Ras Al Khaimah Academy Family of Schools has delivered 1,500 new Chromebook devices to learners in Grades 2-8 in the largest roll-out of school technology of its kind in Ras Al Khaimah, marking the start of an exciting new era in interactive, modern learning across its 5 campuses.

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, students have received their laptop devices equipped with the Google Chrome operating system in a series of socially distanced events throughout the school day, while the parents of full-time distance learners have been collecting the device safely via a drive-through system.

Executive Principal Graham Beale said: The decision to invest in Chromebooks for our students stems from RAK Academys belief in the potential for transformative learning experiences through innovative uses of technology. Such devices can never replace a teacher in a classroom but placing technology in the hands of the teacher and students can provide opportunities to enhance education in ways that never existed before.

Every day across RAK Academy, we see our students use technology to help them learn and apply new information. A special device enables students to make more informed decisions about their learning. It also gives them ways of demonstrating their knowledge through collaboration, sharing, peer evaluation and the creation of original and innovative artefacts, all backed by the expertise of a teacher.

Mr Beale moved to ease any fears parents had about students getting too much screen time on their personalised learning device. Some parents may be worried that students will spend their lesson time looking at screens with no teacher engagement or controls but this will not be the case at RAK Academy, he said. Our teachers will be using technology that we know makes a distinction in instruction and education and develops the students learning and higher-order thinking skills. We will also have the same filtering and security that we use in school when the Chromebooks are being used at home.

At RAK Academy, the health, safety, and well-being of our students, staff, and parents are of supreme importance, so our operational systems reflect that and guarantee a safe and secure school environment.