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THE!WINSTON!CHURCHILL!MEMORIAL!TRUST!OF!AUSTRALIA!
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Report!by!!!
Lis!Turner,!!2012!Churchill!Fellow!
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THE!VINCENT!!FAIRFAX!ETHICS!IN!LEADERSHIP!CHURCHILL!FELLOWSHIP!to!research!the!use!
of!information!and!communication!technologies!in!enhancing!and!innovating!student!learning!
opportunities!in!Malaysia,!Singapore!and!the!Republic!of!Korea.!!
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I!understand!that!the!Churchill!Trust!may!publish!this!Report,!either!in!hard!copy!or!on!the!
internet!or!both,!and!consent!to!such!publication.!
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I!indemnify!the!Churchill!Trust!against!any!loss,!costs!or!damages!it!may!suffer!arising!out!of!
any!claim!or!proceedings!made!against!the!Trust!in!respect!of!or!arising!out!of!the!publication!
of!any!Report!submitted!to!the!Trust!and!which!the!Trust!places!on!a!website!for!access!over!
the!internet.!
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I!also!warrant!that!my!Final!Report!is!original!and!does!not!infringe!the!copyright!of!any!
person,!or!contain!anything!which!is,!or!the!incorporation!of!which!into!the!Final!Report!is,!
actionable!for!defamation,!a!breach!of!any!privacy!law!or!obligation,!breach!of!confidence,!
contempt!of!court,!passingPoff!or!contravention!of!any!other!private!right!or!of!any!law.!
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Signed!!!Lis!Turner! ! ! ! ! Dated!!!!!14!July!2013!
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Table!of!Contents!
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS................................................................................................................3!
EXECUTIVE.SUMMARY.................................................................................................................4!
PROGRAMME..............................................................................................................................5!Itinerary!of!schools!and!people!visited!................................................................................................................................!5!Malaysia'..............................................................................................................................................................................................'5!Singapore'............................................................................................................................................................................................'6!Republic'of'Korea'............................................................................................................................................................................'7!
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................8!21st!Century!Learning!..................................................................................................................................................................!8!Asia!and!its!role!in!the!21st!Century!......................................................................................................................................!9!Microsoft!Innovative!Schools!................................................................................................................................................!11!
MALAYSIA.................................................................................................................................12!Sekolah!Kebangsaan!Taman!Megah!...................................................................................................................................!14!SINGAPORE...............................................................................................................................15!Singapore!education!overview!.............................................................................................................................................!15!Singapore’s'focus'on'21st'century'learning'.......................................................................................................................'16!The'ICT'Connection'Masterplan'............................................................................................................................................'17!FutureSchools@Singapore'.......................................................................................................................................................'17!
Highlights!of!Singapore!from!the!Excel!Fest!...................................................................................................................!18!Chongzheng'Primary'School'...................................................................................................................................................'19!Haig'Girls'School'...........................................................................................................................................................................'20!Nanyang'Polytechnic'..................................................................................................................................................................'20!Crescent'Girls'School'...................................................................................................................................................................'21!
Canberra!Primary!School!........................................................................................................................................................!22!Hwa!Chong!Institution!.............................................................................................................................................................!25!St!Hilda’s!Primary!School!........................................................................................................................................................!30!Radin!Mas!Primary!School!.....................................................................................................................................................!33!St!Andrews!Junior!School!.......................................................................................................................................................!37!
REPUBLIC.OF.KOREA..................................................................................................................39!South!Korean!Education!..........................................................................................................................................................!39!Shinam!Elementary!School!....................................................................................................................................................!42!Seoul!Foreign!School!.................................................................................................................................................................!43!Korea!International!School!....................................................................................................................................................!47!Charmsaem!Elementary!School!...........................................................................................................................................!51!Gyeseong!Elementary!School!................................................................................................................................................!53!
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................55!
CONCLUSIONS.AND.RECOMMENDATIONS.................................................................................57!!
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!
I! am! forever! grateful! to! have! received! the! 2012! Vincent! Fairfax! Ethics! in! Leadership!
Foundation,!Churchill!Fellowship!providing!me!the!opportunity!to!investigate!the!use!of!digital!
technologies! and! 21st! century! learning! practices! and! beliefs! in!Malaysia,! Singapore! and! the!
Republic!of!Korea.!!
!
I! would! like! to! acknowledge! those;! who! share! a! passion! for! improving! and! enhancing! the!
learning! opportunities! of! students! through! information! and! communication! technologies!
(ICT),! who! see! the! need! for! Asia! literate! Australians! and! have! a! vision! to! improve! the!
outcomes!and!opportunities!of!Australian!students!by!bringing!about!widespread!change! in!
educational!reform!who!have!inspired!me!to!take!this!path:!!
• My! international! colleagues! in! the! Microsoft! Partners! in! Learning! Worldwide!
Innovative!Schools!program!who!have! instilled! in!me!the!desire!to!make!a!difference!
and! given!me! the! confidence! to! believe! I! can! play! a! small! role! in! the!much! needed!
widespread!educational!change.!!
• The!Asia!Education!Foundation!for!the!work!they!do!to!support!Australian!Schools! in!
their! diverse! focus! in! developing! Asia! Literate! young! Australians.! They! have! had! a!
profound!influence!in!the!opportunities!afforded!to!myself!and!my!school,!to!engage!
and!embrace!partnerships!with!our!Asian!neighbours.!!!
• My!staff!and!colleagues! for! their!ongoing!confidence!and!encouragement!of!me!and!
for!sharing!a!passion!for!Asia!and!its!importance!in!our!children’s!future.!!!
• To! my! partner! Craig,! a! fellow! educator,! who! accompanied! me! on! school! visits! and!
provided!valuable!opportunities!for!reflection!and!discussion!of!what!we!had!seen.!
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With!emerging!technologies!providing!a!catalyst!to!opening!the!door!to!globalising!learning,!
now!more!than!ever! is!the!need!to!open!up!new!opportunities!for!schools!to!reach!beyond!
their!own!boundaries!as!part!of!a!global!learning!community,!networked!and!sharing!with!our!
Asian!Neighbours.!I!clearly!see!the!opportunities!provided!to!me!through!the!Vincent!Fairfax!
Ethics!in!Leadership!Foundation!Churchill!Fellowship!as!a!key!enabler!to!allow!me!to!continue!
to!be!a!leading!ambassador!for!a!changing!face!in!education.!
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For!more!about!Waggrakine!Primary!School!visit!our!blog!at:!www.waggrakineps.wa.edu.au!
or!our!web!site:!www.waggrakineps.wa.edu.au/!
To!see!more!the!photographic!journey!of!my!Fellowship!travels!please!visit:!
www.listurnerimages.wordpress.com!!
For!access!to!more!photos!of!the!Singapore!ExcelFest!go!to!my!Flickr!site:!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/70085229@N03/sets/72157633178467438/!!!
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EXECUTIVE!SUMMARY!!!!!!!!!! !!
Elisabeth!Turner!l!Principal!l!Waggrakine!Primary!School!l!PO!Box!7228!l!Geraldton!l!6531!
Western!Australia!l!0429!110!314!l!lis.turner@education.wa.edu.au!
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Project!Description!With!an!increasing!emphasis!on!the!changing!focus!of!education!to!a!learner!centred!
environment!rich!with!pervasive!technologies!that!allow!the!learning!to!occur!anywhere,!
anytime,!the!21st!century!demands!us!to!bring!about!widespread!educational!reform.!This!
reform!must!employ!the!implicit!use!of!technologies!and!personalised!learning,!equipping!
students!with!the!voice,!skills!and!knowledge!to!be!the!architects!of!their!own!futures.!!With!
two!clear!goals!in!mind:!
1. The!pressing!need!for!Australian!students!to!become!Asia!literate!and!have!a!key!role!
in!a!future!Asian!dominated!economy;!and!
2. To!ensure!we!do!not!fall!further!behind!in!preparing!our!students!for!a!21st!century!
future!in!a!rapidly!changing!digital!era!!
I!visited!schools!in!Malaysia!(a!rapidly!emerging!Asian!economy),!Singapore!and!the!Republic!
of!Korea,!(two!world!leaders!in!international!education)!to!view!how:!!
• Peak!education!bodies!have!a!whole!system!focus!on!the!promotion!of!21st!century!
learning!and!the!resourcing!of!technologies!in!their!school!systems.!
• Technologies!are!used!in!schools!to!enhance!student!learning.!!!
• School!leaders!are!engaged!in!the!importance!of!leading!21st!century!learning.!
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Highlights!• Being!welcomed!as!a!visiting!education!leader!and!provided!with!a!great!deal!of!time!
by!passionate!school!leaders!who!shared!a!vision!for!21st!century!learning.!
• Collaboration!on!a!global!scale.!I!did!not!visit!a!school!that!did!not!have!extensive!
international!school!networks,!sister!school!relationships,!campuses!or!ongoing!
collaboration!with!purpose!and!vigour!across!Asia!and!beyond,!preparing!students!for!
a!future!in!a!global!economy!and!marketplace.!!
• The!manner!in!which!some!schools!are!using!technologies!to!engage!and!embrace!in!
strong!student!centred!learning.!
• The!clear!and!unrelenting!focus!on!excellence!across!Asia!with!each!school!having!well!
researched!and!resourced!‘niche’!areas!and!coPcurricula!foci!that!encourages!students!
to!follow!their!passions!and!strive!to!be!the!best!of!the!best.!
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As!a!recognised!Network!leader!(2011,!Western!Australian!Principal!of!the!Year!and!2012!
Fellow!in!Australian!Council!of!Educational!Leadership)!I!aim!to!share!my!fellowship!outcomes!
through!presentations!to!colleagues,!invitations!and!participation!in!National!conferences,!
committees!and!partnerships!with!Microsoft!Partners!in!Learning!and!the!Asia!Education!
Foundation.!!!
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PROGRAMME!! ! !!
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Itinerary!of!schools!and!people!visited!!
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!Malaysia!!!
Sekolah!Kengabansaan!Taman!Megah!–!Petaling!Jaya,!Selangor!http://sktm.edu.my/!
Head!Mistress!–Puan!Khoo!Swee!Poh!
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!Singapore!!
Singapore!ExcelFest!showcasing!64!Singapore!school!based!exhibitions:!
A!list!of!ExcelFest!schools:!http://www.excelfest.com/programme/exhibitions/exhibition!!
Schools!included!some!of!the!Singapore!Future!Schools!!
Beacon!Primary!School!
Canberra!Primary!School!
Cresent!Girls!School!
Hwa!Chong!Institution!!
Jurong!Secondary!School!
School!of!Science!and!Technology!!
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Individual!Schools!visits!!!Canberra!Primary!School!http://www.shps.moe.edu.sg!21!Admiralty!Road,!Singapore!
Principal:!Mr!Sam!Wong!!
Vice!Principal:!Mr!Kevin!Patt!
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Radin!Mas!Primary!School!http://www.radinmaspri.moe.edu.sg/!1!Bukit!Purmei!Avenue,!Singapore!
Principal:!Mrs!Wong!Siew!Shan!and!IT!coordinator:!Ms!Tan!Xiao!Ting!
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St!Hildas!Primary!School!http://www.shps.moe.edu.sg!
2!Tampines!Avenue,!Singapore!(however!in!a!temporary!holding!facility)!
Principal:!Ms!Mee!Kew!Ying!
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St!Andrews!Primary!School!http://www.saintandrewsjunior.moe.edu.sg!
Principal:!Mrs!Wong!Bin!Eng!
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Hwa!Chong!Institution!http://www.hwachong.edu.sg/!
661!Bukit!Timar!Road,!Singapore!
Director!Boarding!School!and!IBP:!Mr!Joseph!Tan!
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!!Republic!of!Korea!!
Australian!Embassy,!Republic!of!Korea!Meet!with!Australian!Embassy!staff,!Dean!Woodgate,!Counsellor!Education!&!Research!and!
the!visiting!Korea!P!Australia!BRIDGE!delegates!and!Asia!Education!Foundation!Team!Leader!
Aaron!Young!
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Shinam!Elementary!School!School!contact!Jemin!Chun:!Academic!Program!Manager,!Microsoft,!Korea!!
Principal:!Mrs!Kim!!
Apple!Lead!Teacher:!Mr!Jaedong!Kim!!
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Seoul!Foreign!School!!http://www.seoulforeign.org/!!
55P1!YonhiPdong,!SuhdaemunPgu,!Seoul,!120P823,!Korea!
Main!contact,!Ed!Tech!Coordinator:!!Paul!Sanderson!!
Director!of!Human!Resources:!Barry!Benger!
Head!of!School:!John!Engstrom!!
British!School,!Headteacher:!Dr!Timothy!Gray!
Elementary!School,!!Headteacher:!Mr!John!Gaylord!
Middle!School,!Headteacher:!Mrs!Lynn!Gaylord!
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Charmsaem!Elementary!School!http://wwwcharmsaem.es.kr/m/eng_message!
School!contact!Mr!Jemin!Chun:!Academic!Program!Manager,!Microsoft,!Korea!!
Foundation!Principal:!Mr!Hye!Ju!Rhee!
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Korea!International!School!http://www.kis.or.kr/Seoul/main.asp!!!
373P6!BaekhyunPdong,!BandungPgu,!SeongnamPsi,!GyeonggiPdo,!463P420,!Korea!
Director:!Mr!Stephen!Cathers!
Ed!Tech!Coordinator:!Mr!Ben!Summerton!
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Gyeseong!Elementary!School!Banpo!Dong!6P1!
School!contact!Jemin!Chun:!Academic!Program!Manager,!Microsoft,!Korea!!
Principal:!!Sun!Ok!Nam!Geung!
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INTRODUCTION! ! ! ! !!
I!am!the!Principal!of!Waggrakine!Primary!School!in!Geraldton,!Western!Australia,!a!school!with!
530!primary!school!students!covering!nine!years!of!learning!from!Kindergarten!to!Year!7.!
Waggrakine!is!one!of!33!Microsoft!Worldwide!Mentor!schools.!Through!the!international!
Microsoft!Partners!in!Learning!Program!we!work!in!collaboration!with!schools!across!the!
globe!to!embrace!and!further!21st!century!learning!innovations!in!education.!Through!global!
collaborations!at!conferences!and!virtual!universities!I!have!developed!professional!
collaborations!with!colleagues!throughout!the!world.!!
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This!Fellowship!research!has!allowed!me!to!visit,!observe!and!investigate!highly!successful!
and!globally!recognised!innovative!schools.!During!these!visits!I!was!able!to!investigate!the!
ways!in!which!schools!in!high!performing!countries!are!using!technologies!to!enhance!the!
curriculum!and!how!we!might!reinvent!schools!for!the!21st!century.!!
!
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21st!Century!Learning!!How!can!we!best!meet!the!needs!of!our!students!in!the!21
st!century?!Are!our!schools!engaging!
students!through!real!life!problems,!providing!learning!environments!that!challenge!and!
excite!students!and!prepare!them!for!the!global!problems!they!will!inherit?!As!global!
communities!change!what!skills!do!our!students!require!to!keep!pace!with!change!and!take!
on!the!role!of!future!leaders?!
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The!need!to!understand!and!identify!the!purpose!of!21st!century!education!is!paramount.!The!
changing!face!of!the!workforce,!the!rapidly!accelerating!face!of!technological!change!and!the!
increasing!importance!of!competition!within!a!global!communities!must!be!replicated!in!the!
school!context.!We!need!to!enable!our!students!to!use!technologies!within!an!increasingly!
connected!world.!!We!don’t!want!schools!to!use!technology!to!do!the!same!learning!in!a!new!
way,!to!type!a!report!into!Word!document!as!opposed!to!writing!by!hand;!to!retrieve!their!
homework!online!rather!than!by!handouts.!Prensky,!(2012)!states!that!understanding!the!
power!of!technology!–!and!not!how!to!manipulate!it!–!is!an!important!part!of!21st!century!kids!
education!and!learning’.!Schools!must!use!technology!in!a!way!that!ignites!a!passion!in!
students!to!learn!and!continue!to!want!to!do!so!beyond!the!classroom.!Using!technology!in!
ways!that:!
• Allow!students!to!collaborate!beyond!the!classroom,!to!make!meaningful!and!real!
connections!that!stimulate!their!need!for!inquiry!and!questioning!and!therefore!
problem!solving.!
• Contributing!to!the!knowledge!base!of!the!world,!inventing,!learning!code,!designing!
an!app,!using!technology!as!a!critical!user!not!as!a!passive!consumer.!
• Making!videos!and!posting!them!to!the!net!for!others!to!learn!from!or!be!sparked!by!
to!stimulate!and!create!new!ideas,!new!interchange!and!collaboration.!
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It!is!not!just!schools!but!education!systems!worldwide!who!need!to!be!addressing!the!
challenges!faced!in!the!rapidly!changing!digital!era.!Education!systems!must!be!working!
towards!lessening!the!gap!between!the!knowledge!and!skills!learned!in!the!school!to!the!
knowledge!and!skills!required!in!the!21st!century!workforce!and!global!community.!We!need!to!
bridge!the!gap!between!home!and!school!and!use!technologies!in!a!pervasive!but!powerful!
way!to!enhance!and!engage!students!to!reach!beyond!the!classroom.!
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In!Australia!the!Melbourne)Declaration)on)the)Educational)Goals)for)Young)Australians)
(MCEETYA!2008)!recognises!that!in!this!digital!age!of!rapid!changes!in!the!way!people!use!
technologies!to!share,!use,!create!and!communicate!with!ICT,!young!people!need!to!be!highly!
skilled!in!its!use.!The!Australian!Curriculum!outlines!that!to!‘participate!in!a!knowledgePbased!
economy!and!to!be!empowered!within!a!technologically!sophisticated!society!now!and!into!
the!future,!students!need!the!knowledge,!skills!and!confidence!to!make!ICT!work!for!them!at!
school,!at!home,!at!work!and!in!their!communities’.!!
