National Education
And the Social Functions of Schools in the Singapore System
AED201 – The Social
Context of
Teaching and Learning
What are we doing today?
AGENDA
Introduction to objectives of today’s seminar
Time to play! – Round 1!
Discussion on current national issues in Singapore
Activity – National Education’s key initiatives
Time to play! – Round 2!
Activity – Analysis of students’ behaviours in NE lessons and teaching strategies for various social contexts
Conclusion
Seminar Objectives
At the end of this seminar, we hope you will be able to:
1. Have the opportunities to reflect and express your personal thoughts and assumptions about National Education programme in Singapore schools.
2. Identify and understand the National Education initiatives practiced in Singapore schools today.
3. Formulate strategies to overcome challenges in teaching National Education for several social contexts so as to make learning NE meaningful both for yourselves and your students.
Food for thought
What is it that makes us uniquely Singaporean?
Video 1: Singapore – A mixture of Hearts
Activity instructions? No instructions!
We only have a riddle for you…
All is not as it seems,
Stay and you shall perish,
Seek and you shall find.
For alone we can do so little,
together we can do so much.
Thinking Point
Reflect on your own experience as a student in Singapore.
What are your personal thoughts about the value and meaning of NE?
Social Functions of Schools
Transmission of K _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Promotion of Social C _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Streamlining of Talents for _ _ _ _
Fostering of change and innovation
Knowledge
Jobs
Cohesion
Profile of Singapore
Young Nation
Consists on people from many different races and cultures
Therefore, it is essential for us to develop national cohesion in students through understanding Singapore’s unique developmental challenges, constraints and vulnerabilities.
Objectives of National Education
To develop National Cohesion
To cultivate Instincts for iravvlus
To instil in our Students fnonidcece in our Future
Survival
Confidence
You were awesome!
Now, let us look into some of the details of the Head, Hearts, Hands framework…
>>>
3 Key Thrusts of H3 approach
A. Enabling and Equipping Educators
Deepen the conviction and commitment of educators to nurture Singaporean citizens with a strong sense of belonging for Singapore
Examples?
3 Key Thrusts of H3 approach
A. Enabling and Equipping Educators
Enhance the knowledge, skills and interest of educators in delivering NE through professional development
Examples?
3 Key Thrusts of H3 approach
B. Engaging and Empowering Students
Provide a more effective guide for the customisation of NE programmes for students of different age groups and inclinations
How?
3 Key Thrusts of H3 approach
C. Enhancing NE through Strengthening School‐Community Linkages
In many ways, NE is not taught but caught. It is through encounters and interactions with people from different backgrounds, young and old, at home and abroad, that students learn about life and themselves as Singaporeans.
Examples?
Class discussion
What did you observe from the short skit?
Was there anything that surprised you?
Why do you think the students responded that way?
Coming up next...
Divide yourselves into 4 groups
Each group will be given a scenario of different social context
Discuss and formulate strategies which you will adopt as a teacher to teach National Education in that particular social context
4 different social contexts
Sec 3Branded
“ACES High Sch”GEP class
High ability
Sec 3Neighbourhood
“Chinatown Sec Sch”Normal Academic class
Sec 2Neighbourhood
“Pulau Ubin Sec Sch”Express class
with 30% foreign students
Sec 1Neighbourhood
“Deepavali High Sch”Express classMixed abilities
Thinking Points
1. Identify the possible attitudes of students and teachers towards the NE programme in each social context. What are its implications?
2. Formulate NE teaching strategies in a way that is meaningful for both themselves as teachers, and for their students in the particular social context.
What are your key
takeaways?ACTIVITY 1.1 and 1.2 Ice Breaker game Puzzle activities
Values and learning points – Implicitly and metaphorically
ACTIVITY 2 Singapore’s current national issues
Opinions towards these contentious issues Personal thoughts towards the value and meaning of
NE programmes in school
ACTIVITY 3 Introduction to National Education initiatives and the
Head, Hearts, Hands framework
What are your key
takeaways?ACTIVITY 4
“Are you smarter than a 5th grader?”
ACTIVITY 5 Evaluate reactions of students’ responses as observed
in skit Group collaboration and discussion to formulate
strategies to make NE more meaningful for both yourselves as teachers and students.
On a final note…
Handout booklets
Wikispaces: Follow-up discussion
http://national-education.wikispaces.com/
Some treats for you! :)
ReferencesAdapted from Are you smarter than a 5th grader? [Television programme]. (2011).
Los Angeles: Fox Broadcasting Company.Lee, H. L. (1997, May 17). Speech by BG Lee Hsien Loong , Deputy Prime Minister at the Launch of National Education. Retrieved from http://www.moe.gov.sg/
media/speeches/1997/170597.htmLiu, T.Y. (2007). Speech by Minister of State Liu Tuck Yew on NE: Strengthening Heartware and Rootedness. Retrieved from http://www.moe.gov.sg/speeches/2007/sp20070307c.htmMinistry of Education. (2007). Executive Summary of the Committee on NE Report
2007. Retrieved from http://www.moe.gov.sg/media/press/2007/files/pr20070307a-executive-summary.pdfAdapted from MONOPOLY DEAL Card game. [Game]. (2011). Pawtucket, RI: Media
Materials.Ng, E. H. (2008, Aug 14). Speech by Dr Ng Eng Hen, Minister for Education and Second Minister for Defence, at the 4th anniversary public lecture at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. Retrieved from http://www.moe.gov.sg/media/speeches/2008/08/14/speech-by-dr-ng-eng-hen-at-the-10.phpTan, J. (2008). Whither national education? In J. Tan & P. T. Ng (Eds.), Thinking schools, learning nation: Contemporary issues and challenges (pp. 72-86). Singapore: Pearson Prentice Hall.