With its impressive reputation as the Number 1 e-learning
solutions provider in the Philippines, Marshall Cavendish Online (MC Online)
recently organised a workshop and two school visits for a group of eminent
Filipino school leaders that allowed them to have an in-depth view of the
ICT-integrated curriculum adopted by schools in Singapore.
From 16th to 17th May 2013, 33 delegates,
consisting of superintendents, presidents, executive directors, and National
Board Members from 31 schools in the Philippines were able to experience how MC
Online’s premier digital innovations enhance the ICT practices used in schools,
and enrich learning for students. With over 150 schools in the Philippines
already actively integrating MC Online’s learning solutions with their
curriculum, the school leaders were eager to learn the reason behind the prevalence
of our solutions in their country.
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| The delegates were given a warm welcome
by Dr Tay Hui Yong, Vice Principal of NYGH (second from right) and Mr Paul Tan
Tah Wah, NYGH’s HOD of ICT (extreme right) during their first school visit to
NYGH |
The participants started their learning journey with a visit
to Nanyang Girls’ High School (NYGH), where they were given an overview of the
elite school’s ICT practices. Mr Paul Tan Tah Wah, NYGH’s HOD of ICT
illustrated the school’s approach to an extended classroom that went beyond the
four walls, and the flexibility with which ICT allowed teachers to work in. He also
elaborated on the school’s 1-1 computing programme in which students are each
given an iPad to learn with, and showed video examples of the students using
the devices. As the only school in Singapore using iPads to facilitate 21st
century learning, the school visit to NYGH was imperative in providing the
delegates with useful tips and knowledge on how to implement similar programmes
in their schools.
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Mr Paul Tan explained his school’s
concept of 21st century learning to the delegates and elaborated
with video-recorded lessons of students learning using ICT
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A tour of the school enabled the delegates with the
knowledge of the facilities needed to support a 21st century learning
environment and was undoubtedly a great learning opportunity for them.
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Delegates were given a tour of the
school and were able to experience NYGH’s 21st century learning
environment firsthand
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The next day, the participants visited MC Online’s
headquarters at Times Centre for a workshop highlighting the technology-enabled
learning framework in Singapore schools, and the role MC Online plays in
providing the support and infrastructure to help schools establish this
framework. The informative learning session, led by Mr Jasmond Ng, MC Online’s
Assistant General Manager of Sales & Marketing, allowed the delegates to
see why MC Online’s solutions have been such a remarkable success in the
Philippines.
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Participants paid close attention during
the workshop, and gained many valuable insights and ideas on integrating ICT
into curriculum
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The participants were then brought to West View Primary
School (WVPS) where Mdm Rashidah Abdul Rasip, Principal of WVPS welcomed the
delegates and gave them an overview of the school. Mdm Ngiam Wee Heng, WVPS’
HOD of ICT followed with an outline of the school’s journey and outcome of innovating
with ICT. Two precocious students even gave the delegates a pleasant surprise
by showing them an award-winning invention they had designed themselves.
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Mdm Rashidah
Abdul Rasip, Principal of WVPS, gave the delegates a rousing welcome to WVPS
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WVPS’ HOD of ICT, Mdm Ngiam highlighted some
of the results of the school’s ICT practices before having 2 students give a
short presentation to the delegates
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The participants were then brought around the school where
they got to experience the school’s ICT practices for themselves during science
and English lessons. Students in the
science class were each given tablets and assigned tasks to complete both
individually and in small groups. The delegates were impressed by how engaged
the primary school students were when working on the tablets, and were
especially taken with how both collaborative and independent learning could be
carried out when using the mobile devices.
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A science
lesson using tablets enabled students to engage both in individual assignments,
and collaborative work with their peers
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The delegates also participated in an English lesson
conducted in a computer lab where they observed students using computers to
complete assignments on MC Online’s portal after watching online videos and
animations. The students’ attentiveness during the lesson amazed the delegates
considerably, and inspired many of them to consider carrying out similar
implementations in their own schools.
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Delegates
observed an English lesson held in a computer lab in
which students used web tools and media to complete assignments on MC Online’s
portal
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The 2-day session was an extremely fruitful one for the
delegates. “This was a really good session!” said one of the delegates when
commenting on the valuable insights he had gained from the workshop and the
school visits. His sentiment was echoed by many of the other participants who joined
him in giving the session much positive feedback.
MC Online wishes to thank Nanyang Girls’ High School and
West View Primary School for their gracious hospitality in hosting the two
school visits.
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Participants were extremely happy with the many useful insights they
gained from the workshop and school visits
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