School visit is an integral component of the MLS course. We are also expected to visit at least one industry ( I will be visiting Media Corp on 24th March). So for the school visit, I actually chose the School of Science & Technology (SST).
Why this school ? I have heard quite a bit about this school before the visit, especially their famed "Applied learning approach" . So I thought well, go and take a look.
Oh Boy, I got more than I what I had expected and I will attempt to summarize what I have observed.
The SST curriculum
The SST curriculum which they have put in place are based on best practices and research-based curricular and instructional design models and approaches. They use models such as
- Wiggin's & McTighe's "Understanding by Design" curriculum design model
- Apple's challenge based learning model for ICT integration (https://www.challengebasedlearning.org/pages/welcome)
- Treffinger's 'Level of Service" for talent management (http://www.academia.edu/8915226/treffinger_levels_of_services_amfitheatre)
- Maker's model for curriculum differentiation in the classroom (http://www.curriculumsupport.education.nsw.gov.au/policies/gats/assets/pdf/ust3beach.pdf)
to guide their efforts in designing learning experiences to meet the varying needs of their students according to their readiness, interests and talents.
The P shared with us that a teacher in SST have to be comfortable in all these models. Heads definitely got to know more than the teachers.
I was like "wow ! ". Very high standard and expectations for the staff !
This is also a reason why the P mentioned that in SST , they are very serious in professional development .They have a very comprehensive learning ecosystem that looks into 3 areas:
- Pedagogy
- Technology use
- Classroom management
Most of their teachers have post graduate qualifications or are experienced teachers seconded from Ngee Ann Polytechnic as well as professionals from other fields who have chosen to make teaching their 2nd career.
The P acknowledged that workload can be very heavy in the school but his teachers are not complaining because many have applied to join the school. In fact, he shared with us that 3 of his HODs who have cleared VP interviews love the school so much that they quit MOE to join SST .They rather stay behind as HODs!
Their philosophy towards Education
The P believes in making "coming to school enjoyable" and " learning is enjoyable" for the students. He believes that it is important to ignite their passions and interests. His beliefs are translated in the way programmes and processes are structured in the school.
When we went on the school tour, the school was literally bursting with activities. By the way, the visit was not pre-planned, we got to see the real stuff.
The P also gave us some interesting stats...
- All of his students qualified for the JC route at the end of the education in SST but 41% of them chose to enter the poly route and many of them aced their poly courses and some were even given exemptions for certain modules.
- Last year 80% of the graduating cohort achieved distinction in combined Humanities. ( When I heard that I was like wow ! Naturally, you expect SST to ace in Science and Maths in any national exams but Humanities hmmmm......, well their results speak for themselves.
The P shared that even the other Ps from the cluster were surprised. This was where I thought
he sumed it up pretty well- " Do the right things and not doing things right and the results
will take care of itself." He was actually talking about the kind of education experiences that
his students go through and because they have acquired the necessary competencies (design
thinking, 21 CC skills, I & E etc), they are able to apply all these in any subject that they take.
Students' research project work
Summary:
I think I have made the right choice in visiting SST. It has inspired me to dream even bigger than what we can do for our pupils. Of course we are not SST, we do not have the kind of funding and certain high tech facilities that they have. But what we have is human capital and this is the most important in any organization. That is also why this year, I am a bit firmer in the area of PD- your attendance and especially on applied learning ( how you intend to apply what you have learnt in your courses and workshops for the benefits of your pupils - you will hear from me again on this).
To digress a bit, I am rather excited about the Skillsfuture credit announced by DPM where every Singaporean aged 25 will receive $500 to go for work skills related courses.
Source : http://www.singaporebudget.gov.sg/data/budget_2015/download/FY2015_Budget_in_Brief.pdf
My wish for the school is that all of us will be good in the things that we do . Among us, there will be curriculum experts, ICT experts, research experts etc etc in addition to us being Skillful Teachers.
We must continue to think big, to think "out of the box" , to bring about an educational experience that will prepare pupils for life ( and hint hint, please apply for the coyote funding). We should not solely focus on academic results (they are important but let us not neglect 21cc skills, character values etc) in the pursuit of academic rigour.
I am also inspired to go more in-depth into curriculum design and educational research, something which I hope I can value add to the school's T & L environment when I return.
The MLS course gives me the time and space to do what I like most-READ!
The next few posts will be dedicated to my LJ in Hong Kong. Travel with me to HK & Macau as I bring you insights and learnings from 9th March onwards.
