Blue Sky Border

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Thinking School Learning Nation
Learning Communities In A Singapore Primary
School
Presenters
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Thinking School Learning Nation
Education In Singapore Overview
http//www.moe.gov.sg/corporate/pdf/MOE-brochure-7
dft.pdf
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Thinking School Learning Nation
Education In Singapore Overview
Thinking Schools, Learning Nation a vision
which will ensure that Singapore will be a nation
of thinking and commited citizens who are capable
of contributing towards Singapores continued
growth and prosperity
Computer-based programmes are also introduced in
school to promote independent learning and
enhance higher order thinking skills.
http//www.moe.gov.sg/corporate/pdf/MOE-brochure-7
dft.pdf
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THE KEY ROLE OF EDUCATION
OPENING ADDRESS BY ( former)PRIME MINISTER GOH
CHOK TONG AT THE APEC EDUCATION MINISTERS'
MEETING 6 APRIL 2000
Today, our young must reach out to the world,
understand the complexities and the potential of
globalisation, and live and compete in the
global village.
OPENING ADDRESS BY( former)PRIME MINISTER GOH
CHOK TONG AT THE APEC EDUCATION MINISTERS'
MEETING ON THURSDAY, 6 APRIL 2000 AT 9.00 AM AT
THE STAMFORD BALLROOM, WESTIN STAMFORD
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THE KEY ROLE OF EDUCATION
Education can no longer be built upon purely
domestic foundations. The method of learning
today is not the same as in the past. By using
computers, we can make learning fun Thanks to
the Internet, pupils will have easy access to a
vast pool of valuable learning resources the
world over. Instead of knowledge dispensing,
our teachers will have to give greater emphasis
to the teaching of skills to extract, filter and
analyse information.
OPENING ADDRESS BY( former)PRIME MINISTER GOH
CHOK TONG AT THE APEC EDUCATION MINISTERS'
MEETING ON THURSDAY, 6 APRIL 2000 AT 9.00 AM AT
THE STAMFORD BALLROOM, WESTIN STAMFORD
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THE KEY ROLE OF EDUCATION
Education must arm them with the tools to
succeed in this new world. This new world will
comprise the New Economy and the Old Economy.
Computers and IT literacy are therefore as
important as the traditional alphabets, books
and logic learning.
OPENING ADDRESS BY PRIME MINISTER GOH CHOK TONG
AT THE APEC EDUCATION MINISTERS' MEETING ON
THURSDAY, 6 APRIL 2000 AT 9.00 AM AT THE STAMFORD
BALLROOM, WESTIN STAMFORD
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Introduction
context
Singapore
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Introduction conTExT
Area 254 square miles
Population 4.24 million
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Introduction conTExT
Approximately 77 of the population are ethnic
Chinese
14 are ethnic Malay
8 are ethnic Indian
http//www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2003/24320.htm
http//schools.moe.edu.sg/chijpritp/harmony.htm
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Introduction conTExT
51 practice Buddhism, Taoism, ancestor worship
associated with the ethnic Chinese
population 15 of the population are Muslim 15
are Christian 4 are Hindu. Rest Sikh,
Jewish, Zoroastrian, and Jain
communities.
http//www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2003/24320.htm
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Introduction Context
Singapore is a nation built by people from many
races and cultures. Living in harmony is
therefore important and relevant to all
Singaporeans, as it will ensure the continued
peace and prosperity that we have enjoyed for
many years.
Unity in Diversity
http//www.moe.gov.sg/ne/coreevents/rhd.htm
http//www.mindef.gov.sg/armynews/print0.asp?artic
le_id52
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A focus of the Education System
Tharman SHANMUGARANAM Minister of
Education Republic of Singapore
We have built an education system (that) has
equipped Singaporeans with the capacity to excel
and to build a strong community. 
http//www.moe.gov.sg/speeches/2005/sp20050207.htm

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION INVESTITURE CEREMONY FOR
THE 2004 NATIONAL DAY AWARDS ON MONDAY, 7 FEB
2005 AT 3.30 PM AT THE SUNTEC SINGAPORE
INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION EXHIBITION CENTRE
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A focus of the Education System
Tharman SHANMUGARANAM Minister of
Education Republic of Singapore
Our schools have the responsibility of preparing
the next generation of Singaporeans to secure a
rewarding future, and to preserve a dynamic,
closely-knit society.
http//www.moe.gov.sg/speeches/2005/sp20050207.htm