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Thirteen!years!into!the!21st!century!international!educational!reform!is!failing!to!meet!the!
changing!face!of!education!and!education!systems!continue!to!struggle!to!effectively!cater!for!
the!challenges!of!the!21st!century.!Our!students,!termed!digital!natives!by!Mark!Prensky,!have!
grown!up!in!a!digital!era!and!the!use!of!ICT!is!second!nature!to!them.!As!digital!immigrants,!
many!teachers!struggle!to!embrace!technology!as!a!pervasive!tool!that!promotes!new!
opportunities!for!student!learning,!that!reaches!beyond!the!classroom,!creates!new!ideas!and!
takes!the!learning!into!an!open!and!collaborative!environment!where!parents,!the!elderly,!
scientists,!politicians,!councillors!or!students!around!the!world!collaborate!to!discuss!global!
issues!that!impact!on!each!of!their!lives.!!!
!
Students!require!learning!environments!and!opportunities!that!provide!them!with!
opportunities!to!learn!through!real!life!problems.!The!world!we!are!currently!preparing!our!
students!for!is!rapidly!changing,!our!students!need!to!have!the!skills!for!lifelong!learning!and!
need!opportunities!for!learning!to!be!purposeful!and!meaningful!to!real!life!problems,!moving!
beyond!the!classroom!walls!and!moving!beyond!the!school!day!into!24/7,!anywhere,!anytime!
learning.!Reaching!out!beyond!the!classroom!is!essential!to!build!the!skills!and!knowledge!for!
our!students!to!be!competitive!in!this!global!market.!Technology!is!the!catalyst!to!use,!share,!
develop!and!communicate!beyond!the!classroom!and!where!better!to!start!that!sharing!than!
with!Asia.!!
!!Asia!and!its!role!in!the!21st!Century!!
Asia!is!experiencing!a!pace!and!scale!of!change!unprecedented!in!history.!The!rise!of!Asia!has!
already!had!a!massive!impact!on!the!Australian!economy.!!Australia)in)the)Asian)Century:!White)
Paper,!October!2012!states!that!‘Asia’s!rise!is!changing!the!world’.!This!is!a!defining!feature!of!
the!21st!century—the!Asian!century.!These!developments!have!profound!implications!for!
people!everywhere’.!Australia!is!no!longer!hampered!by!geographic!isolation,!the!digital!era!
makes!Asia!a!place!of!proximity,!where!we!can!embrace!and!forge!strong!partnerships!and!be!
part!of!this!rapidly!growing!economy.!Now!is!the!right!time!for!Australia!to!ensure!we!are!
connected!with!Asia.!!
!
With!Western!power!receding!and!Asia!growing!in!world!power!the!door!opens!for!new!roles!
for!Australia!and!New!Zealand!as!the!only!two!western!countries!in!Asia,!to!have!positive!roles!
in!this!future.!This!will!not!happen!however!without!a!mind!change!in!Australian!politics,!
culture,!societal!values!and!educational!directions.!
!
J.F.!Rischard,!(2002),!states!that!with!‘knowledge!and!creativity!the!number!one!factor!of!
production!–!far!more!important!than!capital,!labor!and!raw!materials’,!as!we!move!into!a!
knowledge!based!economy,!where!knowledge!is!the!key!we!need!to!be!mindful!of!how!well!
placed!education!systems!in!Asia!are!situated!and!build!on!and!look!to!Asia!as!partners;!in!
China!in!1990!3%!of!the!population!went!to!university!in!2010!it!was!29%.!In!South!Korea!there!
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was!a!common!understanding!that!university!attendance!is!at!approximately!90%.!The!Asian!
century!is!upon!us!and!they!are!not!missing!any!opportunities.!Asian!education!is!embracing!
change,!embracing!the!rapidly!changing!demands!of!the!future!and!developing!a!knowledgeP
based!society.!Asia!and!ASEAN!provides!a!role!model!for!the!future!of!our!global!economy.!
They!embrace!change,!they!focus!on!creating!bilingual!or!a!multilingual!society!and!have!
diverse!religions!living!together!in!harmony.!Perhaps!the!most!powerful!reason!for!the!
success!of!Asia!in!international!testing!with!Hong!Kong,!Japan,!South!Korea!and!Singapore!
among!the!top!in!the!world!is!the!clear!and!unrelenting!value!of!the!role!and!importance!of!
education!in!society!and!particularly!parents.!!
!
There!is!so!much!we!can!learn!and!so!far!we!can!fall!behind.!Kishore!Mahbubani,!Dean!of!the!
National!University!of!Singapore,!(also!a!cherished!member!of!the!St!Andrews!Junior!School!
Alumni)!at!a!recent!conference!in!New!Zealand!asks!the!question!of!what!will!we!be!doing!20P
30!years!from!now!when!China!is!by!far!the!largest!economy!in!the!world?!!He!says!that!by!
2050!the!world’s!largest!economies!after!China!will!be!India,!USA!and!Japan.!So!the!question!
for!us!must!become!what!are!we!doing!to!become!Asia!literate!and!how!do!we!compare!in!
our!education!systems!compare!as!we!prepare!a!knowledge!economy!with!students!fit!to!
compete!with!the!countries!ranked!top!in!the!world!in!educational!outcomes?!!
!
In!Australia!the!Melbourne)Declaration)on)the)Educational)Goals)for)Young)Australians)
(MCEETYA!2008)!also!acknowledges!how!‘global!integration!and!international!mobility!have!
increased!rapidly!in!the!past!decade.!As!a!consequence,!new!and!exciting!opportunities!for!
Australians!are!emerging.!This!heightens!the!need!to!nurture!an!appreciation!of!and!respect!
for!social,!cultural!and!religious!diversity,!and!a!sense!of!global!citizenship’.!The!Declaration!
goes!on!to!describe!the!growing!influence!of!Asia!and!the!need!for!Australians!‘to!become!
‘Asia!literate’,!engaging!and!building!strong!relationships!with!Asia’.!!
!
The!Asia!Education!Foundation’s!purpose!is!to!support!schools!and!educators!and!school!
communities!to!build!the!capacity!of!Australian!students!to!become!Asia!literate.!They!achieve!
this!through!programs!that!provide!and!foster!sister!school!relationships!between!Asia!and!
Australia,!providing!Asian!study!programs,!Asian!ambassadors,!language!fellowships,!
professional!learning!and!networks.!In!South!Korea!we!spent!time!with!the!delegates!of!the!
KoreaPAustralia!BRIDGE!program,!who!were!actively!building!relationships!that!could!be!
sustained!through!ICT!and!support!their!schools!communities!to!become!Asia!literacy!
ambassadors.!The!Australian)Consortium)of)‘In)Country’)Indonesian)Studies!(ACICIS)!promotes!
similar!values!and!opportunities!to!develop!understandings!and!awareness!of!our!closest!
Asian!neighbour,!Indonesia.!!
!
Now!is!the!time!for!Australia!to!provide!the!bridge!between!the!west!and!the!east!and!
embrace!what!Asia!has!to!offer!or!risk!making!make!the!choice!to!leave!behind,!leaving!
behind!our!youth!and!our!future.!!!
!
!
!
!
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!Microsoft!Innovative!Schools!!
The!Microsoft!Partners!in!Learning!Program!assists!school!leaders!to!connect,!collaborate!and!
exchange!ideas!across!a!global!level.!They!recognize!that!education!faces!a!global!crisis!and!
seek!to!support!educators!to!strive!for!excellence!in!engaging!students!to!realize!their!
potential!and!use!technologies!in!a!pervasive!way!to!improve!teaching!and!learning.!
!!
The!Innovative!Schools!Program!challenges!school!leaders!to!implement!innovative!practices!
through!the!power!of!global!collaboration!with!likePminded!educational!leaders!and!experts!
who!converge!through!facePtoPface!forums!and!ongoing!virtual!universities.!Leaders!
brainstorm,!reinvent!and!reinvigorate!schools!and!systems!to!bring!about!widespread!global!
reform!to!improve!and!project!learning!into!the!21st!century.!It!supports!our!youth!to!use!the!
tools!to!take!control!of!their!own!futures!and!play!a!role!as!the!future!citizens!of!the!global,!
digital!world.!Our!school,!Waggrakine!Primary!School,!has!been!fortunate!to!be!part!of!this!
global!community,!where!we!network!to!share!ideas!and!innovations!for!the!future.!For!more!
information!about!the!partners!in!Learning!global!community!go!to:!http://www.pilP
network.com/!!
!
My!experiences!with!Microsoft!Partners!in!Learning!(PIL)!have!enabled!me!to!develop!
ongoing!networks!in!Australia,!New!Zealand,!Asia!and!beyond.!Through!the!PIL!Network!
schools!enthusiastically!and!selflessly!share!and!collaborate,!allowing!opportunities!for!
teachers!and!students!to!collaborate!across!schools!and!oceans!and!develop!virtual!
classrooms.!It!is!critical!for!students!to!expand!their!learning!horizons!and!build!partnerships!
with!Asia!so!that!we!do!miss!out!on!the!opportunities!for!growth!as!a!nation,!to!have!a!role!in!
the!powerful!future!Asia!has!in!the!world!economy.!Technology!is!the!tool!that!now!allows!
this!to!happen,!seamlessly!and!ubiquitously.!We!must!support!our!digital!natives!as!they!
manipulate!technology!to!develop!the!profound!change!that!was!not!possible!when!pen!and!
paper!was!out!most!powerful!means!of!communication.!
!
With!Microsoft!Partners!in!Learning!likePminded!colleagues!we!share!the!view!that!school!
curriculums!(curriculum!being!an!allPencompassing!term!covering!the!learning,!the!
relationships,!the!learning!environments)!must!change!to!produce!computer!literate!
independent!learners.!We!need!to!ask!ourselves!how!our!society!has!changed,!even!in!the!
past!20!years,!and!then!ask!whether!the!learning!environments!and!curriculum!of!our!
students!have!changed.!Is!the!best!way!for!students!to!learn!to!have!them!sitting!in!rows,!
learning!content,!completing!closed!activities?!How!big!must!the!chasm!be,!that!separates!the!
classroom!from!the!world!outside!before!we!wake!up!and!make!the!radical!changes!necessary!
to!engage!our!students!and!equip!them!with!the!tools!for!21st!century!learning?!Microsoft!PIL!
asks!this!question!…!
!
How)are)schools)changing)to)reflect)this)broader)transformation)of)society?)TwentyGfirst)
century)schools)are)striving)to)equip)students)with)knowledge)and)skills)that)will)enable)
them)to)succeed)in)the)changing)world.)At)its)core,)this)new)skill)set)involves)problem)
solving,)critical)thinking,)collaboration)and)communication)skills.)Schools)are)developing)
students’)abilities)and)dispositions)so)they)can)be)adaptive,)innovative)lifelong)learners.)The)
hallmarks)of)21stGcentury)education)are)personalization)of)learning)and)a)relevant)
curriculum)that)affords)opportunities)for)authentic)problem)solving,)collaboration)and)
independent)learning.)
Microsoft!Connect:!Innovative!Schools!! !
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!
MALAYSIA! !!
Malaysia!since!its!independence!in!1957!has!made!massive!growth!in!educational!participation!
and!graduation!with!the!rates!of!student!graduation!from!high!school!rising!from!6!to!61%!
since!Independence!to!2011.!During!this!time,!Malaysia!like!many!emerging!Asian!countries,!
rebuilding!after!independence,!has!focused!clearly!on!the!three!Rs!as!at!the!time!this!was!the!
most!pressing!need!as!they!moved!the!masses!into!the!education!system!with!such!success.!
Malaysia!now!agrees!with!international!educational!thought!that!this!is!no!longer!enough!for!
students!to!function!effectively!in!the!21st!century.!Malaysia,!unlike!Singapore!and!Korea!has!
been!performing!poorly!in!international!TIMSS!and!PISA!tests.!This!is!summarised!in!the!
Malaysian!Education!Blueprint!(2013)!that!outlines!the!future!directions!and!change!for!
education!in!Malaysia!in!the!following!years.!!
!
Malaysia!has!five!system!aspirations!for!their!blueprint!for!education:!
1. 100%!enrolment!by!2020!
2. To!be!in!the!top!third!of!countries!in!international!testing!!
3. A!50%!reduction!in!achievement!gaps!
4. An!education!system!that!embraces!diversity!
5. Maximizising!students!outcomes!within!the!budget!
!The!Blueprint!outlines!eleven!shifts!that!need!to!take!place!including!equity!of!access,!fluency!
in!Bahasa!Malaysia!and!English,!high!quality!teachers!and!school!leaders,!increasing!
transparency,!autonomy,!value!for!money,!values!education,!parents!as!partners!and!
leveraging!ICT!to!enable!quality!learning.!The!focus!on!ICT!includes!universal!access!to!the!
internet!in!schools!by!2013,!online!best!practice!available!on!video!to!staff!and!maximizing!the!
use!of!technologies!to!enhance!distance!and!selfPpaced!learning!opportunities.!
!
The!use!of!ICT!in!Malaysian!schools!is!acknowledged!to!be!very!low,!the!level!of!infrastructure!
available!to!schools!is!also!low.!Even!high!achieving!schools!tend!to!focus!on!computer!labs!
rather!than!ensuring!availability!of!technologies!for!staff!and!or!students!in!everyday!
classrooms.!Malaysia!though!should!be!proud!of!its!achievements!and!its!maintenance!of!a!
clear!focus!and!vision!for!the!future!into!the!21st!century.!!
!
!
!
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!
The!Smart!School!Project!The!Smart!schools!flagship!programme!(2005P2020)!was!developed!on!the!belief!that!ICT!is!
the!key!enabler!of!quality!education!and!the!impact!of!ICT!for!education!is!enormous.!Its!
Primary!objectives!were:!!
1. To!produce!a!knowledge!society!that!is!critical,!creative!and!innovative!
2. To!produce!technology!savvy!individuals!for!the!information!age!
3. To!bridge!the!digital!divide!
4. To!cultivate!lifePlong!learning!based!on!ICT!
!
The!Smart!School!initiative!continues!to!be!implemented!with!the!introduction!of!Smart!
School!Qualification!Standards!(SSQS),!where!schools!receive!ranking!each!year!based!on!
their!ability!to!meet!expectations!in!these!four!key!areas;!use!of!ICT,!competency!of!end!users,!
adoption!of!applications!provided!by!MOE!and!ICT!infrastructure.!A!Smart!School!can!be!
described!as!a!school!that!displays!classrooms!with!multimedia!courses,!email!and!group!
work,!libraries!or!multi!media!centres!with!internet!access,!computer!laboratory!for!teaching!
of!computer!skills,!accessibility!to!multimedia!equipment!for!student!use.!
!
By!2009!the!MOE!in!Malaysia!had!given!7575!schools!a!Smart!School!rating!to!a!minimum!of!3!
stars,!with!96!schools!achieving!5!stars.!There!continues!to!be!challenges,!like!any!project!on!
such!a!grand!scale,!relating!to!the!coaching!of!innovative!use!of!technology,!infrastructure!
such!as!the!hardware!and!broadband!issues,!changing!the!mindset!of!teaching!staff!and!key!
stakeholders!among!others.!!
!
Prior!to!my!fellowship!I!had!already!visited!a!number!of!schools!in!Malaysia!and!the!
impression!I!received!is!that!students!have!superior!skills!in!technology!use!and!ability.!This!is!
evidenced!in!the!high!levels!of!achievements!witnessed!across!many!Malaysian!schools.!Lack!
of!access!to!infrastructure!is!evident!in!the!few!schools!I!have!visited!despite!this!these!
schools!had!well!acclaimed!students!results!and!achievements!at!individual!and!group!levels!
across!the!region,!Malaysia!and!in!internationally!in!areas!that!also!required!high!functioning!
understandings!of!ICT!such!as!robotics.!In!many!ways!this!success,!while!not!trying!to!diminish!
the!role!of!the!school,!I!believe!is!enhanced!through!two!things!the!increasing!value!of!
education!by!parents!in!Asia!and!the!increasingly!high!use!and!access!to!digital!technology!
outside!the!school!in!the!daily!lives!of!these!digital!natives.!!
!
Malaysia!has!developed!a!21st!century!skills!instrumental!in!acknowledging!and!assessing!the!
skills!needed!for!students!in!this!digital!era.!Osman!et!al!(2010)!states!that!there!is!a!need!
however!for;!the!public!at!large!to!acknowledge!the!skills!for!21st!century!learning!as!essential!
for!today’s!learner;!for!schools!to!embrace!the!importance!of!these!new!skills!and!finally!for!
policy!makers!to!base!school!accountability!on!assessments!that!measure!both!academic!
achievements!and!21st!Century!skills.!These!are!recommendation!I!would!echo!for!our!context.!!
!
Smart!School!Department.!(2007).!Smartschool:)Educating)Heart)and)Minds,!Retrieved!from!
http://www.msc.com.my/smartschool/whatis/p_3.asp!!
!
Osman,!K.,!Tuan!Soh,!T.!M.!and!Arsad,!N.!M.,!(2010).!Development)and)Validation)of)the)
Malaysian)21st)Century)skills)instrument)(MG21CSI))for)Science)students,!Retrieved!from!
http://academia.edu/633045/Development_and_validation_of_the_Malaysian_21st_century_s
kills_instrument_MP21CSI_for_science_students!!
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!
!
