Singapore's Education System

We know what we signed up for as members of the singapore society, that is for meritocracy and capitalistic ends. Was there anything in our constitution that says developing the individual based on existentialistic principles? . Politicized education is always a means to someone else's end.

Youth are too western influenced where the individual is at the center. We are modern confucian, our societal values are now on pragmatism. So even if she is spot on with her analysis, but is she thinking only for herself or for society?

The question is: They see, they speak up, but for what purpose? How many of them will eventually leave singapore to seek a better life for themselves? Or will they stay to develop a civic society? They expect education and teachers to have higher calling, but is it to direct focus on themselves, or they really do have higher aspirations on ?

But these are kids after all. Where do they get their ideas from in the first place? Is she riding on the wave of angst from the internet due to the recent elections?

For our country and education system to remain relevant in the 21st century, Do our teachers, school leaders or even the ministry or ministers able to conceptualise ideas from different perspectives and have ideologies and responsibilities that are beyond their bureaucratic duties?

Articles

• 2010
  • Education Minister Invites 16 Year Old for Discussion: (Edvantage)
  • Open letter to the Education Minister (Facebook Post)
  • Diary of a reform Elitist (Blog)
• 2011
  • Beware of IP Implications (ST Forums): Read readers comments by Trebuchet

Staying Relevant in the 21st Century

• Qualifications Vs Skills and experience training of education systems around the world
• Competencies and qualities of teachers

Corporate Nature of Schools

• Influence of MOE
• Incompetent Principals and school leaders

Technology In Singapore Schools

Big Picture Technologies

• Open Source
• Cloud Based
• Collaborative
• Networks
• New Media

The current situation of IT in Singapore Schools

• What iReview of SST
• Review of RGS
• Review from survey
• Review from interviews from Education related IT professionals
  • NIE
  • Teachers

Why technology has to be relevant to Singapore Schools (Why leaders MUST review their technology frameworks)

• Current technology infused lifestyle has to be introduced into education: Teachers need to learn how to teach the youth how to use and manage their tech lifestyle to learn and gain knowledge. (the way they learn in school will have to match the way they leran at home)
• Traditional content is being reviewed by new technologies and approaches that reveals even more knowledge than ever before: Such technologies, in the past were accessible only to research labs, is now accessible to the masses. We need to learn how to make use of this. Example of home based research (my own university project)
• Adults may not have adopted the technology enabled lifestyle - Leaders are unable to plan effectively and teachers are unable to teach: There is a need for a specific technology enabled curriculum with appropriately trained leaders/teachers to lead this

Google's Contribution to Education

• Google for Educators http://www.google.com/educators/index.html
  • Google Tools for Your Classroom
  • Google for Educators Discussion Group
  • Google for Educators newsletter: Quaterly
  • Infinite Thinking Machine: Google sponsored Blog for Educators By Educators
  • Events
    • Google Science Fair: http://www.google.com/events/sciencefair/materials.html

Content Management Systems

• Moodle
• Sharepoint
  • Sharepoint 2010 Review: http://www.cmswire.com/cms/enterprise-20/sharepoint-2010-review-the-new-6-pillars-of-sharepoint-007503.php

- Skill Sets

- Pedegogies

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Teaching with Google Earth: http://serc.carleton.edu/sp/library/google_earth/index.html

Resource Reviews

• SERC : Science Education Resource Centre at Carleton College (US)
• SST Professional Development for ICT Blog: http://pd-ict-staff03.blogspot.com/