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION INVESTITURE CEREMONY FOR
THE 2004 NATIONAL DAY AWARDS ON MONDAY, 7 FEB
2005 AT 3.30 PM AT THE SUNTEC SINGAPORE
INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION EXHIBITION CENTRE
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CONTEXT National education
The Rationale for National Education

Learning Points for Primary pupils
We want our pupils to learn to be friends with
people of other races and religions and not make
fun of people who are different. Our pupils
should also learn that, in Singapore, people are
treated equally regardless of their race and
religion and they should also do the same. We can
also help them to appreciate the different
cultures that make up Singapore.
http//www.moe.gov.sg/ne/coreevents/rhd.htm
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Focus of the Education System
 http//www.moe.gov.sg/speeches/2005/sp20050115.ht
m  
Tharman SHANMUGARANAM Minister of
Education Republic of Singapore
How do we build bridges across cultures, races,
religions and nationalities, and collaborate
with others to create a better world?
TEACHERS INVESTITURE CEREMONY ON SATURDAY, 15
JANUARY 2005, 10 AM AT THE NANYANG AUDITORIUM,
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION, NTU
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A Singapore Schools Answer
Building A Bridge Through A Problem
Based On-Line Discussion Forum
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The Singapore School
Mr. Gary Tsu Chin Sun Principal
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The Singapore School
Staff 102 teachers
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A Singapore Schools Answer
Pupils 2400 (Mega school)
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Role of the Heads of Departments
Charleston Heading IT DEPARTMENT (HOD IT)
Mohd Paruk Heading Maths Department (Level Head
IT)

• Plan, implement,
• monitor Maths
• instructional programme

• Building of Infrastructure

• Facilitate integration of IT (ICT)
• into the curriculum

• Enable teachers to become
• competent in related
• teaching and learning
• processes

• Enable pupils to become
• more IT savvy

• Enable teachers to become
• competent in using IT for their
• teaching and learning processes

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MOEs Desired Outcomes
Thinking School Learning Nation Information
Technology Innovation Enterprise Teach Less
Learn More
New Economy
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Pupils
Primary School Leaving Exam (Results) Completing
Scheme of Work (SOW) Effective Lessons
Pedagogy Mastery of Topics by Pupils Submission
of Pupils Work for Checking
Teachers Desired Outcomes
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MOEs Desired Outcomes
Thinking School Learning Nation Information
Technology Innovation Enterprise Teach Less
Learn More
Instructional Programmes (IP) Heads of
Departments
HOD ( IT ) Instructional Technology
Merging T L Processes
P.S.L.E. Results Completing Scheme of Work
(SOW) Effective Lessons Pedagogy Mastery of
Topics by Pupils Submission of Pupils Work for
Checking
Teachers Desired Outcomes
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MOEs Desired Outcomes
Thinking School Learning Nation Information
Technology Innovation Enterprise Teach Less
Learn More
HOD ( IT ) Instructional Technology
Instructional Programmes (IP) Heads of
Departments
Merging T L Processes
P.S.L.E. Results Completing Scheme of Work
(SOW) Effective Lessons Pedagogy Mastery of
Topics by Pupils Submission of Pupils Work for
Checking
Teachers Desired Outcomes
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MOEs Desired Outcomes
Thinking School Learning Nation Information
Technology Innovation Enterprise Teach Less
Learn More
IT HODs Desired Outcome
IP and IT Heads of Departments
P.S.L.E. Results Completing Scheme of Work
(SOW) Effective Lessons Pedagogy Mastery of
Topics by Pupils Submission of Pupils Work for
Checking
Teachers Desired Outcomes
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Project Presentation
Enhancing Thinking Skills Through
A Problem-based On-Line Discussion Forum Using
Constructivist Approach
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Preparation
Target Group Pr 5 class of 40 pupils (10 11
yrs olds)
Organisation 10 groups of 4
Facilitator Form Teacher
Ms Fong Yoon Yee
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Preparation
Time Frame 4 months
Training 2 periods
(1 hour)

• Asynchronous
• Use of Free Access Area and Project Room
• for pupils without home-access

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Main Pedagogical Theories Applied

• Constructivist Approach

• Problem Based Learning

• Cooperative Learning

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• Constructivist Approach

Constructivists emphasize the primacy of the
learner's intentions, experience, and
metacognitive strategies
learners attain a state of cognitive
equilibrium through reconstruction of concepts,
schema, mental models, and other cognitive
structures in the face of new information and
experience that may conflict with earlier
constructions.
http//www.educationau.edu.au/archives/CP/reeves.h
tml
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• Problem Based Learning

