WrITers, IgnITe! - An Essay Writing Competition Organised by Marshall Cavendish Online and Yuhua Primary School

Marshall Cavendish Online and Yuhua Primary School is organising “WrITers, IgnITe!” in the second year running.

“WrITers, IgnITe!” is a National Primary School Writing Competition using the Writing Buddy programme that aims to interest pupils in writing through the use of ICT. The competition will provide pupils with skills and strategies to aid them in their writing using the Writing Buddy programme before creating a piece for submission.

The top 3 entries stand to win trophies, attractive prizes, and have their entries published online at www.mconline.sg. Do note that places are limited to the first 80 registered schools.

Details of WrITers, IgnITe! 2010 can be found here.
Click here to find out more about Marshall Cavendish Online's Writing Buddy

For details on how to register, please contact:
Mr Poei Chin Jau, Educational Technology Manager of MC Online - cjpoei@mconline.sg or
Mrs Adeline Ng, HOD ICT of Yuhua Primary School - tan_wee_kiaw_adeline@moe.edu.sg


Photos from WrITers, IgnITe! 2010

Oman Delegation Visits Marshall Cavendish

The Oman delegation which consists of members from the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Higher Education and Ministry of Foreign Affairs visited Times Centre on 19 January 2011, to understand how Marshall Cavendish Education has contributed to the success of the education system in Singapore.

Through a wide spectrum of products and services including textbooks, supplementary materials, training services and online publishing, Marshall Cavendish offers a holistic solution to all our users.

Silver Award for Cheers! YOG National Junior Reporter Competition

Name/Class: Wang An, Aloysius (5L), Tan Xiao Tong (5I), Tan Kien Ning Nicholas (5I), Gwyneth Chua (5I), Nicholas Phung-Zhang (5K)

School: Henry Park Primary

Competition: Cheers! YOG National Junior Reporter Competition
Category: Picture News (Primary Category)
Award: Silver

Trainer Profile

Mr. Don Lim (donlim@mconline.sg) Senior Infocomm Club Trainer

- Specializes in 2D Animation, Live Broadcasting & Video Production

“I consider myself to be a very self-motivated person who thrives in working with people from many different backgrounds and origins. My strong IT background and more than 9 years teaching experience in IT environment and training have given me the experience of evaluating, well planning and solving complex problems. For the past few years, I have been involved in various education projects, such as National Education ( NE ) - Educational video for Adopt-a-Park , Think Quest Competition, Learning Expedition ( LE ) , Parent Education Workshop ( In collaboration with PAGi Singapore ) , MOE project ( Digital Field Trip to the Mangroves ) , National IT Literacy Programme ( NITLP ), The Magic Bus , Animation Works Youth Training Camp ( Organized by Central Narcotic Bureau S’pore ) ,N4 Cluster Learning Festival, North Zone ICT Symposium 2005, North Zone online ICT symposium 2007, 120 years Founders day of Fairfield Methodist Secondary School – Induction video , 2008 In-Place Protection video , E-News Live Broadcast , Singapore Digital Media Award (SDMA), Times Publishing In-house Science E-experiments video and etc.”

View other award-winning student works - http://bit.ly/avC2yQ
View our suite of specialized training services - http://bit.ly/specialtrg

For further details about our ICT training and consultancy services including customised ICT curriculum design, email us at learningedge@mconline.sg.

Bouquets - School Compliments (Nov 2010)

As schools close at the end of Term 4, another two of our dedicated staff receive glowing tributes to their stellar performances for 2010.

A BIG congratulations to our team for making 2010 a success for their respective schools!

Young Authors Write Stories to Instill Confidence in Fellow Children in Budding Writers Project 2010

Winning stories from Marshall Cavendish’s creative writing contest emphasise the importance of having good self-esteem
 

Marshall Cavendish, a member of Times Publishing Limited, today held the Budding Writers Project 2010 prize presentation ceremony and book launch at Chamber at The Arts House. Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon, Minister of State, Ministry of Community Development, Youth & Sports, graced the event as its Guest of Honour to celebrate the winners of the creative writing competition for youths. The winning entries this year share a common theme – everyone is unique, and that can be a good thing.

