"Stepping into the Digital Era: School Principals Lead a Pioneering Workshop to Shift Education from 'Rote Learning' to 'Meaning-Making' Using AI"
University news
In line with its strategic drive to advance smart education and keep pace with global digital transformations, Ar-Rasheed Smart University organized a pioneering training workshop this morning, Tuesday, May 11, 2026. The high-impact session, titled "AI for School Principals: Improving Education with Simple Tools and Minimal Costs," targeted 51 high school principals. Delivered by the renowned educational expert, Prof. Dr. Abdul Latif Haidar, the workshop generated widespread engagement and intense interest among participants regarding modern educational solutions and AI applications in developing the instructional process.
The workshop comes at a critical time when the world is witnessing an accelerating technological revolution. This shift has forced educational institutions to re-evaluate traditional teaching methods and aggressively transition from a culture of "rote learning and memorization" to one that cultivates critical thinking and innovation to meet tomorrow's demands.
The event opened in the presence of Dr. Ahmed Al-Rubaie, Dean of Student Affairs; Mr. Khaled Ali Al-Khadher, Secretary-General of the University; and Mr. Ziad Al-Rafiq, Director of Public Relations. Mr. Ibrahim Azan, Director of Student Activities and Services at the university, delivered the welcoming remarks, expressing his delight at the massive turnout of school principals. He emphasized that Al-Rasheed Smart University carries a core responsibility to shape the future by upgrading educational management from traditional frameworks into tech-driven, knowledge-based smart administration.
In an inspiring speech filled with optimism and ambition, Mr. Faisal Al-Zubairi, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, expressed his pride in the strong attendance and positive dynamics shown by the school leaders, affirming that education today stands at a historic crossroads that demands courage for change and genuine readiness to enter the digital knowledge era.
"We firmly believe that the modern school must be a factory for ideas, not a warehouse for information," Mr. Al-Zubairi stated. "Real investment begins with qualifying human capital—the educator, the teacher, and the school leadership. We will continuously support all initiatives that unlock new horizons for smart education and contribute to building a brighter future for our children."
For his part, Prof. Dr. Abdul Latif Haidar emphasized during his presentation that artificial intelligence is no longer just a technical concept, but an integrated ecosystem capable of simulating human capabilities in analysis, prediction, content creation, and decision-making. He stressed that the teacher will permanently remain the heart of the educational process, while AI serves as a "smart assistant" that alleviates routine burdens and unlocks space for creativity and development.
The educational expert demonstrated how smart tools can revolutionize daily academic workloads, shifting energy from administrative tasks to actual student engagement:
"He also highlighted the feasibility of deploying these solutions using minimal resources, such as mobile phones or intermittent internet connectivity—and even leveraging 'WhatsApp' to distribute educational summaries and activities to students. This approach significantly expands the opportunities to utilize technology across diverse educational environments."
A major highlight of the training session focused on the concept of "Meaning-Making Learning." Dr. Haidar called for moving beyond the outdated educational model built on memorization and regurgitation. Instead, he urged leaders to build an educational environment that bridges knowledge with the student's daily life, driving them toward critical thinking, analysis, and self-exploration.
The course also delivered practical applications and customized "prompt templates" designed for core subjects including Mathematics, Sciences, Arabic Language, and Islamic Education, aiming to empower teachers and students to effectively deploy AI tools inside modern classrooms.
The workshop featured an interactive panel discussion where participants actively exchanged ideas on smart education deployment strategies within schools, before distributing certificates of participation. As a special token, attendees were gifted copies of the book Imagination and Development authored by Dr. Abdul Latif Haidar.
The event concluded with a memorable group photograph, as the school principals expressed their deep appreciation to Ar-Rasheed Smart University for organizing such high-caliber programs that spearhead educational development and technical readiness.
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