Sekolah!Kebangsaan!Taman!Megah!!
Sekolah!Kebangsaan!Taman!Megah!is!a!high!performing!Malaysian!school!in!Petaling!
Jaya!region!of!Selangor,!Malaysia.!The!school!has!1000!7P12!year!old!students!with!
approximately!36%!Chinese,!29%!Malay!and!27%!Indian!students.!!
!
The!school!prides!itself!in!a!number!of!specialist!areas!and!on!its!links!with!other!
organisations!and!institutions!including:!
1. A!specialist!Robotics!program;!and!
2. A!large!focus!on!developing!International!School!Exchange!Program!(ISEP)!
!
Taman!Megah!has!been!involved!in!the!ISEP!for!several!years!now!and!sees!this!focus!as!
essential!for!their!students!to!be!equipped!for!life!in!a!global!economy.!They!have!sister!
school!connections!in!Australia,!Indonesia!and!Thailand!and!these!schools!annually!send!
students!to!SKTM.!Our!school,!Waggrakine!is!talking!about!future!exchanges!to!SKTM!in!
the!same!ways!as!we!value!Asia!Literacy!in!the!Australian!Curriculum.!!The!focus!of!this!
exchange!programme!is!to!‘create!awareness,!appreciation!and!enable!
firsthand!experience!of!the!Australian/Indonesian!and!Thailand!&!Malaysian!way!of!life!in!
terms!of!the!diverse!and!different!cultural!backgrounds,!lifestyles,!school!systems!for!
students’!of!both!their!own!and!those!from!sister!schools.!With!Malaysian!Primary!
schools!going!through!to!year!6!they!only!focus!on!including!students!in!years!5!and!6.!!!
!
The!use!of!ICT!in!Cross!Curricula!areas!is!recommended!and!applies!to:!
• Students!using!laptop!in!class,!computers!at!the!access!centres!!• Teachers!using!laptops!with!a!LCD!projector!!
!
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!
SINGAPORE!!
The!Singapore!Ministry!of!Education!(MOE)!is!acutely!aware!of!the!needs!required!to!
meet!the!challenges!of!the!21st!century.!They!are!actively!anticipating!and!planning!for!
the!future!and!continue!to!make!bold!commitments!to!prepare!their!students!to!meet!
the!needs!of!the!21st!century.!!
!
Singapore!MOE!plays!an!advisory!and!supervisory!role!over!all!350!primary,!secondary!
and!post!secondary!Singapore!schools!including!those!that!are!state!funded!and!those!
that!are!private!schools.!With!an!Annual!Education!budget!of!$10.6!billion!in!2012,!
Singapore!offers!a!system!that!is!well!supported!to!provide!a!comprehensive!and!holistic!
education!for!Singapore!students.!Singapore!students!excel!in!international!OECD!
benchmark!testing;!TIMSS!an!PISA.!They!pride!themselves!not!only!in!excellence!in!
science!and!maths!and!academic!achievement!but!in!the!understanding!that!providing!
opportunities!for!students!to!develop!holistically;!to!pursue!their!own!passions!and!
develop!the!skills!for!life!long!learning,!better!equips!their!students!to!be!future!world!
leaders!and!active!citizens.!!!
!
Singapore!education!overview!English!has!been!the!language!of!instruction!for!schools!since!1987,!with!most!of!the!
population!though!being!also!fluent!in!Mandarin,!Tamil!and!Malay,!which!for!many!are!
their!mother!tongues!and!make!up!the!three!main!Mother!Tongue!language!classes!
across!Singapore!schools.!!
!
Singapore!kindergartens!have!been!separate!from!the!primary!schools!making!up!the!
first!three!years!of!schooling,!Nursery,!K1!and!K2.!These!have!been!run!by!the!private!
sector!although!I!believe!this!is!changing!with!MOE!kindergartens!being!in!the!news!
when!I!was!visiting.!
!
Primary!education!in!Singapore!is!made!up!of!primary!years!1P6,!referred!to!as!P1,!P2!etc.!
Students!sit!a!Primary!School!Leaving!Examination!(PSLE)!at!the!end!of!the!primary!years!
and!the!outcomes!of!this!are!very!prestigious!for!parents!in!particular!as!they!can!
determine!access!to!the!many!specialist!secondary!schools!of!choice!in!Singapore.!
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Students!participate!in!4!or!5!years!of!secondary!schooling.!The!National!O!levels!
determine!student!entry!into!prePuniversity!or!post!secondary!institutions.!!
!
Co!curricula!courses!or!activities!are!compulsory!in!Singapore!at!both!primary!and!
secondary!levels,!where!each!student!participates!in!at!least!one!area.!Through!
conversations!during!my!visits!however!I!found!many!students!participated!in!multiple!
coPcurricula!courses.!!Clubs,!Performing!Arts,!sports!and!chess,!additional!tuition!classes!
or!Niche!schools!were!abundant!with!most!students!heading!off!after!school!each!day!to!
participate!in!their!passion!or!expertise.!Private!education!is!a!massive!industry!in!
Singapore!(like!the!Republic!of!Korea)!with!parents!passionately!driven!to!ensure!their!
children!achieve!their!best!and!have!the!greatest!options!available!for!their!futures.!!
!
Singapore’s!focus!on!21st!century!learning!Singapore!acknowledges!how!information!technology!has!enabled!them!to!be!
connected!with!the!world!around!them!and!the!importance!of!their!future!in!the!global!
economy.!!Technologies!were!highly!pervasive!and!supported!through!well!researched!
and!resourced!government!priorities!with!strong!backing!and!partnerships!from!business!
to!build!partnerships!that!works!together!to!bring!about!excellence!at!a!National!and!
International!level.!In!this!way!the!country!works!in!a!unified!manner!to!bring!about!their!
vision!for!the!future!of!their!students!as!a!whole.!!
!
!
!
The!Singapore!government!and!industry!work!together!to!continually!develop!a!
‘Masterplan’!to!transform!educational!environments.!They!have!financed!and!resourced!
a!Future!School!Initiative,!made!up!of!5%!of!Singapore!Schools,!to!showcase!and!further!
the!objectives!of!the!Masterplan!and!transform!education!into!an!environment!of!
student!centric,!collaborative!learning.!!
!
The!Microsoft!Partners!in!Learning!initiative!that!started!me!on!my!own!journey!into!21st!
learning!and!its!importance!has!a!strong!representation!at!a!global!level!among!
Singapore!schools,!some!of!whom!are!also!members!of!the!Future!Schools!initiative!
outlined!briefly!below.!!Three!of!the!schools!I!visited!were!Microsoft!Pathfinder!and!
Mentor!Schools,!St!Andrew’s,!Radin!Mas!and!St!Hilda’s!Primary!Schools.!Hwa!Chong!
Institute!and!Canberra!Primary!School!are!among!the!prestigious!Future!Schools.!!
!
! !
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The!ICT!Connection!Masterplan!The!underlying!philosophy!of!the!Masterplan!is!that!education!should!continually!
anticipate!the!needs!of!the!future!and!prepare!pupils!to!meet!those!needs.!Over!thirteen!
years!the!Singapore!Masterplans!(of!which!they!are!now!working!with!MasterplanP3)!aim!
to!establish!strong!infrastructure!of!ICT!in!schools!to!enhance!the!educational!processes.!
The!most!recent!aim!is!to!have!technologies!enhance!and!enrich!the!educational!learning!
environments!for!students!and!‘equip!them!with!the!critical!competencies!and!
dispositions!to!succeed!in!a!knowledge!economy’!(MasterplanP3).!!Within!the!plan!there!
is!an!expectation!of!the!school!leaders!to!provide!the!critical!direction!and!conditions!for!
the!plans!to!take!fruition.!The!Masterplan!sees!both!teachers!and!students!as!learners,!
with!digital!technologies!shaping!personal!learning!experiences.!It!has!an!underlying!
emphasis!on!the!importance!of!cyber!wellness!and!students!being!equipped!with!the!
tools!to!use!ICT!safely.!!
!
There!are!three!enabler!goals!of!the!Masterplan!relating!to!effective:!
1. Leadership!at!a!school!by!school!level,!with!an!emphasis!on!the!expectations!of!
the!principal!to!take!on!the!lead!role!!
2. Catering!to!the!enabling!of!teacher!capacity!to!plan!and!deliver!ICT!enabled!and!
enhanced!learning!programs!that!promote!personalized!learning;!and!
3. Ability!of!the!MOE!and!schools!to!provide!both!the!environment!and!resources!
that!can!create!reliable!and!effective!infrastructure!at!a!school!by!school!level,!at!
the!same!time!taking!into!consideration!that!ICT!use!in!the!home!environment!
plays!an!invaluable!role!in!students’!learning.!!
!
More!information!can!be!found!about!the!Singapore!Masterplan!at:!
http://ictconnection.moe.edu.sg/masterplanP3!!
!
FutureSchools@Singapore!The!Future!Schools!programme,!begun!by!the!MOE!in!2008,!aims!to!identify!role!models!
in!the!effective!use!of!technologies!to!transform!learning!environments!to!equip!
students!with!critical!skills!and!understandings!to!succeed!in!a!knowledge!based!
economy.!A!partnership!between!the!Infocomm!Development!Authority!(IDA)!of!
Singapore!(IDA)!and!the!Singapore!MOE,!EdVantage!aims!to!transform!Education!and!
use!5%!of!Singapore!Schools!as!flagships,!the!FutureSchools@Singapore,!who!have!the!
means!to!experiment!with!emerging!technologies!to!promote!innovation,!flexible!
learning!environments!and!higher!levels!of!student!engagement.!In!addition!to!IDA!and!
MOE!the!FutureSchools@Singapore!involved!a!complex!consortium!from!four!industry!
areas!made!up!of!20!partners,!all!contributing!different!fields!of!expertise!and!roles!in!the!
process.!The!involvement!of!the!private!sector!is!seen!as!critical!in!the!future!and!clearly!
contributes!to!breaking!down!the!barriers!of!traditional!classrooms!and!schooling!by!
involving!partners!in!the!learning!process!to!expand!learning!horizons.!!!
!
! !
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With!the!aims!of!21st!century!Learning!clearly!leading!the!educational!thought!and!
directions!in!Singapore!Education!the!Future!Schools!initiative!was!designed!to!clearly!
engage!students!beyond!the!classroom!through!pervasive!technologies!and!equip!them!
with!the!skills!and!knowledge!to!be!active!and!leading!citizens!and!workers!in!a!highly!
globalized!and!digital!future.!!The!FutureSchools@Singapore!whom!I!was!fortunate!to!
see!showcased!at!the!Singapore!Excelfest!include:!!
!
• Beacon!Primary!School!
• Canberra!Primary!School!
• Cresent!Girls!School!
• Hwa!Chong!Institution!!
• Jurong!Secondary!School!
• School!of!Science!and!Technology!!
!
For!more!information!about!the!Future!Schools!initiative!go!to!
• http://www.ida.gov.sg/CollaborationPandPInitiatives/Initiatives/Store/EdVantageP
FutureSchoolsPSingapore!
• http://edulab.moe.edu.sg/cos/o.x?c=/iresearch/pagetree&func=view&rid=98!!
!!
Highlights!of!Singapore!from!the!Excel!Fest!!
!!The!Singapore!MOE!Excel!Fest!is!an!annual!event!which!showcases!innovative!practices!
taking!place!in!Singapore!schools.!The!Excel!fest!is!open!to!school!staff!and!the!public!to!
see!the!innovative!practises!taking!place!in!Singapore!schools.!!
!
The!Singapore!Ministry!of!Education!(MOE)!policy!documents,!system!initiatives!and!
priorities!clearly!provide!policies!and!programs!that!foster!the!core!skills!of!21st!century!
learning.!Some!of!these!identified!through!the!visit!at!the!Excel!Fest!and!expanded!on!
through!school!visits!include:!
!
• Nurturing!our!Young:!Competencies!for!a!21st!c!
At!the!heart!of!the!document!are!the!core!values!that!underpin!the!learning!with!
an!overall!goal!of!incorporating!21st!century!competencies!of!critical!thinking,!ICT!
skills,!Civic!Literacy,!Global!Awareness!and!Cross!Curricula!Skills!that!lead!to!active!
citizens!in!Singapore’s!future.!!
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• A!Form!Teacher!Guidance!Period!(FTGP)!to!prepare!the!children!to!thrive!in!the!
21st!century.!This!program,!similar!in!nature!to!a!high!school!form!period!is!to!
provide!the!students!with!skills!for!collaboration!and!communication!as!well!as!
social!and!emotional!development.!!
• The!Curriculum!Framework!for!Kindergarten!in!MOE!promotes!‘iTeach’!principles!
that!recognise!the!whole!child!and!fosters!a!constructivist!approach!as!holistic!
and!purposeful!learning!experiences!immersing!children!in!following!their!natural!
curiosity.!!
!!
!
http://www.moe.gov.sg/education/preschool/files/kindergartenPcurriculumP
framework.pdf!!
!
The!link!for!the!Competencies)for)the)21st)Century!pdf!can!be!retreived!from!the!MOE!
home!page!at!http://www.moe.gov.sg/!!
!
While!Singapore!strives!for!excellence!in!the!core!academic!areas!and!they!all!share!the!
MOE!goal!to!reach!the!whole!child!and!promote!and!encourage!students!to!pursue!their!
strengths!and!passions.!Niche!areas!in!individual!schools!and!external!programs!allow!
students!to!take!on!this!additional!commitment!to!their!studies.!The!following!outlines!a!
sample!of!programs!being!implemented!in!MOE!schools!to!enhance!students’!learning.!I!
was!fortunate!to!spend!the!day!at!the!Excel!Fest!and!hear!from!teachers!and!students!
about!their!innovations,!inventions,!partnerships!and!global!collaborations.!
!
Chongzheng!Primary!School!Chongzheng’s!InnoKidZ!project!has!a!focus!to!equip!the!students!with!21
st!century!
competencies!and!innovative!thinking.!To!achieve!this!they!run!a!weekly!enrichment!
‘Innovation!Club’!for!high!performing!P3,!P4!and!P5!students.!Their!focus!is!on!
developing!programs!where!the!students!are!able!to!develop!skills!which!bring!out!the!
school!vision!of!‘An!Innovative!Thinker,!A!Gracious!Leader,!An!Engaged!Citizen’.!
!
More!information!can!be!found!at!
http://www.excelfest.com/EventSynopsis/Synopsis?id=YzNiOTEyZDYtMmYyYS02MjU5LT
k1OTYtZmYwMDAwYmNmYzlk&Type=Exhibition&Adoption! !
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!
Haig!Girls!School!!
!!‘Integrated!Project!Work’!and!‘Global!and!Cross!Cultural!Awareness’!were!two!of!Haig’s!
Programmes!that!immersed!students!in!facets!of!21st!century!learning.!Across!the!P1!–!P6!
years!of!primary!school!Haig!provide!students!with!projects!that!allow!students!to!apply!
their!knowledge!and!skills!to!solve!authentic,!real!life!problems.!They!identify!21st!century!
competencies!such!as!‘self!directed!learning,!collaboration,!critical!and!creative!thinking!
and!civil!literacy’!for!students!to!develop!and!model!through!authentic!learning!projects.!!
!
The!Global!and!CrossPCultural!Awareness!Programme!provides!students!the!
opportunities!to!build!their!global!perspectives!and!sense!of!belonging!as!Singapore!sits!
comfortably!in!the!global!economy!with!Asia!as!a!key!leader.!!
!
!Nanyang!Polytechnic!!
!
!At!Nanyang!Polytechnic,!engineering!students!(and!perhaps!their!younger!siblings)!were!
deeply!immersed!in!learning!robotics!the!fun!way.!They!build!robots!that!mimic!living!
creatures,!snakes,!people,!insects!and!more.!Robotics!is!a!large!niche!area!across!many!
Asian!schools!and!the!students!at!Nanyang!Polytechnic!are!well!known!for!their!
innovative!robot!that!ran!so!fast!it!broke!a!world!record!sprint!‘in!the!robot!world’!at!an!
international!competition!in!2012.!Students!were!clearly!in!complete!control!of!the!
designing,!building,!programming!and!operating!of!the!robots.!!
!!!! !
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Crescent!Girls!School!!Crescent!Girls!School!(CGS),!another!of!the!FutureSchools@Singapore,!has!had!a!onePtoP
one!computing!environment!since!2004,!with!tablet!PCs!for!each!student.!Now!the!
school!has!a!focus!on!integrated!curriculum!where!in!a!four!week!block,!students!are!
immersed!in!problem!solving!project!work!that!allows!students!to!learn!science,!
mathematics!and!geography!through!the!concept!of!real!life!problems!and!solving!them.!
Usually!a!case!scenario!or!real!life!issue!is!the!catalyst!for!the!learning.!!
!
!
!
The!programme!on!display!at!the!Excel!Fest!was!the!Submariner,!a!game!developed!by!
the!school,!using!a!multiPtouch!table;!in!this!instance!a!‘HeuMi’!that!is!designed!to!
simulate!a!Submariner!mission.!Mathematics,!Science!and!politics!among!other!learning!
areas!integrate!as!students!set!about!engaging!hostile!forces!and!developing!strategies!
using!trigonometry!concepts!to!complete!their!operations.!The!girls!at!the!display!were!
very!animated!and!articulate!in!outlining!how!the!game!works!and!the!complexities!of!its!
design.!We!were!able!to!engage!in!the!hands!on!experience!with!students!who!were!
happy!to!teach!us!the!skills!involved!in!the!submariner!experience.!!
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For our twenty first kids, technology is their birth right. !
Mark!Prensky!
