English

Abstract

This paper reports on an exploratory study concerning the integration of Information & Communications Technology (ICT) and Mathematics as it supports the effective implementation of outcome-based curriculum practice in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It demonstrates a commitment among undergraduate students on an Initial Teacher Training (ITT) programme in Emirates College of Advanced Education (ECAE), in creating progressive curricular provision in ICT /Mathematics. In particular, attention is given to the development of pedagogical approach supporting innovative transformative, self-regulated student approach in preference to more traditional transmission style teaching forms in elementary schools in Abu Dhabi. This approach to immersion activity in student-engaged learning behaviors is believed to better deliver outcome-based approaches and so is directly in keeping with the principles of Abu Dhabi’s New School Model (NSM) curriculum. As such the study outlines a consideration of how ICT may be best placed to support Math provision in forward thinking schools within the emirate and wider UAE elementary provision. Crucially, the study can also be seen to have evidenced a pragmatic style of integration of ICT and Math by offering an approach dealing with the proliferation of online Math resources that often leave students and practitioners in a quandary as to where to begin in terms of fostering self-regulated learning styles, how to monitor educational worth of websites and how to engage child learners in independent learning tasks online without losing rigor of curricular content.