Making Connections between your ESE and the Masterplans for ICT in Education

For the school that I was attached to, which was Stamford Primary school , the first master plan which was mainly introducing ICT to schools was the most evident. All classrooms had at least 1 computer and 1 projector. This projector is not the old OHP that we use but one with a camera mounted. Networking was also done up such that all classroom computers could access the school’s intranet and also the internet. This made teaching very efficient as teachers could quickly search for pictures or videos to answer some of the questions students ask.

The second master plan was also seen when kids had “lab time” where they are brought to computer labs and taught how to use Microsoft word, excel and PowerPoint. There was also an “apple lab” whereby all the computers there were from Apple. This gave all kids opportunity to access different operating systems and learn how they work.

Teachers were also very IT savvy when it came to lessons. Most lessons were conducted using the computers and examples would be such as www.LEAD.com.sg, the ever wonderful PowerPoint, and YouTube to showcase videos for classes.

However, for the latest master plan, the only clear picture I could see was for kids to do research on their own for Science. And as mentioned in my previous blog, there was only a certain extent of how much of this master plan could be implemented for kids this age.

To customize teaching so that each student would learn best would be near impossible now that the streaming system of EM1 EM2 and EM3 is removed. How can teachers customize teaching to fit a class of students with such extremities in ability?

At the primary school level, for most students to ask the right questions would be also quite hard to accomplish as most of the time, or from what I have seen, students will digress and ask about things completely unrelated to the lesson. If they are not thumbed down, the entire class will suffer as the teacher will be stuck to answering the unrelated questions.

And for kids to learn anywhere, will MOE provide free Ipads or Iphones to these kids? There are many kids from Stamford primary who are from the lower income family and need financial help. They can only access computers from the school labs. To encourage them to be independent learners, they need to have the resources.

MASTERPLAN FOR ICT IN EDUCATION

The 3 master plans are like a follow up on each other. It is important that they were created so as to fully integrate ICT into the education system.

The first master plan was introduced in 1997, when I was in Secondary 1. That master plan was launched to bring a change in mindset of the typical school life of teaching and learning. Since it was the beginning, it was basically to equip all schools and teachers with skills, access and tools to ICT. It was a very rough start. The only ICT during that time as far as I could remember was the overhead projector(OHP). Schools did not have proper networks setup and even if computers were introduced, they were of minimal help and more of a hassle rather. Why do I say so? Teachers that time were lacking in ICT skills as this technology was rather new. Most students at that time did not even have computers at home.

The second master plan was introduced in 2002. I was in JC2 that year. Thinking back, from 1997 till 2002, which is 5 years, I do not recall seeing much integration of ICT into schools apart from the fact that there were computer labs. Classrooms at that time did not have computers. And lectures conducted in lecture theatres(LTs) were mainly done by OHP. Perhaps that was why this master plan was created. This master plan wants to bring about more interaction and engagement in the learning process on top of replacing old transparencies with PowerPoint slides.

The third master plan, introduced in 2008, was created to fulfill 4 objectives.

1)      a self directed learner(student).

2)      Customising teaching so that each student learns best

3)      An inquisitive learner(student)

4)      Learning anywhere

I feel that this master plan is important as it will create an active learner. One that will seek to ask questions and not just let things he/she not know about stay the way it is. However, this master plan may only work on the higher levels from Secondary 3 and up, or on the brighter pupils. The current system, or during my time was that less and less information was readily given to us as students as we progressed from primary to secondary to jc and university. We were made to find information on our own. We can obtain the above 4 objectives, but definitely to a certain extent.

ICT was more evidently used in my university days. From webcast for lectures to matlab software for my mathematics modules. It was somewhat useful yet challenging. The current master plan wants a self directed learner, but for any one to learn anything, help must be given. A certain amount of hand holding must be there. I felt as though I was dumped into the deep sea without any lifelines and was struggling half the time.

My ESE was at Stamford primary school. I do not know the exact figure but there are quite a number of students without computers at home. I feel that even though ICT should be used in school, if we want kids to use ICT at home also, some help should be given to the needy families.

As a beginning teacher in future, I will still use ICT in my daily teaching, but to a certain extent. For mathematics to be taught, I feel that it cannot be done without the use of either a whiteboard or projector. It would be ideal, if all schools and every classroom could have the interactive whiteboard which was used in Stamford Primary. This way, instead of having to switch screens from projector screen to whiteboard, time can be saved when alterations can be made directly on the interactive whiteboard.

My Enhanced School Experience (ESE)

ENHANCED SCHOOL EXPERIENCE:

PREPARATORY TASK FOR ICT FOR MEANINGFUL LEARNING

Enhanced School Experience: Classroom Observations of ICT Use

(I)              Specific Observations

School Name: Stamford Primary School

Class: 5/5

Profile of the class: Cheerful group of children with all of them in the low ability group as this is a foundation class.

Subject: Mathematics

What ICT tools are used in the lesson? Power point and interactive whiteboard

Describe how ICT is used for teaching and learning in the lesson. Power point slides were created for the teaching of the topic. The interactive whiteboard was used for examples for students to try out. It got them very engaged as there were many things for them to play around compared to a normal whiteboard.

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(II)       General Observation:

How do teachers in the school feel about the use of ICT for teaching and learning? (For this question, you may want to speak to the HOD/ICT and other teachers you know in the school.)

    The power point slides made the lesson a little more interesting as it made mathematics more visual. It made the kids pay more attention as they could not refer to the textbook.

All of them who have used the interactive whiteboard before felt that it was a great tool for teaching as it not only made lessons engaging, it also made them more efficient.

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