What's Hot, What's New in Education
Friday, July 6, 2007
CRPP 2007 attracted 1,800 participants from over 30 countries.
Teaching in schools today does not fully adopt the "teacher knows best" model anymore - students are now seen as the main actors in the classroom. As seen at the recent 'Redesigning Pedagogy: Culture, Knowledge and Understanding Conference 2007' in Singapore, there is solid empirical evidence from both Singapore and overseas to show that the student-centred approach works better in the longer term.
From 28 to 30 May 2007, an international group of some 1,800 academics and education practitioners came together to share some of these best practices across languages, contexts and countries, and to forge new innovative directions in educational research and practices. Organised by the National Institute of Education (NIE), Nanyang Technological University’s Centre for Research in Pedagogy and Practice (CRPP), the Conference presented the synthesis of scholarship, practice and experience in a single forum.
For teachers, it was a valuable opportunity to keep abreast of the latest developments in the teaching field. In fact, teachers made up over half of the total attendance, as the Conference provided the ideal stage to showcase their active school-based research work. As for education policymakers, the Conference was an important platform where the seeds of change could be planted.
Getting the right picture from the experts (left to right): Professors S Gopinathan (Vice-dean, CRPP), David Hogan (Dean, CRPP), Lee Sing Kong (Director, NIE) and RADM Lui Tuck Yew, Minister of State for Education.
The Teacher as Creative Director
With the changing global landscape, "teachers and schools have moved well beyond the stage where they are mere implements of good solutions conceived in either local or foreign school systems," said Conference Guest-of-Honour Rear-Admiral (NS) Lui Tuck Yew, Minister of State, Ministry of Education, at the opening ceremony. In order to prepare the younger generation for successful living in the 21st century, he emphasised that teachers must be the "creators of new practices and purveyors of new knowledge derived from observing and reflecting on the effectiveness of their own practice".
Such new knowledge was abundantly shared at the Conference, with many sessions dedicated to innovations in education. Education practitioners, policymakers and researchers crowded the lecture halls to listen to and learn from each other.
The Whole Gamut of Education
Over three packed days, more than 570 papers were presented during the keynote addresses, panel sessions, plenary lectures, individual presentations, workshops and symposia. Topics spanned the full spectrum of education - from teaching methods to policy changes, from the psychology of learning to cultural influences which impact understanding. The categories included:
- Language and Literacy Education;
- Multiliteracies and Multimodalities;
- Science Education;
- IT Education;
- Affective Education;
- School Change and Leadership;
- Innovation in Curriculum Development and Classroom Practice;
- Student Performance and Assessment;
- Anthropology and Cultural Studies; and
- Cognition and Understanding.
Conference attendees contributed to a lively Q&A session with the keynote speakers.
Learn from the Experts
The distinguished foreign researchers who were invited as keynote speakers [PDF] addressed a broad portfolio of topics at their sessions, such as:
- "What works: Is Western educational research relevant for educational reforms in Asia?" - Professor David Watkins, University of Hong Kong, China
- "Education, globalisation and the future of the knowledge economy" - Professor Philip Brown, Cardiff University, UK
- "Making the most of experience: Teachers' representations of practice as a resource for professional learning and instructional decision making" - Professor Judith Warren Little, University of California Berkeley, USA
Singapore teachers took the lead to share various student-centred, engaging pedagogies in line with MOE’s initiative to introduce more independent and quality learning. In addition to the 36 papers presented by teachers from 16 schools, some teachers collaborated with industry partners and co-authored papers with NIE faculty members, MOE officers or counterparts from other schools. These presentations gave Conference attendees a glimpse of some of the exciting teaching methods that are taking root in our schools. For example, the paper "Using Concept Mapping Tools to Construct Knowledge" was presented by Mr Peh Chin Heng from Maris Stella High School, Mr Cheng Ghee Hock from Beatty Secondary School and Ms Tan Sok Ngin from Anglican High School.
With such opportunities for international sharing and exchange, more ways of effective teaching and learning are germinating in our schools, making for a more enriching all-round education experience.