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!!!Canberra!Primary!School!!!Canberra!Primary!School!(CPS)!while!at!the!Excel!Fest!was!also!on!my!itinerary!to!visit.!I!
spoke!with!the!Principal!Mr!Sam!Wong!and!Vice!Principal!Mr!Kevin!Patt,!although!I!did!
not!get!to!see!their!future!school!showcase!4Di!interactive!Lab!(mentioned!below)!as!
there!was!a!building!project!going!on!and!the!area!was!closed!of!as!a!construction!site.!In!
fact!every!school!I!visited!in!Singapore!had!building!programmes!in!place;!testimony!
perhaps!to!the!growth!and!investments!in!Singapore!education!!!
!
Canberra!PS!is!a!relatively!new!school.!Established!in!January!2000,!and!has!an!enrolment!
of!1800!students;!not!unusual!numbers!in!the!Singapore!context.!As!a!new!school!it!has!
been!afforded!with!the!benefit!of!funding!for!state!of!the!art!technology!since!its!
inception,!enabling!it!to!be!one!of!the!first!six!to!participate!in!the!MOE!EduQuest!
project,!then!in!2005!an!incubator!school!and!finally!as!a!lead!ICT!school!in!2006.!In!2007!
MOE!launched!the!Future!Schools!project!with!Canberra!being!one!of!five!schools!initially!
selected.!!
!
When!I!spoke!with!the!Principal,!Mr!Sam!Wong,!it!was!evident!that!the!school!had!a!
strong!vision!for!the!future!of!its!students.!He!talked!about!Canberra!PS!and!Singapore!
schools!being!very!fortunate!in!their!resources!and!students!being!well!catered!for!at!
home!and!at!school.!He!felt!however!that!students!needed!opportunities!to!develop!
greater!resilience!and!independence!(at!home!and!school)!to!feel!the!motivation!through!
the!power!and!engagement!of!the!learning!process!rather!than!extrinsic!rewards!
systems.!He!stressed!that!time!was!an!issue!for!staff!and!he!valued!providing!teachers!
with!the!time!to!focus!on!students.!!
!
To!ensure!students!at!risk!were!catered!to,!differentiated!curriculum!models!allowed!for!
classes!of!up!to!40!with!high!performing!students!and!down!to!18!for!those!students!
who!needed!greater!intervention!and!support.!Discipline!was!never!bought!up!as!an!
issue!in!any!Singapore!school!with!those!I!spoke!with!and!visited.!!
!
Play!was!valued!as!a!strong!focus!in!the!pedagogical!process!where!children!had!time!to!
experiment,!try!alternatives!and!improvise.!CPS!refers!to!the!‘Canberra!Experience’!an!
integrated!pedagogical!programme!that!allows!students!to!develop!the!skills!and!
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competencies!for!21st!century!learning.!Through!the!use!of!interactive!digital!media!
students!explore!and!investigate!the!world!around!them!including!immersion!in!virtual!
learning!spaces.!Three!programmes!make!up!the!Canberra!Learning!experience;!the!!
1. The!‘Discoverer’!programme!allows!the!students!to!explore!and!investigate!the!
world!around!them!using!mobile!learning,!through!real!life!experiences!and!
virtual!learning!spaces.!This!process!encourages!confident!communication!as!
students!access!digital!technologies!to!collaborate!and!arrive!at!higher!levels!of!
knowledge.!
2. The!‘Attuned!Learner’!programme!allows!students!to!map!their!own!
development!in!both!academic!and!physical!skills!and!become!selfPdirected!
learners,!developing!a!‘moral!compass’!to!guide!decision!making!processes!
during!their!learning!and!into!the!future.!
3. Finally!the!‘Global!Learner’!programme!allows!students!to!use!digital!interactive!
media!to!engage!with!a!variety!of!online!audiences!online!to!develop!crossP
cultural!understandings,!exchange!views!and!learn!from!different!cultures,!
religions!and!worldviews.!(This!is!aligned!to!the!MOE!Curriculum!2015!outcomes!
of!becoming!concerned!and!active!citizens!in!society.)!
!
!
Canberra’s!key!Future!School!initiatives!are!4Di,!ImPrints,!Digitiser!and!Mobile!Learning.!
The!Principal,!Mr!Sam!Wong,!spoke!about!how!learning!achievements!have!moved!
beyond!the!need!to!just!pass!exams.!He!expressed!his!belief!that!students!need!to!be!
able!to!reflect!on!why!they!are!learning!and!they!must!understand!how!the!learning!can!
add!value!to!their!lives!and!futures.!Collaboration!for!students!was!seen!as!a!key!need.!
Teachers!had!access!to!a!‘school!staff!developer’.!This!is!a!neutral!person!who!does!not!
judge!or!assess!but!rather!is!a!safe!person!for!staff!to!go!to!seek!further!development!
and!collaborate!further!with!their!ideas.!!
!
The!4Di!Lab!is!an!interactive!learning!lab!made!up!of!14!large!screens!with!multi!sensory!
functions!making!it!the!largest!virtual!environment!lab!in!the!world.!It!is!an!environment!
best!seen!through!one!of!the!students!short!videos!on!you!tube!at!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4qhkHrtQLc!the!video!shows!how!students!can!be!
fully!immersed!into!virtual!environments!of!an!endless!nature.!The!rainforest!
environment,!featured!in!the!video,!allowed!students!to!deeply!engage!in!scientific!
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concepts!of!adaptation,!life!and!living!and!was!integrated!into!English!language!learning.!
Students!have!opportunities!to!refine!the!learning!to!customise!and!personalise!their!
learning!and!add!value!to!the!already!rich!curriculum.!!
!
The!ImPrints!initiative!is!an!ePportfolio!system!with!four!components!of!‘Showcasing,!
Networking,!Social!and!Emotional!Learning!and!Reflections’.!!
• To!‘Showcase’!students!simply!upload!and!share!digitally!their!learning!journey!
from!P1!–!P6.!!
• Networking!allows!the!students!to!digitally!interact!with!their!peers!outside!of!the!
classroom!in!a!safe!and!secure!environment!that!also!supports!cyberPwellness.!
Teachers!monitor!the!student!interactions.!!
• The!Social!and!Emotional!Learning!allows!teachers!to!monitor!and!direct!the!
students’!selfPawareness,!management,!social!skills!and!decisionPmaking!
processes.!Students!set!their!own!targets!for!improvement.!!
• Finally!questionnaires,!developed!by!the!teachers!but!individualised!to!student!
needs!allow!for!students!to!identify!their!weaknesses!and!data!shows!that!
students!respond!well!to!this,!enthused!to!improve!in!areas!identified.!
!
Digitizer!is!a!platform!on!the!‘Canberra!Live!’!It!is!a!webPbased!portal!that!provides!
students!opportunities!to!collaborate!using!tools!like!wikis,!discussion!forums.!Students!
can!also!access!content!libraries!where!staff!and!students!can!talk!and!share!ideas.!
Lesson!packages!are!available!for!online!learning,!anywhere!anytime.!The!selfPdirected!
learning!on!the!digitizer!platform!allows!students!to!work!at!their!own!pace!and!time!and!
for!learning!to!be!integrated!into!the!home!environment.!It!is!also!designed!to!reinforce!
the!learning!concepts!and!processes!taking!place!in!the!classroom.!The!differentiated!
instruction!provided!through!Digitizer!is!enhanced!through!teachers!developing!learning!
objects!to!meet!various!learning!styles!and!abilities!of!students.!!
!
Mobile!Learning!refers!to!anywhere,!anytime!learning.!To!achieve!this!Canberra!uses!
personal!learning!devices.!The!school!currently!has!170!devices!that!are!loaned!to!
students!and!these!are!rotated!through!the!300!P3!students!each!semester.!The!Mobile!
Learning,!Digitizer,!ImPrints!and!4Di!lab!don’t!work!in!isolation,!they!seek!to!integrate!
themes!and!learning!platforms!to!create!a!holistic!package!for!their!students.!!
Each!of!the!initiatives!draws!on!key!international!research!theories!and!is!well!supported!
through!the!administrative!support!and!staff!professional!learning.!Action!research!is!
ongoing!and!thorough!evaluation!and!selfPassessment!is!inbuilt!into!the!programs.!!
Academic!success!does!not!waiver!with!100%!of!Canberra!students!achieving!a!pass!rate!
and!48%!‘A’!students!moving!to!a!high!school!of!their!own!choosing.!
!
Cyber!wellness!is!an!overriding!factor!that!is!well!planned!at!Canberra!PS!in!a!
collaborative!environment!where!students!must!be!aware!in!the!digital!context!that:!
• What!they!do!affects!others!!
• Immersion!in!computers!may!result!in!seclusion!as!you!are!isolated!in!your!own!
culture!and!focus;!and!
• Their!digital!footprint!and!everything!they!put!in!cyberspace!stays!there!
!
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Canberra!Primary!School!had!much!to!offer,!with!strong!and!informed!leadership.!
Singapore!MOE!School!Principals!change!each!6P7!years!and!this!in!itself!creates!a!climate!
where!sustainability!is!a!critical!component!to!establishing!lead!schools!and!programs!for!
the!21st!century.!Mr!Sam!Wong!was!a!wealth!of!knowledge!and!his!ability!to!lead!in!a!
variety!of!school!contexts!was!clear.!Each!of!the!Singapore!Principals!was!well!read!in!
educational!research!and!future!directions!of!education!for!the!Nation,!national!pride!
and!unity!appeared!to!resonate!across!Singapore!schools.!!!!
!
!
!
!!!Hwa!Chong!Institution!!
Overview!!Hwa!Chong!Institute!(HCI)!is!a!premier!Singapore!school,!highly!acclaimed!and!award!
winning!in!educational!excellence.!They!have!a!clear!vision!for!the!future!needs!of!their!
students,!with!a!strong!understanding!of!and!international!lead!role!in!defining!and!
executing!a!global!educational!excellence.!They!aim!to!provide!a!holistic!educational!
model!through!a!system!that!meets!‘the!needs!of!a!new!generation!of!Singaporeans,!and!
equip![their]!students!with!the!skills!and!insights!they!need!to!thrive!in!this!new!age’.!
Hwa!Chong!has!a!strong!tradition!of!excellence,!celebrating!24!world!title!championships!
between!2006!and!2011!across!a!variety!of!endeavours.!HCI!believes!that!to!emerge!as!
champions!in!such!competitive!international!fields!their!students!must!demonstrate!
future!problem!solving!skills!of!creativity,!collaboration,!entrepreneurship,!and!thinking!
outside!the!square,!all!hallmark!skills!of!21st!century!learning.!
!
Hwa!Chong!is!one!of!Singapore’s!prime!independent!schools.!The!school!is!a!result!of!a!
significant!merger!between!two!schools!in!2005,!the!former!Chinese!High!School!and!
Hwa!Chong!Junior!College.!The!school!covers!29!hectares,!with!state!of!the!art!facilities!
including!an!Olympic!swimming!pool,!gymnasium,!shooting!range,!outdoor!courts,!
extensive!boarding!facilities!and!allPencompassing!technological!facilities.!A!feat!in!itself!
the!4300!high!school!boys!covering!6!year!levels!start!at!7.30!am!with!a!flag!raising!
ceremony!every!morning!and!the!recital!of!the!national!pledge,!a!compulsory!
requirement!for!all!MOE!schools.!Hwa!Chong!boasts!a!number!of!both!MOE!and!school!
based!programmes!of!excellence!including!the!academic!Science!and!Maths!Talent,!
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Humanities,!Bicultural!Studies,!Chinese!Language,!Art!and!individualised!research!and!
enrichment.!
!
While!the!Ministry!of!Education!largely!funds!Hwa!Chong,!they!have!the!independence!
and!ability!to!have!full!autonomy!in!regards!to!their!curriculum.!!They!are!also!one!of!the!
First!MOE!schools!to!have!the!ability!to!take!on!international!students.!As!with!all!schools!
in!Singapore!the!school!must!take!on!a!mother!tongue,!with!the!language!of!instruction!
being!English.!Mandarin!and!Malay!language!are!also!important.!While!the!curriculum!has!
intense!academic!rigour!there!is!a!strong!emphasis!on!understanding!that!the!child!still!
needs!to!be!developed!holistically.!!!
!
Future!School!Hwa!Chong!is!the!only!independent!school!selected!in!2008!by!the!Ministry!of!education!
to!implement!the!FutureSchools@Singapore!initiative.!As!part!of!the!future!School!
commitments!the!school!aims!to!develop!passionate!learning!with!a!global!perspective!
with!four!focus!areas:!
1. To!set!up!a!Global!Academy!
2. To!offer!advanced!research!programmes!with!global!partners!
3. Create!diverse!learning!environments!and!
4. Evolve!new!values!
!
As!part!of!the!Global!Academy!vision!Hwa!Chong!has!extensive!collaborations!with!105!
schools!internationally!as!well!as!extensive!partnerships!with!international!universities,!
institutions!and!industry!partners!with!an!aim!to!mutually!benefit!all!stakeholders.!Their!
internationalisation!unit!arranges!for!ongoing!international!events,!trips!and!
opportunities!for!students!to!experience!cultures!other!than!their!own!both!locally!and!
abroad.!All!of!this!is!helping!to!cement!the!goal!of!creating!a!borderless!learning!
environment!and!virtual!campus!where!students!can!learn,!anytime,!anywhere.!!A!homeP
based!learning!programme!allows!students!to!access!online!units!of!work!uploaded!to!
their!extensive!portal!network.!The!impressive!Alumni!play!a!large!role!in!mentoring!and!
contributing!to!the!global!academies!goals!in!their!many!talents!and!fields!of!expertise.!
!
International!collaboration!and!autonomy!In!2004!Singapore!MOE!permitted!three!international!schools!to!accept!Singapore!
students!without!needing!to!seek!permission!from!MOE,!HCI!was!one!of!these!schools.!
The!school!provides!a!six!year!seamless!Integrated!Programme!that!caters!to!the!top!5%!
of!students!from!Singapore!and!the!Asian!region!including!the!Republic!of!China,!
Vietnam,!South!Korea,!Philippines,!Taiwan,!India,!Indonesia!and!the!United!Kingdom.!HCI!
has!three!satellite!schools!in!China!to!develop!deep!understandings!of!China,!they!believe!
that!just!because!the!students!speak!Chinese!and!look!Chinese!doesn't!mean!they!
understand!China.!Their!Bicultural!Studies!(China)!Programme,!begun!in!2005,!allows!the!
students!to!exchange!and!study!in!China!developing!an!appreciation!of!Chinese!culture,!
language!and!inheritance!as!well!as!understanding!contemporary!Chinese!society.!
Classes!outside!Singapore,!in!the!off!site!campuses!(including!China,!India!and!the!US),!
maintain!a!similar!program!to!the!Singapore!campus!but!are!located!in!another!country.!
All!subjects!taught!except!for!Chinese!and!Sport!are!conducted!by!Hwa!Chong!staff.!!!
!
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Hwa!Chong!Institution,!as!do!the!MOE,!!believe!that!many!teachers!teach!to!the!test,!
focusing!on!the!top!20%!and!bottom!20%!but!they!ask!the!question!of!the!middle!60%.!All!
are!academically!able!when!they!arrive!and!the!school!must!cater!to!all!students.!They!
operate!a!school!within!a!school!model.!!!
• Exploration!in!the!first!two!years!!
• Developing!passion!in!the!middle!two!years!!
• Consolidation!in!the!final!two!years!!
!Integrated!Program!An!initiative!of!the!MOE,!Hwa!Chong!leads!the!Integrated!Program!(IP)!that!allows!
students!to!access!6!years!of!seamless!education!and!bypass!the!need!for!‘O’!levels!after!
the!first!four!years!of!high!school.!Hwa!Chong!combines!the!academic!excellence!with!a!
range!of!opportunities!beyond!the!classroom!through!an!innovative!and!collaborated!
curriculum!catering!to!students’!passion!and!interests.!The!IP!is!organised!into!three!
stages:!
1. A!general!curriculum!that!allows!students!to!explore!all!fields!of!study!
2. Next!students!embark!on!an!inPdepth!study!in!a!field!taken!from!their!own!passion!
and!interests!
3. Finally!students!consolidate!and!sit!for!the!Cambridge!GCE!Advanced!level!
Examinations!
!
To!allow!students!to!pursue!personal!avenues!HCI!offer!a!student!sabbatical!program,!
where!two!weeks!every!semester!students!have!no!formal!classes.!Instead!they!offer!a!
buffet!of!programs!from!which!where!the!students!choose!what!they!want!to!do,!they!
may!do!computer!programming,!certification!of!a!course,!guitar!or!tailor!a!program!to!
meet!their!needs!in!consultation!with!a!tutor.!!During!a!tenPweek!term,!one!week!is!set!
aside!for!this!program!and!one!week!for!exams.!Programs!are!supervised,!facilitated!or!
offered!by!the!past!alumni!(who!play!a!major!role!in!the!schools!programs,!values!and!
excellence),!staff,!parents!and!students.!The!staffs’!role!is!to!find!students!area!of!
passion!and!then!groom!them!to!be!leaders!in!their!area.!!!
!
Students!earn!points!throughout!the!term!so!options!choices!are!available!for!those!
students!who!have!scored!highest,!ensuring!that!through!academic!rigour!and!
demonstrating!the!values!and!ethics!of!the!school!students!are!rewarded!for!their!hard!
work!and!commitment.!The!school!offers!three!of!these!sessions!a!year!and!students!bid!
for!these!programs.!!National!sports!meets!(a!strong!niche!area!across!Singapore!
schools)!occupies!many!students!time!so!some!will!use!this!time!to!focus!on!their!
studies.!!!
