My ESE experience allows me to experience first-hand, the implementation of MOE ICT master plans. However, from what I experienced in WSS, I realised that there is room for improvement in the streamlining process of the ICT master plans in various participating schools in Singapore. In WSS, they are still in the process of grappling with acquiring sufficient resources, and facilities that could facilitate implementation of ICT. With only one MAC lab (with about 20 MACbook) in place, and one common computer lab, it can be very difficult to conduct ICT-driven lessons for classes such as mine with an enrolment of 43 students in the class. To ensure effective learning, adequate foundation and infrastructure must be in place before a program can be implemented.
However, I learnt that the school will be given 20 more MACbook after this year, which I foresee will help the teachers in the conducting of ICT lessons immensely! However improvements could still be made in terms of the number of computer labs, and teaching resources so that classes will not have to compete for the use of the labs and they could use computer labs simultaneously.
The students in WSS are also given the chance to create their own podcast during English Language lesson which was very heartening to hear. However, I heard of sabotage cases where students will intentionally damage another student’s podcast. Thus, with the use of ICT, adequate infrastructure should be in place, as in the physical safety measures in the lab itself, and also, internet safety for safe surfing. It will help counter malicious and illegal use of students’ personal information in the internet and personal files. With proper and adequate safety measures in place, schools will not be caught in dilemma of whether they should allow more notorious classes to use the computer labs in school or not, as students will not be able to engage in acts of mischief in the labs.
Hmmm this blog post brings up the question of quality and quantity of ICT. It seems like some schools and teachers might take ICT to mean a quantity thing which just means that they see use of computer technology or advanced technology to signal ICT. This doesn't necessarily mean quality ICT which would be using ICT effectively and efficiently. I wonder if your school was more of a quantity ICT user or a quality ICT user :)
ReplyDeleteHm, I think that the lack of ICT facilities is a problem that many schools face, no doubt because the provision and installment of such technological hardware are very costly. I am a little conservative on the use of ICT at times, because I do wonder if it is that necessary to make education such a costly project? It's rather ironic, since we are trying to reach the goal of self-directed learning, which reminds us that the acquisition of knowledge should know no boundaries--- and so why should learning be heavily geared in the direction of ICT?
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