Ithra’s Learning Beyond Conference highlights role of storytelling, design thinking in education

Ithra transformed into a massive learning hub for the Learning Beyond Conference in Dhahran at the weekend. (Supplied)
1 / 5
Ithra transformed into a massive learning hub for the Learning Beyond Conference in Dhahran at the weekend. (Supplied)
Ithra transformed into a massive learning hub for the Learning Beyond Conference in Dhahran at the weekend. (Supplied)
2 / 5
Ithra transformed into a massive learning hub for the Learning Beyond Conference in Dhahran at the weekend. (Supplied)
Ithra transformed into a massive learning hub for the Learning Beyond Conference in Dhahran at the weekend. (Supplied)
3 / 5
Ithra transformed into a massive learning hub for the Learning Beyond Conference in Dhahran at the weekend. (Supplied)
Ithra transformed into a massive learning hub for the Learning Beyond Conference in Dhahran at the weekend. (Supplied)
4 / 5
Ithra transformed into a massive learning hub for the Learning Beyond Conference in Dhahran at the weekend. (Supplied)
Ithra transformed into a massive learning hub for the Learning Beyond Conference in Dhahran at the weekend. (Supplied)
5 / 5
Ithra transformed into a massive learning hub for the Learning Beyond Conference in Dhahran at the weekend. (Supplied)
Short Url
Updated 21 January 2024
Follow

Ithra’s Learning Beyond Conference highlights role of storytelling, design thinking in education

Ithra transformed into a massive learning hub for the Learning Beyond Conference in Dhahran at the weekend. (Supplied)
  • Ithra has been at the forefront of merging old and new, consistently pivoting innovative technology while honoring the past

DHAHRAN: The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture, Ithra, transformed into a massive learning hub for the Learning Beyond Conference in Dhahran at the weekend.

The two-day event featured 22 interactive talks, 50 speakers, four book signings, and 15 workshops, inviting educators, parents, content developers, intellectuals, lifelong learners, and education entrepreneurs to explore the theme of “storytelling.”

Since its inception, Ithra has been at the forefront of merging old and new, consistently pivoting innovative technology while honoring the past. The goal is to amplify Saudi narratives across various mediums. At the Learning Beyond Conference, diverse interactive spaces, including picture books, photography, traditional methods, and ChatGPT, catered to every learning style.

Many sessions were conducted in both English and Arabic, exploring topics such as sensory storytelling, designing intellectually stimulating learning environments, immersive storytelling, songwriting, and utilizing technologies like artificial intelligence for storytelling, among other topics.

A dedicated space showcased the art of Hasawi bisht, a decorative garment from Al-Ahsa worn during special occasions. Local Hasawi experts were invited to weave the symbolic golden thread, while musicians adorned the space, telling stories through oud strumming or piano keys, each piece conveying a unique tale.

Arab News attended a session called SPAN, which alluded to how our day is split into various spans of time and how each competes for our attention. Hosted by Benjamin Jacobs, a 30-year veteran educator, creative manager Yasmeen Fekak, and marketing professional Muhannad Alhammadeh.

These seasoned professionals engaged 20 participants in a workshop. After a brief presentation, educators were divided into four groups to brainstorm innovative ways to teach complex topics in the classroom.

“What is design thinking? This might be the hardest and easiest question,” Alhammadeh told Arab News. “If you think about design thinking, it’s the way that we were trying to deliver a mindset for educators to be able to build a solution every time they face a problem — while delivering information or content for students or trainees.

“It is just an introduction to unlock whatever skills, whatever tools that you might have. Design thinking is this method that will give you shortcuts to solutions and an enhancement to whatever you're doing in a very, very simple and broken-down way.“

The SPAN session took place in a classroom filled with colorful sticky notes for scribbling ideas and ample opportunities to discuss the most effective teaching or learning methods and their reasons.

“Tonight, it was a drop-in; we were hoping for 16, and we had 20. I would say it was a good problem to have,” Jacobs told Arab News after the successful session.