!
Project!work!aims!to!develop!life!long!learners!and!encourages!learning!beyond!the!
classroom,!supporting!the!MOE!notion!of!‘Teach!Less,!Learn!More’!.!Projects!help!to!raise!
students’!confidence!as!they!apply!the!knowledge!and!skills!learnt!through!their!stage!1!
learning!into!real!life!projects.!These!projects!are!often!community!based,!encouraging!
the!students!to!give!back!to!the!community,!who!so!strongly!support!them.!!
!
MOE,!(2009).!Teach)Less,)Learn)More,!retrieved!from!
http://www3.moe.edu.sg/bluesky/tllm.htm!!
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Science!research!programmes!In!positioning!themselves!to!lead!the!Singapore!community!in!a!number!of!niche!areas,!
the!challenge!is!set!for!HCI!to!become!a!lead!school!in!Science.!To!facilitate!this!Hwa!
Chong!has!established!the!HCI!Science!Research!Centre!to!embed!a!strong!culture!of!
research!and!innovation!among!its!students.!They!have!fostered!strong!partnerships!to!
date!with!over!15!Nobel!Prize!Winning!scientists!and!field!medallists!who!have!engaged!
with!students!through!guest!lectures,!mentoring!and!annual!science!events!on!a!grand!
scale.!The!Centre!was!very!impressive!and!houses:!
• 10!science!laboratories!where!students!can!engage!in!specialized!project!work,!
some!labs!are!free!for!dedicated!project!work!where!students!can!work!without!
fitting!around!classes.!These!labs!include!engineering,!technical,!chemical,!
biotechnology,!photonics,!microbiology!and!more…!
• Field!stations!and!special!culture!rooms!designed!for!the!incubation!used!in!life!
science!
• The!LT@SRC,!a!lecture!theatre!that!holds!90!people!with!state!of!the!art!
technology!for!sharing!and!interacting!
• The!project!rooms!and!work!rooms!allow!for!interaction!and!collaboration!
between!students!and!provide!them!spaces!to!conduct!their!research!and!mentor!
with!their!selected!teachers!or!expert!external!mentors,!equipped!with!the!tools!
to!do!so.!
!
The!science!and!mathematics!talent!program!encourages!project!work.!Teachers!work!
with!students!to!establish!and!design!their!projects,!make!links!to!expert!mentors!and!
develop!a!framework!for!their!projects.!Many!of!the!projects!are!at!an!international!level!
with!students!responsible!for!all!organizational!levels!including!any!travel,!
accommodation!and!other!logistics!involved.!After!year!8!students!think!about!their!
focus,!they!still!do!all!the!subjects!but!their!project!work!is!in!their!area!of!passion,!they!
must!work!in!teams,!as!this!is!one!of!the!values!Hwa!Chong!Aims!to!promote.!!!
!
Teacher!development!An!extensive!teacher!professional!learning!programme!takes!place!within!the!school.!
Teacher!are!highly!valued!and!come!to!Hwa!Chong!well!chosen!as!leaders!in!their!fields.!
Professional!learning!is!commonplace!with!professional!reading!and!research!integrated!
into!campus!life.!They!believe!to!prepare!students!for!the!future;!educators!need!to!
cultivate!both!academic!skills!and!character.!Howard!Gardner’s!work!has!a!strong!
influence!on!the!schools!directions!and!he!has!presented!to!the!school!staff!and!
students,!strengthening!his!five!kinds!of!minds!philosophy!within!the!school!vision.!!!
!
Infrastructure!that!supports!24/7!learning!!The!school!does!not!want!for!digital!infrastructure.!In!!
• 2009!the!school!introduced!sustained!PL!program's!to!staff!!
• 2010!explored!the!pedagogues!needed!for!engaged!learning!with!ICT!tools!!
• 2010!integrated!lessons!had!a!common!place!during!curriculum!time!for!
independent!students!learning!online!!
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• 2012!teachers!were!encouraged!to!exercise!professional!judgement!of!the!
timelines!for!online!lessons!to!enhance!students!learning!beyond!the!classroom!!
In!house!technology!platforms!are!extensive!with!a!staff,!student!and!community!portal!
that!further!supports!their!philosophy!of!‘just!in!time!learning,!not!just!in!case!learning’.!
The!portal!is!extensive!with!everything!from!lessons!to!be!uploaded!to!digital!
noticeboards,!private!chats!and!tuition,!collaborative!opportunities!and!more…!
!
I!did!not!have!the!time!to!fully!explore!the!endless!opportunities!afforded!to!the!Hwa!
Chong!students,!but!needless!to!say!the!Hwa!Chong!experience!is!nothing!but!a!state!of!
the!art,!seamless,!21st!century!learning!opportunity!that!engages!students!beyond!the!
classroom!into!a!truly!global!community,!making!them!well!placed!to!be!the!skilled!and!
innovative!leaders!in!a!global!future.!At!Hwa!Chong!technology!was!permeating,!
necessary!and!invisible.!!!
!!
!
More!about!Hwa!Chong’s!future!school!focus!can!be!Retrieved!from!
http://www.hci.edu.sg/advantage/aPglobalPacademy/futurePschoolPstatus!!
!
To!read!more!about!the!extensive!achievements!and!offerings!of!Hwa!Chong!go!to!
http://www.hci.edu.sg/!!
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St!Hilda’s!Primary!School!!
St!Hilda’s!is!an!Anglican!Primary!School!of!1900!students!and!140!staff!in!the!Tampines!
area!of!Singapore.!The!school!is!currently!undergoing!massive!refurbishment!and!
renovations!and!as!such!the!entire!school!population!is!operating!out!of!a!holding!facility!
at!a!different!campus.!I!was!honoured!to!be!a!special!guest!at!the!79th!Founders!Day!
celebrations,!a!gathering!of!the!community!each!year!to!celebrate!the!school!successes!
and!present!to!the!2012!prize!winning!students.!I!revisited!on!International!Friendship!
Day!the!following!week.!Thanks!to!St!Hilda’s!Principal,!Mdm!Kew!Mee!Ying!and!staff!for!
their!endless!hospitality!at!a!busy!time.!!
!
St!Hilda’s!is!seen!as!a!lead!school!in!innovation!in!ICT!and!is!a!Microsoft!Worldwide!
Mentor!School.!St!Hilda’s!has!dynamic!and!strong!community!partnerships!and!builds!its!
teaching!and!learning!programme!through:!
• Strong!civics!and!moral!education!!
• Holistic!education!that!also!encourages!students!to!pursue!their!personal!
interests!!
• CoPcurricula!areas!that!promote!values!such!as!self!discipline,!collaboration!and!
perseverance!!
• Promoting!and!supporting!individual!and!whole!school!niche!areas!
• A!1P1!computing!programme!in!some!classes!
• Engaging!staff!through!virtual!universities!
!
In!keeping!with!the!MOE!21st)Century)Framework!St!Hilda’s!has!a!focus!on!developing!
competencies!for!a!changing!world.!They!believe!in!strong!partnerships!between!home!
and!school!and!preparing!students!for!a!rapidly!changing!world.!St!Hilda’s!serves!as!a!
centre!for!excellence!for!English!Language!since!2011!supporting!47!primary!schools!in!
the!east!region!of!Singapore!as!a!well!as!specializing!in!gifted!education.!
!
!!!!
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Gifted!Education!Programme!St!Hilda’s!is!one!of!nine!Singapore!schools!with!a!specialist!Gifted!Education!Programme!
(GEP)!set!up!by!the!Ministry!in!1984!to!cater!to!intellectually!gifted!students.!Students!are!
tested!in!Primary!3!to!identify!the!top!1%!of!the!student!population!who!begin!the!
program!in!Primary!4.!St!Hilda’s!has!been!part!of!the!program!since!1998.!Selection!into!
the!GEP!is!available!to!all!Singapore!students.!Teachers!are!also!selected!to!be!part!of!the!
program.!!
!
The!program!enriches!the!regular!curriculum,!with!25!students!per!class.!Children!are!
involved!in!authentic!learning!such!as!field!experiences,!leadership,!global!outlook,!
servant!hood!and!individual!study!options.!There!is!strong!encouragement!for!students!
to!choose!areas!that!promote!moral!education,!values!and!global!awareness.!
!
St!Hildas!Anywhere!Learning!Online!Medium!(SHALOM)!St!Hilda’s!Primary!School!approach!to!teaching!and!learning!emphasizes!a!learning!
experience!that!actively!engages!students.!‘We!understood!the!potentials!of!technology,!
and!how!if!they!were!effectively!leveraged!upon,!could!transform!the!way!we!teach!and!
at!the!same!time!engage!our!students!who!are!digital!natives!to!be!ready!and!equipped!
with!the!relevant!21!Century!skills!to!face!the!challenges!of!the!future,’!Said!Principal!Kew!
Mee!Ying.!
The!introduction!of!the!Project!SHALOM!initiative!by!the!Gifted!Education!Department!
was!guided!by!this!principle!and!intended!outcomes.!It!underscores!the!school’s!onP
going!commitment!in!supporting!the!teaching!and!learning!programmes!with!engaging!
and!relevant!use!of!technology.!ICT!is!used!to!enrich!the!curriculum!and!create!valueP
added!learning!for!our!students.!!
Students!are!equipped!with!their!own!laptops!to!facilitate!selfPdirected!and!collaborative!
learning!in!and!out!of!class.!Just!as!the!name!suggests,!learning!for!the!students!is!
“anywhere!and!anytime”,!leveraging!on!online!medium!such!as!Web!2.0!tools. Recognizing!the!key!role!that!teachers!play!in!the!implementation!of!this!initiative,!
Professional!Learning!Teams!(PLT)!were!formed!and!time!made!available!for!all!the!GE!
teachers!to!relook!the!way!they!teach!and!the!design!of!curriculum!packages!that!
integrates!ICT.!!Curriculum!Maps!were!also!drawn!up!to!reflect!the!ICT!integration!across!
the!various!subjects.! ! This!is!the!second!year!of!implementation!for!Project!SHALOM.!!Principal!Kew!Mee!Ying!
states!‘although!there!are!currently!no!hard!data!on!the!extent!of!students’!acquisition!
of!the!21!Century!skills,!what!is!evident!is!the!engagement!of!students!in!terms!of!
directing!their!own!learning.!In!addition,!it!has!also!enabled!collaborative!learning!within!
classroom!and!out!of!borders!amongst!them!to!be!more!seamless.!These!possibilities!
have!made!learning!meaningful,!authentic!and!engaging!for!the!students’.! !
GLOBE!programme!St!Hilda’s!Global!Learning!Online!Beyond!Borders!Exchange!(GLOBE)!programme!
promotes!borderless!learning,!enriching!and!enhancing!their!learning!through!a!
conceptual!literature!based!drama!approach!that!uses!ICT!as!a!tool!to!bring!about!
independent!and!collaborated!learning!among!students!and!educators.!With!global!
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partners!they!are!creating!increased!opportunities!for!students!for!international,!crossP
cultural!and!inter!religious!understandings.!Students’!international!exchanges!are!again!a!
valued!component!of!the!school!programmes.!St!Hilda’s!collaborate!with!Nueva!School!
in!San!Francisco,!USA!and!Danebank!Anglican!Girls!School!in!Sydney!Australia.!They!also!
have!collaboration!projects!and!exchanges!with!schools!in!China!and!other!parts!of!Asia.!!
!
21st!Century!Hildan!Ambassadors!St!Hilda’s!provides!a!focus!on!developing!leadership!skills!among!its!students!in!order!to!
provide!students!with!a!sense!of!!
• Global!responsibility!!
• Respect!and!caring!for!their!peers,!community!and!country!
• Developing!innovative!practices!and!tools!!
• Working!collaboratively!!
!
A!matrix!provides!an!overview!of!four!domains,!each!with!three!focus!areas.!Students!
must!achieve!coverage!in!each!of!these!areas!in!order!to!be!21st!Century!Hildan!
Ambassadors.!!
1. Articulate:!Instructional!Curriculum!English,!Instructional!Curriculum!Mother!
Tongue!and!Competition!/achievement!
2. Caring:!Conduct!(demonstrating!values),!community!involvement!projects!and!
citizenry!
3. Innovative:!Competition!achievement,!self!initiated!projects!and!community!
involvement!projects!
4. Confident:!Exploration!and!expression,!leadership!and!awards/achievements!
!
SEED!Programme!The!SEED!programme!stands!for!Strategies!for!Effective!Engagement!and!Development!
of!pupils!in!the!primary!school.!Designed!to!meet!the!challenges!of!21st!century,!they!aim!
to!create!independent!and!confident!learners.!!
!
Values!in!Action!Programme!The!Values!in!Action!program!is!a!year!by!year!program!in!which!the!knowledge!skills!and!
values!for!the!students!must!be!explicit.!!
!
! P1! P2! P3! P4! P5! P6!
Student!
focus!
Class!
duties!and!
thank!you!
cards!
Buddy!
program!
Invitation!
cards!for!
school!
carnival!
STEP! iCare!1! iCare2!
project!
ASEAN!
(Overseas)!
and!PFC!
Kindergarten!
(local)!!
!
St!Hilda’s!provides!extensive!initiatives!and!coPcurricula!activities!for!students.!These!
‘stepping!stones’!create!opportunities!for!selfPdiscipline,!perseverance,!determination!
and!team!work.!Across!Singapore!coPcurricula!options!are!highly!prescribed!to,!
encouraging!students!to!follow!their!passion!and!further!develop!the!whole!child.!
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Radin!Mas!Primary!School!!
Radin!Mas,!like!many!schools!in!Singapore,!is!a!large!school!with!1010!students!across!55!
classes.!!True!to!Singapore’s!values!the!schools!vision!is!‘Work!Hard,!Play!Hard!and!Make!
a!Mark’.!The!school!has!a!clear!focus!on!shifting!the!educational!paradigm!from!teaching!
content!to!developing!a!habit!of!inquiry!learning.!They!acknowledge!that!we!are!in!a!
rapidly!changing!world!and!come!across!as!a!lead!school!in!preparing!and!equipping!
students!with!the!21st!century!skills!to!have!bright!and!positive!futures.!They!too!draw!
heavily!on!the!MOE!21st!C!Framework!to!plan!and!deliver!quality!education!programmes!
that!have!seen!them!recognized!year!after!year!as!leaders!in!ICT!and!21st!century!learning.!!
!
Principal!Mdm!Wong!Siew!Shan!and!Head!of!Department,!ICT!Tan!Xiao!Ting!spent!the!day!
showing!me!around!the!school!and!through!the!extensive!use!of!digital!technologies,!
rich!learning!environments!and!extensive!school!programmes!that!fostered!21st!century!
skills!and!life!long!learning.!!Radin!Mas!is!a!fully!WiFi!enabled!school,!every!teacher!is!
provided!with!a!notebook!and!full!access!to!a!range!of!teaching!and!learning!resources.!
Each!class!has!an!interactive!whiteboard!and!the!school!currently!has!three!computer!
labs!and!mobile!carts!consisting!of!tablet!notebooks!for!all!staff!and!class!access.!!
!
Radin!Mas!has!been!recognized!over!time!as!a!lead!school!in!ICT:!
• 2008:!S4!Cluster!Centre!of!Excellence!for!ICT!
• 2009!they!received!multiple!awards!for!animation!nationally!and!internationally,!
digital!media!award!and!Photoshop!Guru!Award!
• 2010!saw!more!awards!in!animation!and!multiple!awards!in!the!digital!media!
awards!
• 2011!resulted!in!13!awards!in!ICT!including!digital!media,!Asia!Pacific!Robotics!
Competition!and!more!in!animation!at!an!international!level!
• In!2012!Radin!Mas!was!selected!as!a!Microsoft!Worldwide!Pathfinder!school!in!the!
Global!Partners!in!Learning!Program.!!
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!
I!experienced!Radin!Mas!students!actively!using!their!iPhone!or!smart!phones!
throughout!the!school!day.!They!engaged!in!augmented!reality!lessons!using!their!
phones!to!connect!to!the!internet!and!further!their!learning.!As!early!as!2009!Radin!Mas!
was!in!the!news!for!their!learning!trail!on!the!iPhone.!Activities!that!use!the!student’s!
phones!include:!
• Virtual!keyboard!–!using!the!phone!for!taking!notes!during!lessons!
• Photo!taking!–!to!capture!the!learning!process,!excursions,!experiments!for!later!
use!
• Voice!recording!–!to!enable!students!to!record!notes!or!role!play!
• Video!recording!–!to!capture!live!action!!
!
As!part!of!their!‘hot!topic’!or!focus!with!Microsoft!Innovative!schools,!Radin!Mas!is!
prototyping!personalised!learning!through!MultiPDisciplinary!Project!Work!(referred!to!as!
an!acronym!in!true!Singapore!style,!MDPW).!Students!in!Primary!1!to!Primary!6!are!all!
involved.!This!year!Radin!Mas!has!made!the!shift!from!teacher!driven!to!student!centred!
learning!with!and!personalised!learning!programs!where!students!worked!with!staff!and!
community!members!to!choose!a!topic!of!interest!to!conduct!their!research!as!well!as!
considering!how!they!will!present!their!projects!and!outcomes.!
!
Radin!Mas!shared!with!me!their!clear!Keystage!1!and!Keystage!2!plan!to!take!the!students!
from!P1P6!through!developing!understandings!in!the!use!of!computer!skills!!
!
Primary!1P3!are!Keystage!1!where!students!are!taken!through!key!skill!areas!that!focus!on!!
• navigating!in!a!graphical!user!interface!
• using!application!software!and,!files!and!folders!
• using!digital!resources!from!a!variety!of!locations!
