EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY IN SINGAPORE

Singapore on Technology

Ministry Of Education

Role of the Singapore Teacher

Technology Impacted Curriculum Design In Singapore

• Singapore's education institutions are considered among the most advanced in the world with regard to information technology.

Singapore's Information

Technology Plan

• Singapore has been faithfully implementing a master plan since 1997 for integrating technology into education.

Masterplan 1

Masterplan 2

Masterplan 3

NOW

Master plan One :(1997-2002) started out by aiming to allow students to have computer usage for 30 percent of their curriculum time in fully networked schools and at a computer to pupil ratio of 1:2.

Masterplan Two(2002-2008) moved beyond the provision of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) resources to encourage teachers to use ICT profitably in teaching and learning.

Masterplan Three (2009-2014) builds on the platform laid by the first two Masterplans to transform the learning environments of the students through ICT and equip the students with the critical competencies to succeed in a knowledge economy.

• Currently, one could expect wireless internet connectivity in the school compound and at least a computer with projection equipment in the classroom.

• But most teachers and students have their own laptops or other mobile ICT devices.

Singapore's Ministry of Education (MOE) continues to support its public school system with Information and Communication Technologies (ICT).

• In the future, all Singapore schools will be connected to the Next Generation Broadband Network (NGBN), which will provide ultra-high speed wireless connectivity.

Singapore use strategy of exposing our teachers to the technological possibilities and supporting them in exploring new pedagogies with technology.

The focus is not on technology. It is on using technology to enhance teaching and learning.

Examples of Strategy:

1. EduLab Showcase

2. Classroom of the Future Showcase

• Teachers have to help students make sense of this large volume of information and to differentiate good information from potential misinformation.

• Teachers have to facilitate student discourse in the e-discussion forums and lead students in creating actual usable knowledge.

• These learning activities require a high level of facilitative and synthesizing skills.

• Contact hours become more valuable and should be focused on higher order thinking and learning, instead of information transmission.

• Teachers are encouraged to be change agents of educational processes, so that new technologies may be harnessed for educational purposes.

• Senior teachers also play the role of mentors to beginning teachers in the effective use of ICT in their respective disciplines and to champion appropriate change.

• In Singapore, one of the main impacts of technology is a shift in the mindset of educators to discover how curriculum and the teaching environment can become more learner-centered through the enabling of ICT.

• Instead of always relying on the traditional curriculum, we now have more experiments with modular approaches, flipped classrooms and learning content beyond the shores of Singapore.

• One of the advantages of ICT is that it can expand access to education.

• Through ICT, students can access online course materials anytime and anywhere, learning at their own pace.

• E-discussion forums allow many students to discuss learning content at the same time.

• Video clips, audio sounds and graphical presentation bring content to life.