MAKING CONNECTION BETWEEN MY ESE AND MASTERPLANS FOR ICT IN EDUCATION

During my ESE programme, fortunately I got the chance to experience the school e-learning days, it lasted for 2 days, student are required to accomplish their lessons and assignments through school’s ‘Ask and Learn’ e-learning portal, so they didn’t have to come to school for 2 days.

From my observation of the e-learning, I found those students are quite independent in the whole e-learning process. Most of them are able to complete the work on their own after the instructions are given and without much pushing. In that sense, for teacher, teaching becomes much easier and efficient; for students, learning becomes more interesting and effective. According to the students’ participation statistic upon this e-learning programme, students responded actively in the whole learning process. From here we see that the use of ICT are actually helping the students in moulding a self-directed learning habit, they are manage to discipline themselves without anyone looking after. To mould a self-directed learner is also one of the desired outcomes from 21^st century competencies; this could happen with the use of ICT.

Other than students’ improvement, the achievement of infrastructure has also stepped forward in these years; I believe that most of the schools are fully equipped with ICT facilities. This improvement enables students and teachers enjoy teaching and learning by making good use of those facilities.

MASTERPLANS FOR ICT IN EDUCATION

· In your opinion, why do you think it is important for MOE to develop the three Master plans for ICT in education?

In my opinion, there are 3 important factors that MOE develops the three Master plans for ICT in education:

Ø Tendency- Globalization of the media brings students closer to the world outside, they have more contact and linkages without the classroom, school, even go beyond the nation. Besides, the rapid evolution of technologies creates much opportunity for the youngster to build connection with others, to grip information and to discover knowledge easily with different tools and platforms. So, as an educator, MOE plays a very important role to have a sense of this tendency, and take action on innovating effective teaching and learning strategies to suit young generation nowadays.

Ø Competency- The world now is a technologically advanced society; lots of information and communication conducted and managed relying on technology, so ICT play a very important role and as a tool, in mastering information and knowledge worldwide. The ability of mastering ICT is as important as holding information and knowledge, because to be able to use ICT is a precondition of effective learning. Therefore, with these 3 Master plans in education, it would be an advantage for Singapore students to go further in their learning field.

Ø Efficiency- Self-directed learning is also one of the 21^st century competencies under MOE guideline, to attain this goal, it’s not only about moulding a self-directed learning habit, but it also requires effective and efficient learning methods and strategies especially in this rapid growing world. In that sense, manage to master ICT can actually accelerate the learning process and progress. So, I think this is why ICT was being introduced into education field since 90’s in Singapore.

· Based on your enhanced school experience, how do you think the current Master plan 3 may affect your role(s) as a beginning teacher?

The 3^rd Master plan emphasizes on developing competencies for self-directed and collaborative learning of every student through the effective use of ICT. So, as a teacher, our roles are not only designing the lessons with ICT elements to engage students’ interests in particular subject, but to orient them to self-directed and collaborative learning and to guide them the appropriate way of using ICT. Therefore, as beginning teachers, we have to recognize the Master plan’s goals, students’ way of learning, and the ICT infrastructure of schools, so that we can have the capacity of the teaching and learning possibility in mind to do further planning.