Fekak shared with Arab News her perspective on the dual roles of learning and teaching. She said: “Sometimes you are the receiver of the information; sometimes, you’re the one handing it out. Sometimes, you are the educator, sometimes you are the student; so it’s all about going back to design thinking and learning.

“What did I learn today? I learned that for us all … we were able to recall our previous experiences as students and able to recall what worked for us and what didn’t and that helped us in trying to come up with solutions that we could actually transfer later,” she added.


KSrelief official meets International Medical Corps chief and WHO director-general

KSrelief official meets International Medical Corps chief and WHO director-general
Updated 9 sec ago
Follow

KSrelief official meets International Medical Corps chief and WHO director-general

KSrelief official meets International Medical Corps chief and WHO director-general

NEW YORK: The supervisor-general of Saudi aid agency KSrelief and the chief executive of the International Medical Corps met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York on Thursday.

Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabiah and Nancy Aossey discussed issues of mutual interest related to humanitarian affairs, along with ways to increase cooperation in providing relief and medical assistance worldwide.

Aossey commended KSrelief’s medical programs, which are helping improve health conditions in various countries.

Al-Rabiah also met with World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus to discuss humanitarian projects in the healthcare sector.

Ghebreyesus commended medical initiatives carried out by KSrelief, highlighting the strategic partnership between their respective organizations.


Saudi Arabia, allies seek to push forward two-state solution to Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Saudi Arabia, allies seek to push forward two-state solution to Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Updated 11 min 24 sec ago
Follow

Saudi Arabia, allies seek to push forward two-state solution to Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Saudi Arabia, allies seek to push forward two-state solution to Israeli-Palestinian conflict

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia and its partners had convened a global alliance to push forward a two-state solution agenda to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said on Thursday.

The agenda is based on the conviction that a permanent settlement can only come via the establishment of a Palestinian state, the top Saudi diplomat said.

“What we are trying to do is build a coalition aimed at implementing the two-state solution and that needs certain building blocks, including capacity building within the Palestinian authority,” Prince Farhan said.

He said the Kingdom and allies would organize meetings at the senior working level in Riyadh, Brussels, Cairo, Oslo, Amman, and Ankara as part of the plan.

“I fail to understand how the continuation of war can be the only option,” he said. “There must be other options, and therefore I will reiterate our call for a ceasefire and for diplomacy to prevail.”

The decades-long conflict has come to a boiling point after Hamas militants stormed across the Gaza border and attacked Israeli settlements on Oct. 7, killing nearly 1,200 people.

Israeli retaliatory action has laid waste to much of Gaza and killed over 41,000 in the enclave.

The conflict now has spread more widely to Lebanon. Israel has been attacking the southern part of the country where the Iran-backed Hezbollah group is strongest.

World powers fear that the conflict could escalate further, especially if Iran gets involved.

A call to halt hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah by the US and France and their allies has been rejected by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday.

Asked about the Israeli premier's response, the Saudi diplomat said: “I wish I could tell you. I was surprised.”

Prince Faisal said the ceasefire proposal had been worded carefully to take into account the interests of both Lebanon and Israel.

There has been ongoing efforts to bring about an end to hostilities in the region, but all have failed except a brief pause in November when a number of hostages were exchanged between the Israelis and Palestinians.

“We have seen since the start of the war a pattern, every time we are told we are close to a ceasefire in Gaza, it does not happen,” Prince Faisal said.

“Similarly, when we were with our partners working together on a very concrete call for a ceasefire in regard to Lebanon, our impression was that was acceptable, only to learn now that, no, it is not acceptable.”

He said that the group was attempting to set the groundwork for the solution. As for Saudi Arabia, the focus was on establishing the Palestinian state.

 

 


Saudi economy minister meets Nigerian official in New York

Saudi economy minister meets Nigerian official in New York
Updated 26 September 2024
Follow

Saudi economy minister meets Nigerian official in New York

Saudi economy minister meets Nigerian official in New York

NEW YORK: Faisal bin Fadhil Alibrahim, the Saudi minister of economy and planning, met with Hannatu Musa Musawa, Nigeria’s minister of arts, culture and creative economy, on the sidelines of the Summit of the Future in New York.

