The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) has recorded 6,100 downloads of its ‘Enviro-Spellathon’app since August. The Enviro-Spellathon is an EAD-led annual activity conducted within Abu Dhabi Emirate’s schools. The programme promotes eco-literacy on the local flora, fauna and inculcates awareness about the local environmental issues among students of Abu Dhabi through a structured academic exercise. The activity is designed for students aged between 5 years to 13 years (kindergarten to Grade 6)in both Arabic and English languages.
Ahmed Baharoon, Executive Director Environmental Information, Science & Outreach Management, said: “Since it was launched, 8 million students from 92% of Abu Dhabi Schools use the enviro-spellathon as extra curricular activity. We have witnessed an unprecedented number of downloads of our enviro-spellathon since the summer – currently over 6,100. We believe that this increase is due to our social media promotion aimed at parents, which encouraged them join their children in completing the spellathon during the summer break to keep the students engaged and entertained.”
He added: “This new app has replaced the need for printed materials previously used for this programme. Therefore, we not only provide a wonderful learning experience for the students but also reduce the amount of carbon dioxide emissions generated by printing and transporting the booklets. The app will further environmental literacy among our students as it has become more interactive including, animation, games, sound, voice-over and so much more.”
With the enviro – spellathon being a sustained programme, since 2001, that grows with the child, it offers other significant advantages, including: the targeting of students en masse in a structured way, and the boosting of eco-literacy while enhancing language and vocabulary skills. The app also instills sound environmental behaviour and ethics among young people that will help build a more sustainable world in the future.
The app features 18 games, 12 animations, 9 interactive animations and voice-overs throughout each book. Another notable feature is that no internet connection is needed – once it has been downloaded to the respective device, (desktop/tablet/iPad), students can use it at any time and in any location.
The envoi-spellathon has a live testing section, and once each level has been completed, students are encouraged to test their knowledge and take the test. The live tests are automated and the results are sent by email to the relevant teachers, with a series of certificates awarded for successful completion of the tests at each level.
To access the envoi-spellathon, please visit: https://www.ead.gov.ae/en/Join-the-Movement/Youth/i-Enviro-Spellathon