“I am fortunate that the school is very supportive of new pedagogies and teaching tools - I have four computers in my Tamil language classroom,” reveals Mdm Rani. And her Pri 2 pupils are understandably thrilled to have these learning devices at their disposal. When Mdm Rani wanted to prepare them for an Indian literary competition, she turned to the internet to rouse their interest. “I directed them to search the web for Indian poets so they could see what their favourite poets look like,” she explains. “They could then get the right costumes and make-up for the recitation.”

Internet research and listening to vodcasts and podcasts helped the pupils prepare for a literary competition.

“Without the internet, I wouldn’t have been able to discover so much about the poet Subramaniaya Bharatiyar, or find my favourite line in his poem,” says Ruben Thiyagaraia from Pri 2H.

For Stuart Rayon of Pri 2G, the web-based interactive resources were an inspiration. “I now realise that there are so many great poets. Their beautiful words also inspire me to write like them,” says Stuart. “My teacher said my composition on Indian poets was best in class. She even sent it to the newspapers to be featured!”

Bringing ideas together on the electronic whiteboard

ICT tools can also help pupils to organise their research and ideas more effectively. Using the interactive electronic whiteboard, Mdm Rani has been able to constructively engage her Pri 6 pupils, such as for the potentially dry topic of water conservation. “I wanted to show that we can reduce, reuse and recycle water. Flowcharts, information tables, and even things around us always look more attractive in colour!” she elaborates.

The assignment she gave her pupils included creating educational pamphlets, and using a pie chart and bar graph to illustrate Singapore’s efforts at water conservation. Pupils did their research on the internet, from which they could transfer relevant pictures and information directly onto the electronic whiteboard.

“I enjoy using the interactive electronic whiteboard,” says Daniel Logan of Pri 6B. “Once my touch is registered, I can use the whiteboard to write or draw; I can also edit the words, or change the colours of my drawings.”

“I was one of the lucky few to try out the interactive electronic whiteboard, and it was fun!” enthuses Priya Darshini of Pri 6D. “I’m surprised that technology is so powerful.”

Pupils try their hand at making a recording using radio frequency identification.

Taking lessons home on the radio

Nor is learning confined to the classroom. Mdm Rani has also used radio frequency identification (RFI) to store lesson notes so that her pupils can listen to them even when they are away from school. “Nowadays, lessons are integrated and taught by topic, that is, the same topic is used for conversation, reading, comprehension and composition,” she says. “If a pupil misses a lesson, he would need to quickly catch up,” and the RFI lessons help with that.

To store a lesson using RFI, Mdm Rani makes her way to MediaCorp Radio to use equipment such as the transponder, transmitter, antenna and tape. “I record and store the lessons on tape at the studio,” she explains. “To access the recording, pupils go to http://www.oli.sg (which is the Tamil radio channel, Oli 96.8 FM), select the correct icon and click to play the recorded lesson.”

Mdm Rani tunes in to Oli 96.8 FM during lesson time too, so that her pupils can listen to the pre-recorded segments. The RFI technique is not new, and schools have been using it for the GCE ‘N’ level listening comprehension exams, which are broadcast over the airwaves.

Mdm Rani’s Pri 6 pupils are happy with this convenient and novel way of learning. “Previously, whenever I was absent from school, I had to call up my friends to find out what I had missed. Now I can just go online to listen to what my teacher covered in class,” says Kalidass Devar of Pri 6D.

“I didn’t use to listen to Tamil radio because I didn’t know there were so many programmes for pupils,” says classmate Bairavi Kunasegaran. “Now I’m tuning in to Oli 96.8 FM more often to listen to my favourite segments. If I miss the ‘live’ telecast, I can also listen to the programme online.”