The meeting focused on exploring areas of cooperation and addressing topics of shared interest, the Saudi Press Agency reported.


Saudi interior minister receives Jordanian counterpart

Saudi Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz receives his Jordanian counterpart in Riyadh.
Saudi Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz receives his Jordanian counterpart in Riyadh.
Updated 26 September 2024
Follow

Saudi interior minister receives Jordanian counterpart

Saudi Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz receives his Jordanian counterpart in Riyadh.
  • During the meeting, ways to enhance security cooperation between their ministries and topics of common interest were discussed

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz received his Jordanian counterpart Mazen Abdullah Hilal Al-Faraya in Riyadh on Thursday.

During the meeting, ways to enhance security cooperation between their ministries and topics of common interest were discussed. 

The two ministers also signed a cooperation agreement between Saudi Arabia and Jordan that aims to combat illicit trafficking and smuggling of narcotics, psychotropic substances, and chemical precursors.


‘Echoes of Time’ exhibition: An artistic exploration of Saudi Arabia’s archaeology

‘Echoes of Time’ exhibition: An artistic exploration of Saudi Arabia’s archaeology
Updated 26 September 2024
Follow

‘Echoes of Time’ exhibition: An artistic exploration of Saudi Arabia’s archaeology

‘Echoes of Time’ exhibition: An artistic exploration of Saudi Arabia’s archaeology
  • The event marks the 20th anniversary of German Archaeological Institute’s excavations in Saudi Arabia

RIYADH: A new art exhibition inspired by early archaeological exploration in Saudi Arabia has opened in Riyadh.

The Goethe-Institut in Riyadh, in partnership with the German Embassy and the German Archaeological Institute, or DAI, in Berlin, recently opened “Echoes of Time,” an exhibition marking the 20th anniversary of DAI excavations in Saudi Arabia.

Curated by Salma Al-Khalidi, the exhibition displays work from Saudi artist Daniah Al-Saleh and German artist Susanne Kriemann.

“The Saudi art scene is fantastic,” Al-Saleh told Arab News. “It’s alive and expanding, with numerous opportunities for artists thanks to the support of the Ministry of Culture and the government.

“It’s an amazing time to be an artist, especially with the backing of the German Archaeological Institute and the German Embassy. This exhibition is a wonderful opportunity to showcase our work and collaborate with fellow artists.”

The opening reception was held on Sept. 24 at 6:00 p.m. and was attended by Michael Kindsgrab, the German ambassador to Saudi Arabia, along with several members from the German Embassy and DAI.

Set against the archaeological landscapes of Tayma and AlUla, the exhibition encourages viewers to perceive the desert as a place where history and modernity intersect, emphasizing the significance of environmental stewardship in global discussions about history and ecology.

Al-Saleh’s artwork, “A Stone’s Palette,” utilizes carnelian beads from ancient sites like Rujum Sa’sa’ and Tell Saq, blending ancient materials with contemporary techniques to create mixed-media pieces.

“Initially, my proposal focused on the Nabatean queens, but the German archaeologists were more interested in the Bronze Age. In our discussions, I discovered that carnelian beads were consistently found at various sites. In Tayma, there’s a carnelian bead factory that dates back about 5,000 years, leading me to shift my focus to these beads,” Al-Saleh explained.

Susanne Kriemann’s work, “Datadust Skin on Sand,” contrasts ancient artifacts with modern waste found in Qurh and Tayma. Her photographic prints combine archaeological discoveries with microplastics, shedding light on the environmental impact of plastic pollution in desert landscapes and offering a nuanced perspective on contemporary ecological issues.

Kriemann described her process: “I began early one morning when it was still dark, taking photos of a mountain every 10 minutes, capturing a hidden watchtower. I selected about 12 images depicting the slowly rising sun mirrored in the tower’s colors. I used Datadust textile, which is employed in archaeological sites, to create layers in my work.”

The exhibition is running at the Ahlam Gallery in Riyadh from Sept. 24 to Oct. 7, 2024.