$UAE Students Use Tech for Sustainability at Repton School Al Barsha\'s Creativity Fest$

UAE Students Use Tech for Sustainability at Repton School Al Barsha's Creativity Fest

UAE Students Harness Technology for Sustainability Stories at Repton School Al Barsha’s Annual Creativity Festival

Repton School Al Barsha proudly presented the fifth edition of its annual Creativity Festival on May 1st, 2024. Themed “Sustainability: The Story of our Future,” this year’s festival challenged and empowered students to explore the impacts and potential of sustainability through storytelling.

40 students from Year 5 to 7 across six participating schools in the UAE took part in the day-long festival dedicated to inspiration, learning, and creation. Participating schools included Repton Al Barsha, Repton Dubai, Repton Abu Dhabi, Dubai English Speaking School, Ranches Primary School and The Royal Grammar School Guilford Dubai.

Students engaged in interactive workshops learning about key events in time that have already impacted or could potentially impact the planet’s sustainability in the future. Based on this learned knowledge, they had to collaborate to voice the ever-evolving story of sustainability throughout the past, present, and future. Drawing on their music, tech, and geography skills, students were challenged to create an innovative and impactful video on sustainability with a powerful call to action, motivating viewers on social media to support their cause.

During the content creation process, students were encouraged to use essential Apple Apps such as GarageBand, Clips, Numbers, and cameras to create an engaging video to raise awareness on environmental change. They were also asked to investigate and analyze their findings, which they would then use to define their solution and create a meaningful story to share.

Chandini Misra, Principal of Repton School Al Barsha, highlighted the festival’s role in nurturing innovation and creativity. She commented: “The Creativity Festival holds a special place in our school calendar as it celebrates the diverse talents, innovative ideas, and boundless creativity of young minds! This year’s theme is a very important one as we take steps to promote environmental consciousness and sustainable practices. Through the various informative and interactive workshops and activities, we aim to empower students to become agents of change, charting a course towards a brighter, more sustainable future.”

Participating students of the Creativity Festival also enjoyed two special guest speaker sessions. Nahla El Banhawy, Digital Transformation & Geospatial Expert and Smart Cities Consultant at Urbi, and Founder and Lead Strategist of The Social Room; invoked students on the innovative applications of data usage and insights into how data is an important tool to impact change. Furthermore, Founder of leading education consultancy – EdRuption: Empowering Change, Philippa Wraithmell, and Ms El Banhawy led an empowering session with teachers on the impact of EdTech and Apple technology in education.

Repton School Al Barsha’s commitment to fostering creativity, critical thinking, and environmental stewardship is evident in the success of previous editions of the Creativity Festival. As an Apple distinguished school, Repton Al Barsha empowers students and educators to drive positive change using technology within their communities and beyond, emphasizing the importance of sustainability and interdisciplinary skills in education.