In its eleventh year running, the Budding Writers Project aims to develop the creative talents of students and provide them with the opportunity to get their work published and sold in bookstores, in the hope of inspiring other young writers and artists to do likewise. Through this, the Budding Writers Project also helps to inculcate the love of the English language to the young in Singapore.

2010 Winning Entries Embody the Essence of Budding Writers Project

Both of the Budding Writers Project 2010 winning entries address the topic of recognising self-worth, which is especially pertinent to children who are growing up. The stories generate an awareness of issues such as peer pressure and low self-esteem among children, and encourage them not to be brought down by such problems. In this sense, the winning entries truly demonstrate the spirit of Budding Writers Project – stories by children for children.

Lee Fei Chen, Deputy Head of Publishing at Marshall Cavendish Publishing Group, said, “Every year, we see more depth and heart in the entries submitted. This year, the writers have written about pertinent issues that are close to home and are very real in their lives. This competition is not only about discovering writing talents, it is also about recognising young passionate writers who can express their thoughts and experiences impeccably using the English language. The winners have demonstrated creativity and maturity, and with each word and picture, they have represented the feelings, opinions and issues of their generation.

Over the years, Marshall Cavendish has proudly published and distributed books by the winners of the Budding Writers Project competition. We are happy to be part of the authorship journey of past winners who have gone on to shine on the international stage.”

10 percent of the proceeds from the sales of the winning books will be donated to I Love Children, a voluntary welfare organisation that aims to promote a society where children are loved and mainstreamed. The prefaces of both books have been endorsed by Joni Ong, President of I Love Children.

From Budding Writers to Published Authors

The winners attended a four-day editorial attachment in late October to better comprehend the full authorship process. The attachment involved a session on pre-publication – editing, illustration and design; a field trip to Times Printers to get a first glimpse of the winning books in print; a lesson by Marshall Cavendish Online on digitising books into e-books and iPhone apps; a session in the recording studio to record voiceovers for the books; training on how to sell and market a book; and a storytelling workshop.

The winning entries of Budding Writers Project 2010 are now available in print at all leading bookstores, at $8.90 before GST. The iPhone apps will be available in the Books category on the Apple App Store early 2011, while the e-books can be accessed with a password obtained from the Teacher’s Notes via the Marshall Cavendish Teacher’s Portal from 10 December 2010 onwards. The Teacher’s Portal is currently accessible to schools using textbooks published by Marshall Cavendish.

To complete the authorship experience, the winners will also receive royalties from the sales of their books.

To learn more about Budding Writers Project, please visit

www.marshallcavendish.com/education/buddingwriters 

and

www.facebook.com/pages/Budding-Writers-Project/89042789380

Visitors from Philippines

More than 40 visitors from 20 different institution from Philippines visited Marshall Cavendish Online for an exchange of ideas and initiatives on technology for education during November 2010.

During the delegates' stay in Singapore, they also visited Rivervale Primary School to learn more about the educational system in Singapore and how Marshall Cavendish Online and Rivervale Primary School works together to provide a sound technology and and digital curriculum platform to facilitates teachers' and students' teaching and learning.

The school visit ended off with a sharing session with the senior teaching staff on how both countries' educators can learn from each other to nurture the future generations.

2010 MOE LMS Tender Showcase

The Ministry of Education (MOE) Learning Management System Tender Showcase was held at the Teacher's Network on 26th October, 28th October and 29th October 2010.

The three days saw HODs, teachers and staff representatives learning more about MC Online's portal with its new features and content.

For teachers who were unable to attend, do email us to get your trial accounts today!

For more details, contact the Marshall Cavendish Online team at (65) 6285 8616. Alternatively, you can drop us an email at sales@mconline.sg

Branding for Education Workshop





On 17th September 2010, Principals, Vice- Principals and HODs were invited to attend the "Branding for Education" Workshop at The Legends at Fort Canning Park. The participants were led into an hour's workshop by Mr. Jonathan Bonsey, the Creative and Managing Director of Bonsey Design.

Marshall Cavendish Online, One of 7 Firms Involved in Singapore-Israel Tech R&D Projects

Marshall Cavendish Online, the premier e-learning service provider in Singapore, is working on the project with an Israeli firm to develop a software to teach the English Language. An automated text correction and learning assistance program have been implemented as features of this program, and they allow the child to experience learning with an element of fun and in the true spirit of seeking knowledge. This further goes on to ensure that learners who are not well-versed with the language are able to comprehend the program and at the same time their proficiency levels in areas of spelling and grammar are increased.