(Cognitive psychologists) maintain that events
and problems presented should be designed to be
intrinsically interesting, problem-oriented, and
challenging. They have evidence that in
response to these types of events and problems,
students construct useful as opposed to inert
knowledge .
http//www.educationau.edu.au/archives/CP/reeves.h
tml
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• Cooperative Learning

refers to instructional methods in which
learners work together in pairs or small groups
to accomplish shared goals. Johnson and Johnson
(1987) and Slavin (1990) present evidence that
when CBE (and other instructional delivery
systems) are structured to allow cooperative
learning, learners benefit both instructionally
and socially.
http//www.educationau.edu.au/archives/CP/reeves.h
tml
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Objectives

• To Create a Learning Environment
• enhances critical thinking skills and
  cognitive development

• To create a Challenging learning environment
• (re)construction of their own knowledge,
  attitudes and mental models.

• Improve pupils communication skills

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Objectives

• Expose pupils to a future mode of
  communication

• Foster understanding and communication racial
  harmony (NE)

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Pupils were given a problem-oriented scenario
Your classmate, Susan Tan is celebrating her 11th
birthday and she has decided to invite the whole
class for a dinner. She had printed and given the
invitation cards to everyone in the class. But
she found that all the 17 of her Muslim
classmates and 10 other Indian and Chinese
classmates have turned down the invitation. Their
parents are not allowing them to attend the
dinner.   Susan Tans father has given her 400
dollars for organising the dinner. If the overall
expenditure is less than this amount, she gets to
save the remaining amount. If the cost of the
dinner exceeds 400, she has to use her savings
to make up the difference.   As you are her close
friends, she has approached you all to help her
resolve this situation. Your task is to find out
why these classmates are not attending and to
come out with a proposal that will make all the
classmates attend the dinner. You should also try
to keep the expenditure within the 400.
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Pupils were given a problem-oriented scenario
Invitation
           
You are cordially invited to attend the dinner to
celebrate my 11th birthday.
Restaurants Menu
Dishes White Rice Sweet Sour Pork Chilli
Prawns Beef Curry Shark Fin Soup Mixed Vegetables
Date 25th December 2004 Time 7pm to 12
pm Venue Fu Chow restaurant No 6,
Upper Changi Road
Singapore 200654
Drinks Orange juice Wine Beer
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Problem Design Authentic Real World
Situation

• Food pork and beef

• Drinks beer and wine

• Venue Changi (from Jurong)

• Date Christmas Day

• Time 7 p.m.

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Structure
Forum Titles

• Vertical segmentation progressive

• Created at the end / saturation point of
  previous forum

• Time spent average 3 weeks each forum
  title

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Structure
Threads
Notes
Branches
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Structure
Forced to self-reflect on every thought before
posting
For each and every note posted
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Posting Notes Thinking Types and Scaffoldings
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Analytical Thinking
H igher O rder T hinking S kills
Evaluation
Synthesis
Analysis
Application
Comprehension
Knowledge
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Analytical Thinking
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Analytical Thinking
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Questioning
A constructivist pedagogy advocates, indeed
demands, persistent questioning on the part of
learners, questions especially "why?"
questions
Evaluating What Really Matters in Computer-Based
Education
Dr Tom Reeves
http//www.educationau.edu.au/
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Questioning
persistent questioning on the part of
learners,
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Peer Collaboration
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Peer Collaboration
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Peer Collaboration
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Peer Correction Re - Construction
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Facilitators Role
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Facilitators Role
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Solution
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Data Analysis
Pupils Profile
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Data Analysis
Analysis of Individual Pupils Responses
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Reflections
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• Sharing

Shuqun Pri.Sch.
Reflections
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• Sharing

Shuqun Pri.Sch.
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Relevance to Singapores vision of Thinking
Schools Learning Nation.
SM Goh Chok Tong
We cannot be content with focusing on narrow
aspects, like the number of A grades in
certain examinations. Education must be much
more than just academic achievement.
Fundamentally, education is about nurturing the
whole person, his moral, cognitive, physical,
social and aesthetic development.
http//www.moe.gov.sg/speeches/1998/171098.htm
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An Invitation
- Collaboration with US / UK / Australia schools
- Through KC, E-mail, Video-conferencing

• Project / Activity Design
• Determined through collaboration among
  teacher-facilitators

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Questions ?
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Thank You For Your Time!