEM-building strategies in classrooms, schools, and learning environments around Abu Dhabi.
"This partnership demonstrates AMD's, AMD's Foundation and ADEC's commitment to the educational development of Emirati students and will help advance the 2030 Economic Vision for Abu Dhabi," said Dr. Mugheer Khamis Al-Khaili, the Director General of ADEC. "AMD Changing the Game pairs learning with professional development in a novel and intriguing way. Through this program, students will enhance their own STEM skills and Abu Dhabi teachers will further develop their skill set to help educate and motivate our youth."
"The Emirate of Abu Dhabi is an important country for the technology industry. Our goal is to bolster STEM skills in youth, thereby providing a strong foundation for future generations to pursue critical technological careers," said Allyson Peerman, President, AMD Foundation. "We look forward to sharing our knowledge with classroom leaders in the region as a means to shape the development of Emirati talent and the future leaders of the technology industry."
Participants will work with AMD Foundation's educational partner, PETLab at Parsons The New School for Design, to learn game design skills using Activate!, a website that enables students to easily design and program video games. The site is optimized to measurably enhance core competences in students while building awareness of pressing social issues.
The teachers who were selected to deliver the program received three days of extensive training. They will observe the Parsons instructors through the first week of the program and then lead the program the following week.
The gaming technology workshops are an expansion of an existing program between ADEC and AMD. In February 2011, AMD and ADEC launched a program to help university students gain the experience necessary to kick start a career in advanced technology, further demonstrating AMD's and ADEC's commitment to the educational development of Emirati students.
The Abu Dhabi program is funded by the AMD Foundation and ADEC, and is part of the Advanced Technology Investment Company's (ATIC) Summer of Semiconductors program for G9-12 Emirati students.
About Abu Dhabi Education Council
Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) was established in accordance with law No. 24 of 2005, issued by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, the UAE President, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces and the Ruler of Abu Dhabi. The Chairman of ADEC is H.H. Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces and the Vice-Chairman is H.H. Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Minister of Presidential Affairs. The Council seeks to develop education and educational institutions in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, implement innovative educational policies, plans and programs that aim to improve education, and support educational institutions and staff to achieve the objectives of national development in accordance with the highest international standards.
Ten teachers and 77 Emirati female and male students from grades 9 to 12 will participate in hands-on, gaming technology workshops through AMD Foundation's signature education program, AMD Changing the Game designed to inspire youth to learn critical STEM skills. The program teaches young people how to create their own video games on important social issues.
The Abu Dhabi program, which began on July 10th and will run through July 21st at The Al Marwah School, involves students in game design workshops, community service programs and digital literacy boot camps. These workshops will provide students with techniques to further develop their STEM skills, critical thinking and problem solving abilities. The program also instructs teachers on how to best implement these STEM-building strategies in classrooms, schools, and learning environments around Abu Dhabi.
"This partnership demonstrates AMD's, AMD's Foundation and ADEC's commitment to the educational development of Emirati students and will help advance the 2030 Economic Vision for Abu Dhabi," said Dr. Mugheer Khamis Al-Khaili, the Director General of ADEC. "AMD Changing the Game pairs learning with professional development in a novel and intriguing way. Through this program, students will enhance their own STEM skills and Abu Dhabi teachers will further develop their skill set to help educate and motivate our youth."
"The Emirate of Abu Dhabi is an important country for the technology industry. Our goal is to bolster STEM skills in youth, thereby providing a strong foundation for future generations to pursue critical technological careers," said Allyson Peerman, President, AMD Foundation. "We look forward to sharing our knowledge with classroom leaders in the region as a means to shape the development of Emirati talent and the future leaders of the technology industry."
Participants will work with AMD Foundation's educational partner, PETLab at Parsons The New School for Design, to learn game design skills using Activate!, a website that enables students to easily design and program video games. The site is optimized to measurably enhance core competences in students while building awareness of pressing social issues.
The teachers who were selected to deliver the program received three days of extensive training. They will observe the Parsons instructors through the first week of the program and then lead the program the following week.
The gaming technology workshops are an expansion of an existing program between ADEC and AMD. In February 2011, AMD and ADEC launched a program to help university students gain the experience necessary to kick start a career in advanced technology, further demonstrating AMD's and ADEC's commitment to the educational development of Emirati students.
The Abu Dhabi program is funded by the AMD Foundation and ADEC, and is part of the Advanced Technology Investment Company's (ATIC) Summer of Semiconductors program for G9-12 Emirati students.
About Abu Dhabi Education Council
Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) was established in accordance with law No. 24 of 2005, issued by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, the UAE President, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces and the Ruler of Abu Dhabi. The Chairman of ADEC is H.H. Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces and the Vice-Chairman is H.H. Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Minister of Presidential Affairs. The Council seeks to develop education and educational institutions in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, implement innovative educational policies, plans and programs that aim to improve education, and support educational institutions and staff to achieve the objectives of national development in accordance with the highest international standards.
