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.