• creating!text!documents!
• editing!and!format!in!text!documents!
• creating!presentations!with!graphics!including!the!ability!to!edit!
!
Primary!4P6!are!in!Keystage!2!and!focus!on!achieving:!
• the!ability!to!work!across!multiple!applications,!while!managing!files!and!folders!
• Using!search!engines!
• Learning!with!text!where!they!can!edit,!use!graphics!or!text!together!
• Use!multimedia!presentation!tools!
• Understand!and!use!spread!sheets!
• Learning!with!communication!tools!
• Learning!with!data!transfer!and!collection!tools!
!
In!addition!to!these!skills!Keystage!2!has!a!strong!focus!on!!
• Ethical!and!legal!use!of!ICT!including!recognizing!inappropriate!content,!possible!
dangers!and!the!language!of!communication!in!or!netiquette!
• Understanding!intellectual!property,!plagiarism!and!copyright!
• Cyber!wellness!and!understanding!the!safe!and!responsible!use!of!the!internet,!
social!media,!gaming!addition,!not!sharing!passwords!and!accounts!
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taken!from!the!Radin!Mas!web!site!at:!!
http://www.radinmaspri.moe.edu.sg/cos/o.x?c=/wbn/pagetree&func=view&rid=1131985!!
!
While!my!visits!did!not!allow!me!to!experience!the!depth!of!each!schools!planning,!
policies!and!programmes!at!Radin!Mas!I!saw!clear!methods!for!ensuring!that!students!
receive!a!seamless!introduction!into!the!use!of!ICT!so!that!as!the!choices!for!their!
personalised!learning!come!into!play!the!children!have!had!the!learning!opportunities!or!
exposure!to!make!the!correct!choices!and!their!use!of!ICT!tools.!Baseline!ICT!is!tested!at!
Radin!Mas!and!the!school!always!excels!in!this!area,!students!by!the!end!of!Primary!4!
have!an!understanding!of!the!entire!Office!Suite.!As!a!whole!staff!teachers!at!Radin!Mas!
network!across!schools!and!discuss!challenges!of!ICT.!Radin!Mas!serves!as!a!mentor!
school!or!lead!school!in!their!cluster,!mentoring!other!schools!and!aim!to!increase!
collaboration!across!their!cluster!and!across!Singapore!schools.!!
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Some!of!the!other!aspects!of!the!learning!program!that!assist!in!meeting!the!changing!
needs!of!education!include:!
• Promoting!holistic!education!through!camps;!the!Primary!1!and!2!classes!have!a!
camp!in!school,!Primary!3!and!4!have!a!twoPday!out!of!school!camp!and!Primary!5!
and!6!go!to!Malaysia!for!a!camp.!!
• Teachers!collaborating!across!learning!areas!to!develop!collaborative!lessons,!a!
move!away!from!individualised!lesson!planning.!
• Capacity!building!of!staff!is!a!critical!factor!to!their!success!
• Parent!links!and!involvement!in!student!learning!
• Teacher!collaboration!through!the!use!of!Office!365!!
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The!Microsoft!21st!Century!Learning!Design!(21CLD)!Rubrics!is!used!at!Radin!Mas!to!help!
teachers!identify!and!understand!learning!activities!that!allow!students!to!develop!21st!
century!competencies.!The!rubrics!provides!teachers!with!a!tool!to!ensure!they!are!
enabling!the!21st!century!skills!in!their!learning!programs.!
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The!six!rubrics!of!21st!century!learning!each!represent!an!important!skill!for!students!to!
develop:!
• Collaboration!
• Knowledge!construction!
• Self!regulation!
• Real!world!problem!solving!and!innovation!
• The!use!of!ICT!for!learning!and!skilled!communication!
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For!More!information!about!Microsoft!Partners!in!Learning!21st)Learning)Design!or!to!
download!the!full!rubrics!go!to:!http://www.pilPnetwork.com/pd/21CLD/Overview!!
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Radin!Mas!have!extended!the!rubrics!by!collaborating!with!a!community!partner!to!
design!a!student!measurement!system!to!record!student!outcomes!in!21st!century!
competencies.!!!
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The!following!student!and!teacher!interviews!also!expand!on!the!Radin!Mas!experience:!
• RMPS!Student!Interview!P!http://youtu.be/gBZCXb5k5OA!!
• RMPS!Teacher!Interview!P!http://youtu.be/dOY6kZrsXAo!!
• RMPS!Learning!Activity!Design!Team!Lead!Interview!P!
http://youtu.be/df_eSN4xcec!!
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Radin!Mas!Primary!School!believes!that!with!globalization!comes!the!increasing!need!to!
cater!to!students’!holistic!education;!a!paradigm!shift!across!Singapore.!Their!authentic!
problem!based!learning!programmes!allow!for!whole!school!student!centred!learning!
that!shifts!the!focus!to!personalised!learning!and!the!development!of!21st!century!skills!
with!a!continuing!clear!focus!on!academic!excellence.!!
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For!more!information!about!Radin!Mas!go!to:!http://www.radinmaspri.moe.edu.sg/!!
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Hebrew!Proverb!
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St!Andrews!Junior!School!!
St!Andrews!Junior!School!was!a!brief!visit!as!schedules!changed!however!Principal!Mrs!
Wong!Bin!Eng!took!the!time!to!explain!some!of!the!highlights!of!St!Andrews!and!provide!
a!presentation!about!the!school.!St!Andrews!at!a!glance!was!an!impressive!multiPcampus!
education!village.!The!7!institutions!that!make!up!the!Village!are!St!Andrews!Junior!
School,!St!Andrews!Secondary!School,!St!Andrews!Junior!College,!Ascension!
Kindergarten,!Church!of!the!Ascension,!Chapel!of!Holy!Spirit!and!Chapel!of!the!
Resurrection.!!
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The!notion!of!four!schools!(all!boys!schools)!in!the!Village!allows!for!collaboration!across!
educational!levels.!It!is!the!first!of!its!kind!in!Singapore!with!all!four!education!levels!on!
the!one!campus.!A!$90!million!campus!provides!state!of!the!art!infrastructure.!Each!
school!has!a!fully!equipped!library,!ePlearning!facilitates,!specialised!learning!spaces,!a!1,!
000!capacity!cultural!centre,!a!design!and!technology!centre!for!excellence,!an!Olympic!
swimming!pool,!tennis!courts!and!a!400!metre!running!track.!!
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The!St!Andrews!Junior!School!has!1560!students!with!88!staff.!The!ICT!department!is!
made!up!of!8!staff!who!focus!on!1!to!1!computing!and!the!integration!of!ICT!skills!with!
the!Science,!English!and!Mathematics!departments.!!
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The!1:1!programme!allows!each!student!to!have!his!own!laptop!for!learning!purposes.!
The!focus!is!to!ensure!the!computers!are!used!to!enhance!the!core!learning!and!the!MOE!
baseline!data!standards!requirements!are!merged!into!the!schools!academic!
programmes.!In!addition!to!ICT!being!integrated!into!the!everyday!learning!programmes!
enhancing!and!expanding!curriculum!opportunities!students!are!provided!standPalone!
weekly!ICT!lessons.!At!the!end!of!each!course!the!boys!are!provided!with!a!mini!project!
which!allows!them!to!test!and!use!the!skills!learned!while!engaging!them!in!purposeful!
problem!solving!projects.!Classes!have!ICT!student!captains!trained!to!assist!in!being!
experts!in!different!areas!of!ICT!allowing!them!to!assist!in!supporting!their!fellow!
students!to!build!their!capacity!in!everyday!technological!questions.!!
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The!Science!department!integrates!technologies!and!the!environment!with!its!inquiry!
based!learning!approach!through!the!5Es!(engage,!explore,!explain,!elaborate!and!
evaluate).!!
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The!school’s!Community!Involvement!Programme!allows!students!to!provide!a!service!to!
the!community!while!developing!the!MOE!core!values.!Some!community!programmes!
have!included!P1!and!P2!students’!requirement!to!clock!up!3!hours!of!household!chores,!
P4!boys!were!involved!in!mentoring.!!In!keeping!with!Singapore!tradition!a!huge!amount!
of!extra!curricula!activities!are!provided!throughout!the!campus.!The!Arts,!Sports,!music!
and!areas!such!as!chess!are!provided!for!students.!!
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A!media!club!was!established!to!equip!the!boys!with!the!skills!to!capture!and!share!their!
learning!and!life!experiences.!Students!are!taught!digital!photography!and!art!
techniques,!3D!auto!desk!programmes!and!animation!which!they!can!use!when!involved!
in!project!work.!
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Human communities depend upon a diversity of talent not a singular conception of!ability.!
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Sir!Ken!Robinson!
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REPUBLIC!OF!KOREA!!
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South!Korean!Education!!!
Korea!has!an!amazing!history!of!rapid!growth!when!it!comes!to!educational!outcomes.!
From!a!country!torn!apart!by!war!60!years!ago!to!currently!being!internationally!
recognised!world!leaders!in!education!with!the!highest!OECD!graduation!rate,!,!such!is!
the!massive!obsession!for!education!in!Korea.!!Wikipedia!(2013)!has!the!National!literacy!
rate!at!22%!in!1945!but!staggeringly!recorded!at!87%!by!the!late!1980’s.!Broadband!
diffusion!in!South!Korea!is!ranked!2nd!in!the!world,!the!economy!11
th,!home!PC!use!3
rd!with!
the!average!hours!of!internet!use!set!at!13.7!hours!per!week.!In!2008!Korea!spent!7.6%!of!
its!gross!domestic!product!on!education,!the!second!highest!in!the!OECD.! ! Korean!students!are!at!the!top!of!the!international!OECD!PISA!scores.!A!PISA!survey!
which!attempted!to!show!the!use!of!ICT!among!15!year!olds!had!students!analyse!a!
number!of!digital!texts!and!navigate!across!pages.!Results!showed!Korea!as!the!top!
country!in!the!concept!of!‘digital!reading’!by!a!strong!margin.!OECD!statistics!indicate!
Korea,!with!a!population!of!50!million,!has,!as!of!2011,!97%!home!internet!access.! !
Among!all!of!the!educational!professionals!I!spoke!to!in!Korea!there!was!a!belief!
however!that!the!high!success!rates!of!education!comes!at!a!cost!to!the!health!and!well!
being!of!the!youth.!With!the!increasing!pressure!to!succeed!and!do!well!throughout!the!
entire!education!process!from!pre!kindergarten!courses!through!to!entering!the!finest!
universities!and!gaining!successful!jobs!with!the!most!successful!and!well!known!Korean!
companies!comes…(explain)here)some)of)the)impacts).!The!obsession!with!education!has!
also!been!linked!to!historic,!cultural!and!economic!factors!which!Tudor!(2012)!touches!on!
how!after!the!Korean!War!the!people!of!South!Korea!moved!from!poverty!on!an!equal!
footing,!with!education!becoming!the!advantage!to!a!brighter!future,!a!notion!the!entire!
country!embraced.!This!together!with!a!Confucian!legacy!of!civil!service!exams!the!
‘hugwons’!(private!after!school!academies)!began!to!thrive!resulting!in!the!meteoric!
economic!and!educational!rise!that!bought!South!Korea!out!of!poverty.! !
So!high!is!the!emphasis!on!exams!in!Korea!that!in!2012!public!transport!and!airline!
schedules!were!altered!around!exam!time!to!avoid!distractions.!This!pressure!to!succeed!
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in!order!to!make!it!to!the!universities!of!choice;!Seoul,!Korea!or!Yonsei!Universities,!
referred!to!as!‘SKY!University’!comes!from!the!top!and!trickles!down!to!pressure!on!
primary!students.!In!2009!Koreans!spent!$19!billion!(USD)!on!private!tutoring,!50%!
greater!than!the!cost!of!public!education.!This!makes!it!difficult!in!itself!to!analyse,!as!an!
outsider,!the!programs!or!initiatives!that!add!value!to!the!Korean!primary!and!secondary!
education!systems.!!It!was!clear!when!I!visited!schools!and!met!with!education!leaders!
that!after!school!tutoring!dominated!the!lives!of!students,!with!‘hugwon’!classes!in!
session!12!months!of!the!year.!Alex!Reichert!in!his!blog!article!in!the!Huttington!Post,!
Behind)the)Curtains)of)Korean)Education!has!some!interesting!reflections!of!his!year!as!a!
teacher!in!an!after!school!early!childhood!program!in!Korea!and!pressures!on!themselves!
as!educators!to!meet!the!expectations!of!parents.! ! To!shift!the!emphasis!away!from!education!and!create!a!more!balanced!life!for!the!youth!
governments!are!working!with!the!30!largest!‘chaebol’!(most!powerful!industries)!to!
promote!the!employment!of!nonPuniversity!high!school!graduates.!It!is!a!mindset!that!
will!take!Korea!some!time!to!feel!comfortable!in!letting!go!of!the!blinkered!focus!on!and!
value!of!education.!The!‘Korean!mums’!are!renowned!for!coercing!their!children!into!
‘cram!schools’!famous!through!Gangnam,!Seoul!and!beyond.!Perhaps!because!these!
highly!educated,!stay!home!mothers!have!only!the!focus!of!their!children’s!future!at!
heart.!Over!a!third!of!Korea’s!unemployed!have!been!to!university!(The!Economist,!2011)!
this!would!include!the!many!stay!at!home!mothers.! !!
To!shift!the!emphasis!away!from!education!and!create!a!balance!governments!are!
working!with!the!30!largest!‘chaebol’!(most!powerful!industries)!to!promote!the!
employment!of!nonPuniversity!high!school!graduates.!Interestingly,!over!a!third!of!
Korea’s!unemployed!have!been!to!university!(The!Economist,!2011).!Changing!a!blinkered!
mindset!which!values!education!above!anything!else!is!likely!to!take!Korea!some!time!to!
feel!comfortable!in!letting!go!of.!Many!Korean!mothers!are!renowned!for!coercing!their!
children!into!‘cram!schools’!famous!through!Gangnam,!Seoul!and!beyond.!Perhaps!
because!these!highly!educated,!stay!home!mothers!have!only!the!focus!of!their!children’s!
future!at!heart.!!
The!role!of!ICT!in!Korean!Education ! Korea,!in!2010,!had!approximately!11,!420!schools,!with!7.3!million!students!and!412,000!
teachers.!Today,!the!Korean!school!system!follows!a!6P3P3P4!pattern,!which!consists!of!
elementary!school!(1st!to!6th!grades),!middle!school!(7th!to!9th!grades),!high!school!
(10th!to!12th!grades)!and!university!(or!4,!3!or!2Pyear!colleges).!ICT!in!South!Korean!
schools!sees!most!schools!having!!
• A!!teacher!PC,!IWB/projector!and!internet!available!in!100%!of!classrooms!
• 1!PC!to!every!five!students!
• 20%!of!curriculum!taught!through!ICT!
In!1987!Korea!introduced!its!Computer!Reinforcement!Plan,!then!the!first!ICT!in!
Education!Master!Plan!in!1996.!!This!was!followed!by!guidelines!in!ICT!for!Primary!and!
Secondary!schools!in!2000.!!In!2001!the!Master!Plan!2!was!released!and!in!2006!Master!
Plan!3.!In!2005!Korea!launched!its!Cyber!Home!Learning!System!to!allow!students!
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pervasive!access!lessons!and!curriculum!from!home.!Springing!from!this!was!the!2007!
launch!of!the!Digital!Textbook!implementation!as!a!component!of!the!‘Smart!Education’!
project.!!This!is!a!project!which!is!now!being!tested!in!130!schools!around!South!Korea,!
with!a!plan!to!have!the!project!fully!implemented!into!all!Elementary!schools!by!2015.!In!
2011!$2.4!billion!was!invested!into!this!digital!tutoring!and!curriculum. ! Digital!textbooks!can!be!so!much!richer!than!traditional!textbooks!as!they!have!the!
advantage!of!direct!links!to!references,!multimedia!audio!and!video!clips,!animations!
and!virtual!reality.!They!also!provide!students!the!opportunity!to!highlight!text,!take!
notes,!reorganise!pages!and!create!their!own!hyperlinks.!Korea’s!globally!successful! !
It!is!agreed!that!digital!textbooks!create!greater!access!and!narrows!education!gaps!
from!poorer!households!and!smaller!cities!since!home!access!is!increased.!The!question!
though!is!whether!the!shift!to!digital!textbooks!creates!the!opportunities!for!21st!century!
learning,!collaboration,!critical!thinking,!creativity!and!communication!or!are!they!simply!
a!highly!effective!improved!method!of!delivering!a!consistently!updated!curriculum.!
While!there!is!some!concern!on!the!impact!of!such!long!term!screen!time!on!children(a!
concern!which!has!not!been!studied),!the!government!of!Korea!continues!to!cautiously!
focus!on!the!positives!believing!digital!textbooks!have!the!potential!to!provide!endless!
opportunities!for!South!Korea’s!students.! !
Home!vs!school!use!of!ICT!!
