Maureen Doyle-Barakat

The one constant in education is that children are always asking questions.  A successful 21st century student is able to learn, unlearn and relearn seamlessly.  This generation does this innately with technology.  To see this in action hand a twelve month old an IPad or smartphone.  The future demands we nurture students to embrace a love of learning – a place where students’ dreams and passions are developed. To achieve these demands a curriculum must foster students authentically.   John Dewey said 'The real process of education should be the process of learning to think through the application of real problems.'  My teaching experience as a Grade 1 teacher at one of the UAE’s flagship schools, Emirates National School - Al Ain Campus, IB World School owned by the Sheikh was a privilege.  The authentic, the relevant and the exclamation mark and of course the beloved full stop, have been a recurring theme on my learning journey.  The white rabbit in Alice and Wonderland said to the king "Begin at the beginning," the King said gravely, "and go on till you come to the end: then stop."