Storytelling That Will Moo-Ove You

Costume-clad students will guide users of the Moo-O software at iCTLT.

Say “Moo-O” and you’ll probably see a large doe-eyed cow materialising before your eyes. At Tampines North Primary School however, Moo-O (which means “puppet” in Mandarin) refers to an e-storybook software designed to actively engage lower primary students in storytelling through role-playing.

Students “enter” the virtual storybook world through a webcam, using technology that maps their facial expressions onto the characters’ faces in the software. Students can then take on the roles of those characters. “Moo-O was conceptualised with the objective of motivating young children to read expressively,” says English teacher Ms Sharifah Feiruz, who adds that the ultimate goal lies in enriching students’ reading experience.

Through watching video footages of their acting, students gradually learn to appreciate the importance of expressive reading in conveying character emotions, such as laughing evilly to depict the mean character of an old witch.

Fear not that this type of virtual activity will lead to a lack of human interaction: the students seem to equally enjoy acting and providing feedback to their classmates. As Pri 3 student Lee Rui Min enthusiastically puts it, “I enjoy giving comments to my friends!”

At iCTLT: Moo-O will be available in a hands-on session. Visitors will be guided by students dressed as characters in the storybook.

Play To Learn, Learn To Play

Through PC games such as Holiday Tycoon, students can apply the business skills they learn in school.

Want to learn how to build a holiday resort during class? With PC games like Holiday Tycoon being taught during Elements of Business Skills (EBS) classes at Greendale Secondary School, playing games in class can be, well, a pretty serious business indeed.

For one hour each week, Sec 3 students are given time to explore various business concepts in simulation games. By weaving education content into the games, EBS teacher Mr Tan Kok Wah believes this “hands-on” approach is beneficial to the learning progress.

“Before gaming, we prepare the worksheets on, say, promotion techniques. Once in-game, students are given options for advertisements and other forms of promotion, and they learn how to consider the expenditure as well,” explains Mr Tan.

While his idea to introduce this gaming approach initially met with scepticism, the school saw that it had positive results for the students. They improved in basic fact retention, problem-solving skills and, most importantly, motivational levels. Now Greendale Secondary has 40 copies of the games to use in class.

Quips Sec 3 student Wiberlyn Goh, “I learnt a lot of things like retailing and marketing techniques. I hope there’ll be more games coming up.”

At iCTLT: Visitors can watch a live demonstration by students showing how class lessons and games go together.

Capturing Magical Moments

Teachers review the AWWA School e-progress report with parents.

At AWWA School (an institution set up by the Asian Women’s Welfare Association to serve children with various special needs), one of the teachers’ greatest challenges is sharing their students’ progress with others, especially parents. Because some parents are unable to be closely involved in their children’s lessons at school, it can be difficult for them to look beyond their children’s immediate disabilities and appreciate what they have achieved.

So the school decided to develop an e-progress report for parents. “We were looking for a way to show parents that their children, despite their disabilities, are able to learn and improve,” says Principal Mrs Annie Tan.

The e-progress report consists of a CD with photographs and videos taken of students during classes. This captures their learning achievements and directly charts their progress. Parents are given the e-progress report twice a year during case conferences. So far, response has been positive, and viewing the reports has helped both teachers and parents to be more motivated to help the children. The e-progress report also received the MOE-National Council of Social Services Special Education School Innovation Award last year.

According to teacher Ms Sharina, the students benefit too from the project. “Because the e-progress report captures the students’ ‘abilities’ instead of ‘disabilities’, it helps to increase their self-esteem,” she affirms.

At iCTLT: Visitors can look forward to viewing posters, brochures and samples of e-progress reports.

Come and see these and other IT demonstrations at the iCTLT exhibition!

Tuesday, 5 August 2008, 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Wednesday, 6 August 2008, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Venue: Suntec International Convention and Exhibition Centre
Find out more at the iCTLT website