August 2008 Archives

Technology Goes to School at iCTLT 2008

August 28, 2008

“But it’s homework!” That’s what your children might insist the next time you catch them blogging on the Internet instead of slogging at their worksheets. And they’d probably be right. There’s no escaping technology in today’s connected world, and Singapore schools are gearing up to give students a head start on the skills and tools they’ll need in a society that values creativity and connectivity.

Blogging was just one of the new waves in the education landscape highlighted at this year’s International Conference on Teaching and Learning with Technology (iCTLT). More than 1,800 international delegates gathered at Suntec City to hear how teachers and schools across the world are using new technologies to enhance the learning experience.

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To Vietnam to Lend a Helping Hand

August 26, 2008

There’s a world of difference between being a mere tourist and a true traveller who contributes something to the place he or she visits - that’s what my 29 students from Yio Chu Kang Primary School found out during a six-day trip to Vietnam in May.

Forget theme parks and shopping malls. Instead, the Pri 4 and 5 students and their four teachers, including myself, embarked on a journey of discovery into a world of natural wonders and remote villages, trekking across hills to see ancient trees and setting up water filtration systems at shelters for victims of war.

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Student-made Toys that Make You Go Ha-Ha

August 22, 2008

Don’t laugh when Helen and Joanne tell you that they “had to eat a lot of eggs” to produce their prize-winning toy. And spare a thought for a Kind Clown who must balance balls on his hands while his legs strive to free a dragonfly from the jaws of a Venus Flytrap.

Then, if your sides aren’t splitting from watching a couple of Belly Dancers shaking their booty, you can try making a pizza - which is when you may discover that with the incredible Pizzatron, adding toppings is not quite as easy as it sounds.

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Back to School - in the Swinging Sixties!

August 20, 2008

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Dance Hall!”

As stylish dancers sashayed their way onto the stage and a sparkling crystal ball cast its spell across the arena, the waiting crowd erupted with cheers. “You are in for a greeaaaatttt time!” boomed emcee Jenson Tan. “Put your hands together for ‘Twist and Shout’!”

Decked out in bell-bottoms and fitted shirts, the dancers strutted their stuff and the mood hit fever pitch with thunderous applause and ear-splitting screams. The way they shook, rattled and rolled, you’d think Elvis was back in action. As the band struck up a merry beat, the dancers thrust their hips to tunes from the 1960s by Astroboy and Betty Boo and grooved to the high-octane dance moves of the hustle, the twist and even the a-go-go.

Make no mistake - the ’60s are back. Over two evenings this July, Ang Mo Kio Secondary School became a time machine that brought to life Singapore in the swinging ’60s. A bustling night market, friendly gatherings at Ah Gong’s Coffeeshop, and the soulful strumming of a street busker - many colours and sounds of a bygone era were recaptured as the school hosted NOMAD 2008, its biannual celebration of the arts.

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Learning Chinese with Module Combinations that Match Every Student's Ability

August 18, 2008

This is the second article in Schoolbag’s series of 10 features on the primary school Chinese Language curriculum. Read the first one here.

An earlier version of this article was published in Lianhe Zaobao on 27 March 2007. For a Chinese version of this article, click here.

Parents may naturally think that their children’s experiences in school are, when you get down to the basics, just like their own. But times have changed, and we educators must likewise adapt to a new generation of learners so that we can remain effective teachers.

When it comes to teaching the Chinese language, one major change is that unlike in earlier decades, many children now grow up in families speaking mainly, or even only, English. Thus, we are seeing more fresh Pri 1 students who have no exposure to the Chinese language. However, there are also students who have some foundation in the language.

How then can we teach all our Pri 1 students and bring them up to speed together?

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Say Something Nice for Teachers' Day

August 15, 2008

Parents, if there is a teacher who has made a difference in your lives, show how much you appreciate him or her by sending in a special dedication.

Go to teachersday.sg before 31 August and tell us what makes your teacher special in 6 words. You can also encourage your children to leave their dedications!

Selected dedications will be published in The Straits Times on 1 September 2008.

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Outdoor Ideas for Indoor Lessons

August 14, 2008

Teachers Mr Noor Shahid Bin Noorahman from Bedok South Secondary School and Mr Ng Pek Kee from Manjusri Secondary School don’t teach PE, but that didn’t stop them from signing up for MOE’s Outdoor Education Conference in June. In fact, Mr Ng first attended the conference in 2006 and found it so useful that he enrolled again. “The parallel between outdoor and academic education meant I could apply what I learnt in my English and Mathematics classes,” he explains.

Outdoor enthusiast Mr Noor Shahid agrees. “Even though I teach Mathematics and Computer Applications, I can adapt some of the concepts and activities for my lessons. I’m also hoping to use some of these activities in my CCA, the National Cadet Corps, as well as with other uniformed groups.”

What brought Mr Ng and Mr Noor Shahid to the Outdoor Education Conference this year was the workshop, “Propless Games - icebreakers, energisers, deinhibitisers and team-building games for all occasions”.

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A Camp for Amazing Race(r)s

August 12, 2008

Read the first two Schoolbag.sg articles about Leadership Development Programme projects by the James Team and Team Illuminati.

Call it an Amazing Race with a difference: making their way through the narrow lanes of Little India and Jalan Besar, student racers made pitstops to toss roti prata, kick a round of chapteh and practise how to tie a sari. They also got to taste an array of Indian sweets, visit temples to learn the names of different Hindu and Buddhist deities, and try their hand at the art of henna.

For some 40 upper primary students from Telok Kurau Primary School, this road adventure was the highlight of Team Unite, a two-day camp organised by a group of Sec 4 students to showcase Singapore’s amazing races and the importance of ethnic harmony.

But don’t students already get enough of that in National Education classes?

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NLB-MOE Seminar for Parents on Secondary School Education

August 8, 2008

If your child is moving on to secondary school next year, this seminar is for you! Learn more about:

• Choosing a secondary school and supporting your child in secondary school
• The secondary school system
• Tips for parents to encourage reading

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Say No to Drugs - the Family Way

August 7, 2008

“Let’s go! Left, right, left, right.” “Quick, grab that log for our space shuttle.” “How about a pile of leaves - will it cushion the impact of a falling egg?” “Oh no! Too heavy - move back, move back!”

With a flurry of movement, rapid commands and irrepressible laughter, teams dashed from point to point, seeking to outrun, outsmart and outdo each other to complete their tasks. This may sound like a fun-filled holiday camp for kids - but there were parents in the mix too. For two days during the recent June holidays, they got to spend a little quality time together at Sarimbun Camp in the rustic northwest of Singapore.

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Learning Chinese - Making It Fun

August 5, 2008

This article is the first of a series of 10 features on the new Chinese Language curriculum. The series was first published in Lianhe Zaobao from March 2007. For a Chinese version of this article, click here.

To understand the new Chinese Language modular curriculum for primary schools, you can start by looking at the four principles that anchor the curriculum:

• “Listen and Speak More”;
• “Recognise Characters Effectively”;
• “Follow on with Reading and Writing"; and “
• “Enjoy Chinese Language Learning”.

These phrases sum up the gist and goals of the new curriculum. The aim: to transform students’ learning experience with a fresh emphasis on outcomes and enjoyment. What’s new then?

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