GUST participates at UMSL Conference

Gulf University for Science and Technology (GUST) faculty members recently attended a conference, organized by GUST’s affiliate, University of St Louis - Missouri (UMSL). The conference, entitled “Focus on Teaching and Technology (FTTC)”, aims to exchange ideas on how to make better use of technology in the classroom to benefit students. This year marks the first in which any university from Kuwait participated in the conference.

The conference gathered instructors and lecturers from over 50 universities across the globe. It offered an ensemble of keynote addresses, faculty innovation sessions, technology workshops, and education-focused vendor exhibits. The conference program has evolved over the years to reflect emerging trends in technology applications in higher education.

In attendance from GUST were Math Foundation Unit faculty members Caroline Flaherty and Shiny Verghese, who ran a workshop called “Increasing Student Motivation in the Math Classroom: Technology as a Lever.” During the workshop, Flaherty and Verghese spoke of the six key elements that form their teaching mantra: purpose, pedagogy, planning, preparation, practice, and patience; and touched upon the different technologies integrated into lesson-delivery at GUST. They went on to explain how this was inherent to understanding the nature of GUST students and recognizing the realities of today’s technologically-centric world. They also discussed how the incorporation of technology has made classes more engaging to students, while at the same time improved their motivation and stimulated independent thinking.

GUST FPU Director, Dr Ilene Winokur, said, “As the world around us changes, so must we. As educators, we must consistently strive to find ways to relate to and connect with our students - just as they adapt and find ways to connect with the world they live in. This conference was a prime opportunity to learn from other lecturers and instructors by listening to their experiences, and try to find even more new ways to bring in technology into the classroom in ways that would benefit our students.”

The FTT conference has taken place annually for the last 16 years, however, this is the first time that any university from Kuwait has participated, which adds muchneeded local insight to GUST’s partner, UMSL. Other workshops at FTTC included “The Intersection of Mathematics, Art, and Technology”, presented by Southeast Missouri State University, and “One Size Doesn’t Fit All-Learning Options to Address Diverse Student Needs”, delivered by UMSL itself.