This venture has been possible with the Singapore-Israel Industrial R&D Foundation, who has handed out $5 million to local technology start-ups to conduct R&D with Israeli companies. A collaboration between Singapore's Economic Development Board and Israel's Office of the Chief Scientist, it is done to promote, facilitate and support joint ventures between the two nations.

Stay tuned for more updates in the near future!

1st Prize in Photoshop Competition!

Name: Michelle Hee Kyung Ko
Class: Primary 4M
School: Radin Mas Primary

Award: 1st prize
Competition: 2nd Young Photoshop Guru Award 2010

Category: Primary Schools
Organised By: Adam's Apple and Victoria School

Michelle Heekyung Ko of 4M has won the 1st prize out of the 200 over entries submitted. Her work together with other participants' works will be on display at Orchard Central, Level 4, from 17th to 22nd Sep 2010.

Do visit and appreciate the gallery showcasing beautiful and creative artworks using Adobe Photoshop.

Title of Submission: "Watering of Love to Nature"





Trainer Profile



Jason Lek (jasonlek@mconline.sg)
Infocomm Trainer at Radin Mas Primary School

- Specializes in 2D/3D Animation and Design

“I have been in the Multimedia/Animation industry since 1992. I started as an apprentice, working under the mentorship of Steve Woods, an established British Animator. He was involved in the movies “Watership Down” and “Who Framed Roger Rabbit”.

I am a very versatile multimedia designer. This can be seen in my styles of drawing. I am strong in both Western and Eastern styles. Digital art and animation are my forte and I am also good in inspiring and imparting those skills to my students.”

View other award-winning student works - http://bit.ly/avC2yQ
View our suite of specialized training services - http://bit.ly/specialtrg

For further details about our ICT training and consultancy services including customised ICT curriculum design, email us at learningedge@mconline.sg.

LuV Chinese Product Launch

Teachers are faced with a common issue of teaching Mandarin with the help of technology. Marshall Cavendish Online, along with Mediacorp, is pleased to be hosting a sharing session cum LuV Chinese product launch to share on the different ways of using IT to facilitate on the teaching of the language in schools. Mdm. Chow Fong Yee, Master Teacher from MOE will be conducting this sharing session. All Primary School Chinese language teachers are encouraged to attend this event.

身为华文教师，您是否在运用资讯科技辅助华文 教学时面对许多挑战？我们诚意邀请您出席这个 分享会，让华文特级教师周凤儿女士，与您分享 如何有效地把资讯科技运用在华文教学上。

分享会的内容包括: 
- 理论与实践
- 资讯科技辅助华文教学的一些尝试
- 资讯科技应用在华文教学的一些思考
- 资讯科技辅助华文教学的一些建议 

The details of the events are as follows;

Venue: Chicago Booth University - The House of Tan Yeok Nee Conference Centre

View Larger Map

Date: 24 September 2010

Time: 1400-1630

Kindly RSVP for the event here



Bouquets - School Compliments

As schools enter Term 4 of 2010, the year end is fast approaching. We feel that it is timely that we reflect upon the achievements of the past 12 months and share a few of the generous feedback that teachers have submitted as glowing tributes to the performances and sacrifices of our staff who have gone above and beyond their call of duty.




















We look forward to another exciting year ahead with new, cutting edge ICT programmes for our schools.

So Many Resources, So Little Time!

To find out more and register for this workshop, please email to: mcis_tmp_mktg@sg.marshallcavendish.com

Marshall Cavendish holds the First Singapore Maths Global Forum

Delegates from 15 countries gather at Singapore’s first international forum for exchange of experiences and strategies on the Singapore Maths pedagogy

Marshall Cavendish, a member of the Times Publishing Group, is holding the first Singapore Maths Global Forum from 2 September 2010 to 4 September 2010 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, Singapore. The international forum, a first in the history of Singapore Maths, serves as a platform for local and foreign education professionals to exchange strategies and experiences in the teaching and learning of the Singapore Maths curriculum. It aims to facilitate the betterment of Maths education and raise the level of proficiency of students in Maths around the world.