As!we!know!the!current!generation!are!bought!up!as!digital!natives!in!the!home!
environment!with!ICT!being!second!nature!to!them.!Trucano!(2011),!suggests!that!the!
intensive!and!most!powerful!use!of!ICT!by!students!in!terms!of!learning!outcomes,!is!
occurring!beyond!the!school!gates,!as!they!reach!for!their!mobiles,!head!off!to!go!
gaming!at!internet!cafes!or!attend!the!famous!‘Cram’!schools!that!provide!after!school!
tutoring!for!Korean!students.!With!the!fastest!internet!access!in!the!world,!the!OECD!
researchers!have!found!that!"After!accounting!for!students’!academic!abilities,!the!
frequency!of!computer!use!at!home,!particularly!computer!use!for!leisure,!is!positively!
associated!with!navigation!skills!and!digital!reading!performance,!while!the!frequency!of!
computer!use!at!school!is!not”.!These!findings!suggest!that!students!are!developing!
digital!reading!literacy!mainly!by!using!computers!at!home!to!pursue!their!interests!
without!direction!and!instruction!but!rather!simply!exploring!and!pursuing!their!own!
interests.!!Spiezia!in!a!2010!OECD!report!states!that!the!impact!of!improved!outcomes!
relating!to!internet!use!at!home!“questions!the!effectiveness!of!educational!policies!
aimed!at!promoting!computer!use!at!school!as!a!tool!for!learning.”!!This!however!is!an!
issue!globally,!not!for!Korea!alone.!In!fact!Korea’s!high!access!to!technology!and!the!
internet!has!established!the!environment!to!create!this!global!success!in!digital!literacy.!
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This!is!a!key!finding!and!a!message!every!country!needs!to!learn!from!as!we!reflect!on!
educational!change!and!reform.!Korean!education!policy!makers!are!already!looking!at!
how!they!can!move!this!learning!revolution!from!home!to!school,!since!the!reality!is!the!
use!of!ICT!in!schools!in!general!in!Korea!has!perhaps!not!been!the!key!driver!for!this!
success!but!rather!the!culture!of!the!whole!country!embracing!and!supplying!ICT!so!
effectively!to!all.!!
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!Shinam!Elementary!School!!!Shinam!was!a!Korean!government!state!school,!operating!on!base!funding!that!provides!
internet!access!to!all!classes,!IWB!and!computers!for!each!teacher!and!1!to!5!computer!
access!to!students.!Shinam!was!striving!for!excellence!in!their!academic!pursuits.!The!
visit!to!Shinam!was!not!during!school!time!and!we!spent!time!with!Apple!Distinguished!
Educator,!Jaedong!Kim,!who!is!an!Apple!guru!and!innovative!teacher!involved!in!the!
Microsoft!Partners!in!Learning!Innovative!Schools!International!forums!for!his!
accomplishments!in!using!ICT!in!education.!!
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After!school!English!Club!activities!were!in!progress!and!we!watched!students!engaged!
in!English!presentations!and!story!retells,!readying!themselves!for!competition.!!
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The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who can not read and write but those who can not learn, unlearn and relearn.
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!Seoul!Foreign!School!!
Seoul!Foreign!School!(SFS)!is!perhaps!the!biggest!and!most!well!renowned!of!the!
international!schools!in!Korea.!The!students!are!made!up!of!both!expat!students!and!
Korean!students.!Unlike!the!Korean!government!schools!SFS!has!English!as!the!language!
of!instruction!with!the!staff!are!primarily!from!international!destinations.!I!had!the!
opportunity!to!spend!three!days!at!SFS!and!visited!the!British!School,!The!Elementary!
School!and!the!Middle!and!High!School!campuses.!We!were!fortunate!to!have!the!
perfect!timing!to!view!the!cherry!blossoms!in!the!height!of!the!cherry!blossom!season!in!
the!neighbouring!university!grounds.!!!
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Seoul!Foreign!School!operates!an!Elementary!School,!British!School,!Middle!School!and!
High!School.!Students!are!a!combination!of!expatriates!and!Korean!nationals!providing!
an!exciting!mix!of!cultural!diversity.!The!school!has!a!vision!for!integrating!technology!
with!a!focus!on!21st!century!skills!for!a!constantly!changing!world.!Technology!was!
embedded!into!the!curriculum!with!access!to!technology!available!to!staff!and!students!
at!point!of!need.!Thanks!to!the!amazingly!friendly!school!leaders!and!teachers,!who!
showed!a!great!deal!of!time!and!interest!in!our!purpose!and!journey!and!allowed!us!to!
spend!time!in!their!classrooms!and!school!for!several!days.!Thanks!to!Mr!Paul!Sanderson,!
Educational!Technology!Coordinator!for!giving!up!three!days!to!host!our!visit!and!
introduce!me!to!each!of!the!Principals!and!staff.!!
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Spending!most!of!my!time!at!the!two!Primary!campuses!I!spent!time!in!different!
classrooms,!observing!the!teaching!and!learning!programmes!and!talking!with!staff!and!
teachers.!The!staff!is!kept!up!to!date!with!a!school!commitment!to!professional!learning!
and!maintaining!the!school’s!clear!vision!to!develop!students!in!21st!century!learning!skills!
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for!a!constantly!changing!world.!Technology!is!seen!as!being!integrated!into!learning!
experiences!and!not!as!a!stand!alone!subject.!SFS!is!curriculum!driven!and!they!focus!on!
preparing!students!who!are!self!monitoring,!self!modifying,!self!managing,!self!
evaluating!and!self!directing.!The!use!of!technology!is!personalised!to!meet!individual!
and!group!needs!with!students!having!access!to!banks!of!notebooks!and!ipads,!an!IWB!in!
each!class!and!Apple!TVs!for!mirroring!the!iPad.!
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A!Year!5!class!was!using!the!Visual!Ranking!Tool!(see!intel)!allowing!students!to!engage!
in!inquiry!learning.!This!tool!allows!the!user!to!make!lists!but!then!through!identifying!
and!refining!criteria!prioritise!and!order!the!lists,!thus!encouraging!students!to!justify!
their!decisions,!debate!differences!and!agree!on!outcomes.!!
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Some!students!were!involved!in!‘genius!hour’.!This!project!is!similar!to!integrated,!inquiry!
learning,!allowing!students!to!study!and!investigate!a!topic!of!interest!close!to!their!
heart.!Students!have!the!opportunity!to!use!any!technologies!available!to!them!and!
therefore!the!finished!product!may!be!a!film,!a!web!site,!PowerPoint!or!no!technology!at!
all!but!rather!artwork!or!dance!!!Students!created!their!own!web!sites!using!weebly.com.!!!
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Andrew’s!extensive!project!using!weebly.com,!pictured!above,!can!be!viewed!at!!
http://andrewleegeniushour.weebly.com/spinosaurusPvideos.html!!
!!
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!1^to^1!Laptops!in!SFS!The!Elementary,!British!and!Middle!schools!have!moved!to!Mac!1PtoP1!laptops.!Students!
all!use!either!a!MacBook!Pro!or!a!MacBook!Air!of!which!they!must!purchase!or!pay!a!user!
fee!of!approximately!$300!USD!a!year.!!Laptops!can!be!purchased!through!the!school!or!
through!an!external!provider.!In!2011P12!1PtoP1!was!launched!in!Year5/6!and!Year!6/7.!In!
2012P2013!Year!7!was!added.!In!2013P2014!Grade!8/9,!and!Grades!11!and!12!will!be!added.!
The!laptops!must!meet!required!specifications,!hence!the!encouragement!to!buy!
through!the!schools!bulk!ordering!procedures.!!
!
!
!
Online!safety!is!an!important!issue!considered!by!the!school,!with!teacher,!students!and!
parent!education!on!cyber!bullying,!social!networking,!staying!safe!and!making!healthy!
digital!choices.!!
!
All!printers!around!the!school,!and!these!are!extensive!given!the!multi!schools!on!the!one!
campus,!are!networked!wirelessly!allowing!all!students!to!print!to!cloud!printers!located!
in!the!extensive!vast!corridors.!!
!
Students!utilise!Edmodo,!haiku,!wikis!and!blogs,!Google!tools!and!blogger!as!well!as!the!
class!websites.!Students!are!fluent!in!Google!docs!from!the!early!years,!allowing!them!to!
share!documents!between!teachers!and!students!and!access!documents!at!home!or!
school.!!Students!regularly!used!Gmail!as!their!Email!accounts!and!were!regular!uses!of!
Gmail.!!
!
!
!
intel,!Visual!Ranking!Tool,!
http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/education/k12/thinkingPtools/visualP
ranking.html!!
!
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!
!
The!Ed!Tech!team!are!developing!podcasts!that!share!what!is!happening!in!technology!at!
SFS.!
!
!
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/sfsPedtechPpodcast/id463267724!!
!
Seoul!Foreign!School!has!a!Vision!for!technology!integration.!They!are!committed!to!
seamlessly!integrating!technology!into!the!curriculum!to!support!students!improve!their!
learning!and!develop!the!skills!for!a!21st!century!world.!They!strive!to!achieve!this!through!
a!multidisciplinary!approach!with!authentic!learning!experiences!exposing!the!students!
to!real!life!problem!solving.!They!use!the!ISTE!NETS!for!students!that!are!the!‘standards!
for!evaluating!the!skills!and!knowledge!students!need!to!learn!effectively!and!live!
productively!in!an!increasing!digital!world’.!!The!ISTE!NETS!talks!about!‘digital!age!skills’!
for!preparing!students!to!be!active!citizens!in!life!and!work!within!the!global!community.!
A!major!component!of!the!nets!are!the!profiles!for!technologically!literate!students!that!
then!link!to!21st!century!skills.!I!would!encourage!21
st!century!educators!to!further!explore!
this!site:!http://www.iste.org/standards/netsPforPstudents!!!
!
!
! !
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Korea!International!School!!
Korea!International!School!(KIS)!has!a!reputation!as!one!of!the!best!International!Schools!
in!Korea!offering!worldPclass!programs.!In!2007!it!became!one!of!the!first!to!provide!a!1!
to!1!laptop!programmes!in!Korea!and!currently!provides!Apple!laptops!to!every!student!
from!grade!6P12.!Their!state!of!the!art!technology!resonates!with!students!learning.!Each!
of!the!classes!I!visited!was!using!technology!in!a!truly!pervasive!manner!again!enhancing!
the!learning!at!every!opportunity.!!
!
The!smart!and!savvy!members!of!the!Ed!Tech!team!work!around!the!clock!to!provide!
professional!learning!for!staff!and!parents!and!mentor!in!classrooms!with!teachers.!
Students!come!to!their!‘fishbowl’!(the!hub!for!the!Ed!Tech!team)!with!individual!or!small!
groups!requests!or!queries,!the!focus!being!on!the!integration!of!ICT!into!the!curriculum!
rather!than!being!technicians.!Thanks!to!Ben!Summerton!from!the!Ed!Tech!team!who!
showed!us!around!throughout!the!day!and!introduced!me!to!Principals,!teachers!and!the!
School!Director!Mr!Stephen!Cathers.!
!
KIS!has!three!campuses!in!Korea,!a!PKP6!campus!in!Seoul,!a!1P9!campus!in!Jeju!and!the!
one!we!visited!in!Pangyo!campus!comprising!PKP12.!The!Pangyo!campus!was!built!and!
opened!in!2006!at!the!cost!of!$45!million!USD!creating!a!modern,!digitally!ready,!
educational!facility!that!prepared!students!for!university!through!English!as!the!language!
of!instruction.!Pangyo!campus!now!has!1205!students!on!site,!100%!of!graduates!attend!
university.!The!students!are!37%!USA!passport!holders!and!51%!Korean!citizens!with!the!
remaining!students!from!a!variety!of!countries.!The!faculty!is!made!up!of!173!full!time!
staff!from!31!countries,!the!majority!being!from!the!USA,!Canada!and!Korea.!
!
KIS!offers!a!comprehensive!curriculum!which!includes!web!design,!video!production!(on!
a!grand!and!highly!professional!scale),!theatre,!psychology,!computer!graphics,!creative!
writing!and!contemporary!global!issues.!They!have!a!commitment!to!preparing!students!
with!21st!century!skills!and!knowledge,!aiming!to!inspire!them!to!strive!for!excellence.!
!
Not!one!to!one!but!‘one!to!the!world’!was!the!message!we!received!at!Korea!
International,!a!school!with!savvy,!confidence,!drive,!passion!combined!with!the!right!mix!
of!staff!to!be!taking!education!into!the!21st!century!!It!was!a!day!of!‘takePaPways’,!
innovation,!ideas!and!diversity!where!learning!opportunities!are!driven!by!purpose!and!
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technologies!allowed!the!learning!to!go!beyond!the!classroom,!to!cater!to!a!
differentiated!curriculum!and!build!confidence!in!students!ability!to!be!life!long!learners.!!
!
Class!observations!Much!of!our!time!was!spent!in!classes!observing!students!and!looking!at!how!
technologies!were!being!used.!All!use!of!technology!was!pervasive!and!teachers!and!
students!used!the!tools!that!would!best!enhance!the!learning.!
!
!
Our!first!class!was!a!secondary!Chinese!language!lesson!using!flipped!classroom!
techniques!to!cater!to!the!variety!of!language!lessons.!Through!the!teachers!web!site!
students!were!able!to!access!videos!of!language!lessons!at!various!levels!of!learning,!
students!worked!independently!in!their!lessons!allowing!the!teacher!to!cater!to!small!
groups!while!others!worked!on!self!managed!tasks.!
!
!
!
A!year!3!class!were!meeting!young!immigrants!
(http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/immigration/young_immigrants/)!using!
Google!docs,!letter!writing!and!Gmail!on!their!MacBooks.!All!students!were!engaged!
and!on!task!and!had!clear!control!of!the!technologies.!!
!
!
A!year!2!class,!deeply!and!excitedly!engrossed!in!replicating!a!text!innovation!of!
Cinderella!to!Spiderella!(and!loving!the!car!prop!and!wall!to!wall!mirror!I!might!add)!
had!the!opportunity!to!view!their!rehearsal!filmed!on!the!iPad!at!home!with!the!
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family!to!reflect!on!their!dance!moves!and!share!their!learning!with!the!family.!!
!
!
We!attended!an!iMovie!class!with!high!school!students!who!were!learning!the!skills!
of!the!iMovie!app!for!a!project!they!were!working!on.!This!was!a!quick!mini!lesson!by!
a!member!of!the!Ed!Tech!team!before!continuing!on!with!the!learning!projects.!!
!
Use!of!iPads!throughout!the!school!was!extensive!and!while!many!schools!use!AppleTV!
or!lightning/VGA!or!30!pin/VGA!to!connect!the!iPad!to!the!computer!and!hence!projector,!
KIS!were!using!Reflector!which!loaded!onto!a!computer!allows!for!the!wireless!mirroring!
of!your!iPad,!iPhone!or!iPod!touch!to!any!PC!or!Mac.!Information!about!Reflector!can!be!
viewed!at!at!http://www.airsquirrels.com/reflector/!!
!
!
!
iTunes!U!at!Korea!International!Perhaps!the!focus!that!held!KIS!high!in!integrating!ICT!and!creating!a!21
st!century!
curriculum!was!in!the!iTunes!U!component!of!Korea!International.!iTunes!U!allows!
schools!to!create!courses!for!iPad.!It!is!designed!to!share!resources!and!provide!students!
with!rich,!immersive!learning!experiences.!!From!the!iTunes!U!app,!students!can!access!
video,!audio!classes,!take!notes!that!are!synchronised,!read!books,!view!assignments!and!
presentations,!and!receive!push!notifications!when!any!new!aspect!of!the!course!is!
created.!Building!iTunes!U!courses!is!possible!using!Course!Manager!and!KIS!is!one!of!the!
lead!schools!around!the!globe!in!developing!these!courses.!!
!
The!Ed!Tech!team!has!worked!with!specialist!staff!to!develop!iTunes!U!courses.!KIS!was!
the!first!international!school!to!introduce!1:1!learning!with!the!apple!MacBook.!This!is!
extending!to!grades!3!and!4!with!the!introduction!of!ipads!for!all!students!as!part!of!their!
‘one!to!world’!programme.!They!are!now!the!first!school!in!Korea!to!join!iTunes!U!in!2013.!!
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!
KIS!courses!on!iTunes!U!include:!
• AP!psychology!
• Model!MUN!(!student!designed!course)!
• Digital!journalism!
• iParenting!101!(designed!to!help!parents!with!cyber!safety!of!student!MacBooks)!
• Orientation!to!Middle!School!(about!students!rights!and!responsibilities)!
• Professional!Learning!in!the!Fish!Bowl!(content!from!the!weekly!IT!sessions!run!by!
the!Ed!Tech!team)!
!
!
For!more!about!iTunes!U!go!to!http://www.apple.com/au/education/itunesPu/!!
To!look!at!the!iTunes!U!courses!at!KIS!scan!in!their!bar!code.!!
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Effective technology is like oxygen – ubiquitous, necessary and invisible. !
Chris!Lehman! !
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!
!
Charmsaem!Elementary!School!!I!had!the!privilege!to!visit!Charmsaem!Elementary!School!with!Jemin!Chun,!Microsoft!
Partners!in!Learning,!Academic!Program!Manager!in!Seoul.!The!foundation!principal,!Mr!
HyePJu!Rhee!took!time!out!of!his!busy!schedule!to!show!us!the!extraordinary!
opportunities!that!lay!ahead!for!the!futurePoriented!school.!!
!
Charmsaem!Pre!School,!Charmsaem!Elementary!School!,!Hansol!Middle!School!and!
Hansol!High!Schools!Showcase!the!Smart!Schools!which!are!said!to!be!the!future!of!
Korea.!Total!construction!costs!were!$69!million!USD!to!date!to!build!this!state!of!the!art,!
electronic,!SMART!and!connected!environment.!Charmsaem!Elementary!and!
Kindergarten!have!been!designed!to!pioneer!SMART!education!in!Korea.!A!result!of!a!
MOU!between!the!Korean!Education!and!Research!Information!Service!(KERIS)!and!
Multifunctional!Construction!Agency!(MACCA)!to!establish!the!future!school!foundation!
and!plan!together!for!the!inaugural!schools!in!Sejong!City,!a!satellite!city!two!hours!drive!
from!Seoul,!Sejong!is!a!feat!of!engineering!and!building!ingenuity!in!itself.!!
