Microsoft – SEK International School Qatar

We are thrilled to announce that we have received this prestigious recognition for the 6th consecutive year. This is a remarkable achievement, as only nine schools in Qatar have been selected as Microsoft Showcase Schools.

This award reflects the dedication and innovation of our staff, who constantly strive to enhance the learning experiences of our students with the latest technology. This year, we are proud to have 20 MIE Experts (Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert) among our staff.

MIE Experts are educators who have demonstrated excellence in using Microsoft tools and solutions to create engaging and effective learning experiences for their students. They are part of a global network of over 30,000 educators who share their best practices, collaborate with peers, and learn from experts. MIE Experts also have the opportunity to participate in exclusive events, trainings, and projects, as well as to provide feedback and insights to Microsoft on the future of education technology. To become an MIE Expert, educators need to complete a self-nomination form and submit a learning activity that showcases how they use Microsoft tools in their teaching.

We are part of an elite global network of schools and educators who foster a culture of learning, innovation, and continuous improvement and the MIEE community provides opportunities to connect and share ideas as we navigate the new era of digitalization.

As Microsoft states:

Microsoft Showcase School program represents a global community of K-12 schools that harness digital transformation to create immersive and inclusive experiences that inspire lifelong learning and empower students to achieve more.
“Showcase Schools create student-centered, immersive, and inclusive experiences that inspire lifelong learning, stimulating development of essential future-ready skills so students are empowered to achieve more.”

At SEK-Qatar, we embody this vision every day. We are committed to school-wide digital transformation to improve learning outcomes of our students and focus on future-ready skills.

From Grade 4, every student has their own laptop, which is used in almost every class. It is not just a single subject once or twice a week, it is the foundation for our daily teaching and learning. Leaders and educators in Showcase Schools thoughtfully consider the role of technology as they explore new ways to redesign learning spaces, restructure curriculum, reinvent pedagogy, and reimagine what 21st-century leading and learning looks like across diverse contexts.

Since last year, we have had a 1:1 device school from Grade 1 to Grade 12. We have a dedicated device for each student in the classroom from grade 1 to grade 3. This maximizes the opportunities our students have to use the devices when needed because they will have a designated device for each of them with a personal profile. With the addition of digital ink (each device has a stylus), students will keep practicing their handwriting on their OneNotes (digital notebooks).

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we have become even more alert to inquire and learn about the digital potential in our school. Thanks to various Microsoft applications, remote learning has been made smooth, accessible, and fun. This has increased our appreciation of the critical work educators and school leaders do to help every student achieve more.

As we start this academic year, we are excited to share our experiences with our community and find innovative ways to equip our students with the tools needed for success inside and outside of the classroom.

At the beginning of this moth, SEK International School Qatar was invited by Microsoft Qatar to an award ceremony. SEK-Qatar was honored alongside ten other schools in Qatar who have successfully achieved the Microsoft Showcase School status in the academic year 2021-2022.

“The scheme aims to raise the efficiency of the educational system and enhance students’ standard through an array of cutting-edge modern learning strategies that push forward digital transformation, development momentum and cultivate creativity and innovation, keeping abreast of the 21st Century Skills.

The Microsoft Showcase Schools is a yearly certification world-standard project that selects schools that best implement specific criteria in incorporating technology in education.” (Microsoft, 2022)

SEK-Qatar has achieved this status for the 4th time in a row and we are proud that staff and students use Microsoft Apps as a day to day tool to organize their work and learning.

Especially the ICT Department, led by Francisco Jesús Ruiz González, at SEK-Qatar has been working very hard over the past years to ensure everyone at our school receives the necessary support, schooling and platforms.

Francisco, Mr. Fran for most of our students and staff, was also representing our school during the Microsoft event, visualizing how we use Microsoft in our school as an example of best practice. Here at SEK-Qatar we believe in the following mantra: “Technology is not a subject, it is a tool to improve teaching and learning”.

We are very excited to see how much more we can use Microsoft tools to enhance our everyday school life and where we will be in a few years from now. All we know is, this is only the beginning of a life-long journey to an open-minded and international world of learning and teaching.