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Reflecting on the hands-on nature of the workshops, Dr Sharifa said: ‘Learning by Doing is the core MIT philosophy that Doodlebot embodies, making education not only fun and engaging, but also tangible, so every learning experience becomes meaningful, memorable, and impactful for students.’ A Broader Strategy for Innovation at Misk Schools The workshops form part of a wider programme designed to equip students with the ability to use, critique and shape advanced technologies. This framework is structured across three key strands. Robotics and AI Competitions Misk Schools has seen continued success in major international competitions including the World Robot Olympiad and the World Artificial Intelligence Competition for Youth. Achievements include: Best-performing school at the 2024 WRO National Finals in Saudi Arabia, leading to bronze medals and a top- ten placement at the 2024 World Finals in Türkiye. First place in both Future Innovators and Future Engineers, second place in Robomission Elementary, and third place in Future Innovators (senior) at the 2025 WRO National Finals. Two silver medals at the 2025 WRO World Finals in Singapore. A Grade 8 team won the Saudi leg of WAICY 2024 and placed second globally in the AI Large Language Model track. A total of 11 national awards were secured, five of which achieved global recognition. At WAICY 2025, students achieved five national and global awards, including silver and 4th Place Recognition awards. A teacher received the Global Outstanding Teacher Award and the school received the Global Outstanding Organisation Award. Misk Schools offers a comprehensive AI development pathway through the Misk Schools Academy. Teachers are trained in responsible use of AI, safeguarding, prompt writing, and evaluating AI-supported student work. The programme incorporates MIT RAISE and Day of AI training, ensuring staff are equipped to teach confidently and safely. Experiential Innovation Experiences Students gain direct exposure to global innovation ecosystems. In 2025, a Summer Silicon Valley programme with Stanford University introduced the emerging field of Symbiotics, exploring the relationship between humans and technology. Visits to Apple Park, Googleplex and Lucasfilm encouraged critical engagement with new tools. The December 2025 China Innovation Trip to Shanghai and Hangzhou expanded this further, offering insight into real-world AI and robotics applications through visits to SenseTime, Alibaba, CATL and BrainCo. These results reflect the strength of AI literacy and structured coaching, supported in part by a robust collaboration with Tuwaiq Academy. Professional Teacher Training in AI
MISK SCHOOLS
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