!
!
!
The!school!was!a!digital!wonderland,!with!space,!colour!and!the!latest!in!designer!
furniture!and!learning!spaces!that!money!could!buy.!And!buy!it!did,!at!$69!million!USD!for!
the!future!schools!complex!it!is!questionable!as!whether!it!can!in!fact!be!(financially)!
replicated,!but!with!industry!partners!and!an!ever!growing!economy!I!would!never!doubt!
Korea’s!ability,!ambition!and!potential.!!The!school!had!smart!boards!in!every!room,!in!
fact!some!rooms!had!multiple!smart!boards.!Additionally!there!are!electric!podiums,!
projectors!coming!out!of!the!ceiling!at!the!touch!of!a!button!throughout!the!science!lab,!
smart!pads,!tablets!and!notebooks!and!wireless!throughout!the!whole!multi!campus!
school!complex.!!
!
While!traditional!in!style,!but!incredibly!modern,!classrooms!line!the!outside!of!the!
massive!corridors!the!hallways!are!10P20!metres!wide!with!an!array!of!learning!
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environments!that!lend!themselves!to!independent!learning,!theatre!style!sharing,!
collaborative!centres,!group!work,!small!presentations,!mini!assembly!areas!and!
secluded!retreats!among!the!many!styles!of!spaces!created.!These!central!learning!areas!
are!designed!to!promote!a!central!hub!that!supports!students!and!parents!alike;!a!
community!learning!space!breaking!down!the!divide!between!home!and!school.!!
!
Specialist!rooms!or!experimental!production!rooms!provide!environments!to!cater!to!
integrated!learning!of!art,!science,!literature!and!other!subjects.!
!
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!!!
Gyeseong!Elementary!School!!!
Gyeseong!Elementary!School!is!an!independent!catholic!elementary!school!in!Seoul,!
Korea.!In!2006!the!school!moved!to!a!new!high!tech!campus!that!proudly!hosted!and!
trialled!the!Samsung!TSP3!Series!interactive!whiteboard!and!Samsung!Galaxy!10.1!tablets!
with!an!aim!to!provide!a!dynamic!and!enhanced!learning!interaction!between!teachers!
and!students.!!
!
The!goal!is!to!create!an!interactive!and!collaborative!learning!environment.!To!better!
understand!the!Smart!School!initiative!view!the!Samsung!Smart!School!brochure.!The!
potential!use!is!quite!limitless!in!what!could!be!achieved!within!the!context!of!an!
interactive!and!collaborative!environment.!The!tablets!allow!for!screen!sharing!where!
content!can!be!shared!between!the!students!and!teacher!devices.!Teachers!are!able!to!
see!all!screens!of!the!students!in!thumbnail!and!displayed!to!the!larger!screen!or!just!to!
monitor!students’!progress!to!allow!for!individual!or!whole!class!intervention!or!support.!
The!teacher!can!assign!a!presenter!who!can!then!be!authorized!to!write!on!the!large!
screen.!!
!
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!
Page!4!of!the!Samsung)Smart)School!
Brochure! !Teachers!can!see!the!students!tablets!in!thumbnail!
and!project!to!their!main!screen!or!PC!monitor!!
!
!
There!is!no!doubt!that!such!technology!could!‘increase!student!participation,!attention!
span!and!engagement!with!the!teacher’!but!in!fact!during!the!time!I!watched!the!lessons!
students!worked!independently!and!quietly!on!their!tasks.!The!technology!may!provide!
for!ongoing!learning!beyond!the!classroom!if!the!tablets!are!taken!home!but!on!this!day!
the!children!placed!the!tablets!in!the!charging!cabinet!at!the!end!of!the!day.!!
!
The!possibilities!for!the!Samsung!Smart!School!‘total!learning!solution’!are!endless!and!I!
can’t!imagine!any!class!teacher!who!would!not!yearn!for!such!technology!on!a!1PtoP1!
basis,!rich!tools!to!enhance!the!learning!program.!I!feel!however,!that!we!need!to!be!
careful!about!how!we!embrace!these!technologies!so!that!they!do!indeed!become!tools!
for!learning!and!not!the!new!electronic!black!line!masters.!We!need!to!harness!the!
potential!here!and!use!these!tools!for!web!2.0!technologies!that!promote!student!
collaboration,!links!beyond!the!classroom!into!virtual!learning!environments,!
communication!with!others!and!developing!global!connections.!Involving!students!in!real!
life!learning!experiences!for!the!21st!century.!
!
!
!
Samsung!Smart!Schools!(n.d.).!Retrieved!from!
http://www.samsung.com/global/business/businessPimages/resource/caseP
study/2013/02/Samsung_Smart_School_BrochureP0.pdf!!
!
Samsung.!(2013).!The)next)generation)classroom:)Smart,)interactive)and)connected)learning)
environments,!Retrieved!from!
http://www.samsung.com/tr/businessPimages/resource/caseP
study/2013/01/EBT15_1210_Samsung_Smart_School_WPP0.pdf!!
!!
!
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_South_Korea!!
!
Yoon,!Jeong!Shick!and!Hong,!Seong!Soo!(n.d.).!A)study)on)the)direction)of)Education!
Retrieved!from!http://www.adobe.com/au/solutions/whitePpapers/educationPk12.html!!
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CONCLUSIONS!AND!RECOMMENDATIONS!!
!
!Conclusions!!
The!need!to!equip!students!with!the!skills!of!collaboration,!critical!thinking,!creativity,!
communication!and!global!awareness!is!well!defined!throughout!Asia.!Not!only!are!the!
schools!that!I!visited!clear!in!their!vision!for!change!and!actively!involved!in!changing!
practices!but!their!systems!are!at!the!forefront!of!this!change.!In!many!cases!I!witnessed!
their!active!investment!of!human,!physical!and!financial!resources!to!develop!trials!and!
models!to!create!the!schools!of!the!future.!Singapore!and!South!Korea!are!investing!
heavily!in!their!future!schools!and!consciously!supporting!the!need!for!change.!While!
making!these!investments,!they!remain!keenly!aware!however!of!the!need!to!maintain!
the!educational!excellence!that!they!are!world!renowned!for.! ! In!Singapore,!Malaysia!and!South!Korea!schools!foster!the!importance!of!global!
collaboration.!Here!technology!is!as!a!powerful!enabler!of!ongoing!collaboration.!Sister!
school!collaboration!and!visits!across!Asia!are!common.!While!many!Australian!schools!
may!not!be!able!to!afford!overseas!excursions!with!their!students!we!can!certainly!
embed!sister!school!relationships!and!global!collaboration!through!ICT!to!ensure!our!
students!are!engaged!in!understanding!the!global!community!and!the!place!and!
importance!of!their!Asian!neighbours.!This!type!of!collaboration!is!a!critical!enabler!of!21st!
century!learning.!Certainly,!with!the!technologies!now!available!to!us,!there!should!be!no!
blockers!in!creating!these!types!of!opportunities!for!our!students.! ! In!Australia!the!Melbourne!Declaration!(2009),!clearly!outlines!the!following!needs:
Complex)environmental,)social)and)economic)pressures)such)as)climate)change)that)
extend)beyond)national)borders)pose)unprecedented)challenges,)requiring)countries)to)
work)together)in)new)ways.)To)meet)these)challenges,)Australians)must)be)able)to)
engage)with)scientific)concepts)and)principles,)and)approach)problemGsolving)in)new)
and)creative)ways.! ! India,)China)and)other)Asian)nations)are)growing)and)their)influence)on)the)world)is)
increasing.)Australians)need)to)become)‘Asia)literate’,)engaging)and)building)strong)
relationships)with)Asia.) ! Rapid)and)continuing)advances)in)information)and)communication)technologies)(ICT))
are)changing)the)ways)people)share,)use,)develop)and)process)information)and)
technology.)In)this)digital)age,)young)people)need)to)be)highly)skilled)in)the)use)of)ICT.)
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While)schools)already)employ)these)technologies)in)learning,)there)is)a)need)to)increase)
their)effectiveness)significantly)over)the)next)decade.) ! I!quote!and!promote!these!views!from!the!Melbourne!Declaration!at!every!
opportunity.!!These!three!notions!of!extending!beyond!national!borders,!in!engaging!in!
global!problem!solving,!engaging!with!Asia!and!increasing!the!effectiveness!of!ICT!in!our!
schools!is!critical.!Our!national!reports!and!new!Australian!Curriculum!promote!this!but!
do!national!and!state!education!systems!resourcing,!funding!and!commitments!promote!
and!support!schools!to!effectively!promote!and!implement!these!critical!priorities?!! ! Despite!this!clear!and!positive!clarity!for!Australian!schools!future!directions,!school!
systems!in!Australia,!(especially!public!school!systems)!continue!to!miss!important!
opportunities!by:! !
• Failing!to!change!school!templates!for!new!schools!to!create!open!learning!
environments!more!conducive!to!collaborative!and!personalised!learning!
• Failing!to!provide!the!financial!and!human!resources!necessary!to!adequately!
equip!schools!with!the!technological!infrastructure!and!capacity!to!create!learning!
environments!were!technology!is!pervasive!!
• Failing!to!create!policies!that!promote!the!compulsory!learning!of!Asian!languages!
into!our!classrooms!
• Continuing!to!focus!on!teaching!to!the!test;!valuing!the!results!of!single!tests!
above!all!other!school!outcomes!that!fail!to!be!well!assessed!due!to!the!heavy!
reliance!and!emphasis!on!the!National!Assessment!Program.!!
• Crowding!the!curriculum!to!the!point!where!school!leaders!and!teachers!feel!
overwhelmed!with!the!expectations!placed!upon!them.!
!
An!interesting!factor!that!came!from!my!visits!to!schools!was!the!notion!of!the!school!
not!being!reliant!on!the!physical!campus!to!deliver!their!educational!objectives.!
Discussed!at!several!schools!in!Singapore!and!Korea!(without!me!bringing!up!the!topic)!
was!the!ability!for!the!school,!due!to!their!digital!media!footprint!and!capacities,!to!
continue!learning!should!evacuations,!pandemics,!wars!or!other!catastrophic!events,!
which!may!make!physical!campuses!inaccessible,!occur.!This!reinforces!the!importance!of!
cloud!storage!and!transferability!of!the!curriculum,!with!digital!textbooks!and!online!
learning!playing!a!key!role!in!transferring!education!to!anywhere,!anytime!platforms.!
!
Singapore!and!Korea!had!a!variety!of!trials!in!place,!promoting!the!use!of!1PtoP1!tablets,!
industry!partnerships,!new!and!impressive!state!of!the!art!facilitates!that!promote!
collaborative!learning,!massive!funding!injections!that!back!up!their!Master!Plans!and!
whole!system!focus!on!the!value!of!ICT!and!21st!century!learning.!They!are!clearly!
established!to!forge!ahead!as!educational!leaders!in!the!21st!century.!While!there!may!be!
some!concerns!and!evidence!that!not!all!use!of!ICT!is!truly!engaging!students!Malaysia,!
Singapore!and!South!Korea!are!quick!to!self!evaluate,!reflect!and!change!where!
necessary!and!must!be!commended!for!their!massive!commitment!to!bring!about!
widespread!educational!reform.!!They!continue!to!take!into!consideration!the!need!to!
use!ICT!universally!as!the!enabler!and!tool,!not!the!learning!outcome.!!
!
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Recommendations!!
Greater!emphasis!on!21st!century!learning!!The!most!important!shift!required!in!Australia!is!the!unequivocal!need!to!promote!21
st!
century!learning.!The!premises!underpinning!the!need!for!21st!century!learning!are!clearly!
articulated!in!the!Melbourne!Declaration!but!I!am!not!confident!the!fundamental!and!
widespread!reform!required!to!achieve!this!is!understood,!promoted!or!endorsed!as!
critical!by!major!education!systems!and!sectors.!To!ensure!we!have!a!clear!focus!on!21st!
century!learning!we!need:!
!
• Policy!makers!to!acknowledge!the!need!to!assess!21st!century!skills!placing!equal!
importance!on!these!skills!as!it!does!on!academic!achievement!through!the!
National!Assessment!Plan!(personally!I!believe!a!shift!away!from!the!emphasis!on!
National!Assessment!as!the!key!tool!for!judging!and!funding!schools!is!well!over!
due).!!
• For!educational!leaders!to!be!equipped!with!the!skills!and!understandings!of!21st!
century!learning!and!then!actively!lead!this!reform!within!their!schools.!!
• For!policy!makers,!governments,!systems!to!work!to!develop!and!implement!
plans!for!fostering!and!furthering!community!and!industry!partnerships!with!
schools,!forging!the!value!of!schooling!across!the!public!and!private!sectors.!!
!Anywhere,!Anytime!schooling!As!part!of!embracing!and!promoting!21
st!century!learning!is!the!need!for!students!to!
effortlessly!continue!to!work!on,!share!and!engage!in!learning!both!at!school!and!at!
home.!We!must!begin!to!lessen!the!breech!between!home!and!school!and!help!make!the!
technology!ubiquitous!to!the!learning.!
!
There!appears!to!be!a!stronger!correlation!between!home!use!of!computers!and!
improved!student!outcomes!than!there!is!of!school!use!of!computers!and!improved!
student!outcomes.!This!brings!about!the!need!to!question!ICT!use!in!schools.!We!need!to!
be!sure!we!are!effectively!enabling!students!to!use!ICT!as!the!powerful!enabler!it!has!the!
capacity!to!be.!I!feel!that!Australian!education!systems!are!hesitant!to!take!the!plunge!
into!greater!freedom!of!use!of!bring!your!own!device,!use!of!social!media!platforms,!
‘gamification’!in!schools,!more!personalised!learning!due!to!a!number!of!genuine!
concerns,!but!addressing!these!concerns!is!crucial!for!us!to!move!forward!in!embracing!
the!most!powerful!value!of!ICT!in!the!learning!process. !
Greater!flexibility!in!School!Design!School!design!is!critical!to!enabling!greater!opportunities!for!teachers!to!work!
collaboratively,!for!students!to!have!more!open!planned!and!less!traditional!classroom!
structures,!that!encourage!students!to!be!involved!in!personalised!learning.!We!must!
have!greater!flexibility!in!school!designs!such!as!that!which!is!currently!being!embraced!
in!some!states!in!Australia!(like!Victoria).!
!
Greater!support!for!ICT!infrastructure!• Schools!need!to!be!resourced!for!ICT!personnel!both!to!provide!technical!support!
and!curriculum!leadership,!different!people!with!different!skill!sets!and!roles.!
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• A!need!for!schools!to!be!financially!resourced!to!be!competitive!in!the!use!of!ICT,!
raising!the!standard!of!ICT!access,!tools!and!internet!access!to!all!schools.!!
• To!build!on!the!ACARA,!Australian!Curriculum,!ICT!General!Capabilities!to!provide!
more!guidance!in!assisting!students!to!develop!their!ICT!capabilities!through!a!
more!detailed!assessment!rubrics!or!profile!for!ICT!that!provides!more!defined!
expectations!of!students!and!assists!and!guide!teachers!who!may!still!be!require!
extra!support!to!develop!and!deliver!digital!learning!experiences.!!
!
A!focus!on!Asian!Literacy!• The!Australian!government!and!the!WA!Department!of!Education!provide!
excellent!resources!for!the!promotion!of!Asian!Literacy!in!schools!yet!many!
schools!in!my!experience!fail!to!promote!Asian!literacy!or!struggle!to!find!the!
personnel!to!teach!Asian!languages.!
• We!need!greater!emphasis!on!global!collaboration!and!exchanges!to!better!
engage!our!students!to!understand!our!neighbours!and!become!effective!global!
citizens.!
!
We!have!much!to!learn!from!Asia!but!at!the!same!time!have!much!to!offer.!I!have!seen!
many!outstanding!schools!in!Australia,!particularly!the!Microsoft!Partners!in!Learning!
schools!and!others!who!work!in!isolation,!doing!what!they!know!is!right!as!they!continue!
to!pave!the!way!in!21st!century!learning.!We!need!to!take!heed!from!best!practice!in!
Australia,!Asia!and!beyond!to!promote!these!successes!and!build!systems!of!educational!
reform.!
Our!goal!must!be!to!bridge!the!divide!between!what!students!know!and!do!at!school!and!
what!they!know!and!do!in!real!life.!!By!effectively!using!21st!century!tools!we!can!create!a!
vibrant!new!curriculum!that!transcends!the!traditional!confines!of!a!classroom.!Increased!
global!collaboration!provides!the!catalysts!to!lead!our!students!towards!becoming!
responsible!global!citizens,!willing!to!share!their!voices!with!others!to!become!the!
architects!and!problem!solvers!for!their!unknown!futures.!
!
To!build!a!culture!for!21C!learning!we!need!to!instill!life!long!learning!values,!growing!the!
culture!of!our!schools,!engaging!students,!staff!and!community!to!recognise!we!exist!in!a!
world!of!constant!change!preparing!to!meet!future!challenges!that!do!not!yet!exist.!To!
ensure!student!success!in!a!world!yet!to!be!imagined,!it!is!vital!staff!feel!not!only!
supported!and!comfortable!in!new!technologies,!but!eager!to!be!part!of!the!journey.!
Foremost!in!our!minds!is!using!technology!not!just!to!change!the!mechanics!of!what!we!
do!but!to!transform!the!ways!we!think!about!teaching!and!learning.!!
!
In times of change it is the learners that will inherit the earth while the learned will find themselves beautifully equipped for a world that no longer exists.
!
Eric!Hoffer!