Attendees of the forum comprise curriculum specialists, teachers, education ministry representatives and international organisation representatives from 15 countries, such as Indonesia, the Philippines, Pakistan, South Africa, the United States and Chile. In addition, local representatives from the National Institute of Education, Ministry of Education, schools and textbook authors are also present at the forum.


According to Lee Fei Chen, Deputy Head of Publishing, Marshall Cavendish Publishing Group, “Our goal is to facilitate dialogue on the strategies and best practices of the Singapore Maths pedagogy.  It is timely, if not critical, to create and maintain a platform for  the policy makers, adopters, users  and industry watchers to come together to ensure the relevance and advancement of the pedagogy now accepted and practised in some 35 countries. We are extremely proud to be part of the ongoing collaborative process where our stakeholders tell us how to make Singapore Maths material even better for learners around the world.”


The Singapore Maths curriculum was launched in 1982 and revised in 1992 with a new focal point in problem-solving. The curriculum was created by the Ministry of Education in a bid to address the problems Singaporean students were having in comprehending Maths concepts. The programme has since evolved into one of the best and most effective pedagogies in the world with Singapore students consistently ranked among top nations in international comparative studies since 1995. Schools in over 35 countries around the world have adopted the Singapore Maths textbooks, published by Marshall Cavendish, with several adaptations to local curriculum requirements and languages. 

Forum Highlights
 
Country Case Studies and Global Perspectives
The forum offers a rare window into the school classrooms of the world through country presentations. Several discussion panels of delegates from Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, South Africa and the United States, will offer insights into the implementation of Singapore Maths and preparation of school teachers in their countries. Dr. Marito Garcia, Lead Human Development Economist of the World Bank, will present the global perspectives on Singapore Maths and Science at the forum.


International Survey Findings
A highlight of the conference is the sharing of the key findings of international surveys that measure the success of the Singapore Maths curriculum in the adopting countries. Presentations include the Trends in International Maths and Science Study (TIMSS), The Gabriella and Paul Rosenbaum Foundation Survey in America and The ORT Survey in South Africa.
The Gabriella and Paul Rosenbaum Foundation Survey is a six-year longitudinal statistical study on the effect of Singapore Maths on student proficiency in the North Middlesex Regional School District (NMRSD) in Massachusetts. The survey is the first and only statistical study on the effectiveness of Singapore Maths. The NMRSD schools used Singapore maths textbook series which includes the Marshall Cavendish-published Primary Maths textbooks differing from the other Massachusetts school districts.


The results from analyses show that:
i) Participation in Singapore Maths classes has a positive impact on student Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) test scores,
ii) The duration of student participation in Singapore Maths classes has a greater positive impact on test score gains than Singapore Maths participation at any particular grade level and
iii) Beginning Singapore Maths in early grades improves the curriculum’s effectiveness.
“As the publisher of Singapore Maths textbooks, Marshall Cavendish is very proud to know that the use of textbooks books published by Marshall Cavendish has a positive impact on the students’ Maths grades. The survey is one of the many global examples demonstrating the efficacy of Singapore Maths.” said Lee Fei Chen, Deputy Head of Publishing, Marshall Cavendish Publishing Group.


Professional Teaching Trends
The forum also looks at the professional development trends and teaching strategies for teachers to improve their overall teaching efficiency. A recent trend that will be covered in the forum is the pervasive use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in schools. A Singapore case study to be presented will look at how ICT is used in education including the teaching of Maths for an added interactive and enjoyable experience.


“The Singapore Maths curriculum has been carried out in Scarsdale Public Schools for two years and it has definitely proven to be a cutting-edge curriculum for our school and students. The programme has instilled a strong foundation in mathematical concepts among our students, increasing their overall mathematical competency. I am looking forward to learning more about mathematics teaching in Singapore and networking with educators from other countries that are using Singapore Maths in order to continually improve maths teaching and learning in Scarsdale,” said delegate Mr. Bill Jackson, Math Helping Teacher, Scarsdale Public Schools, New York, the United States.


To learn more about Marshall Cavendish, please visit www.marshallcavendish.com.

Marshall Cavendish Wishes All Teachers A Happy Teacher's Day

Marshall Cavendish Publishing Group would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to all the teachers who had worked tirelessly in providing a sound education for the students.

Take advantage of our advertisement on the Straits Times, page B3 for a S$5 redemption voucher at our subsidiary, Times Bookstores.