Making the Connection

For your third post, describe which achievement(s) of the three Masterplans for ICT in education are evident in the school or classes that you are attached to for your ESE.

I think based on my experience, BGS has incorporated the two Masterplans for ICT in education, and is still in the process of moving into the third Masterplan. The school is now training the teachers to create their lessons online, and to prepare for E-Learning.

The Taiga project that was adopted by the Humanities and English department definitely portrayed the attempts by the school to adopt the third Masterplan into their teaching activities. Not only the teachers have incorporated IT into the lessons, they have also made the concepts relevant in real world contexts. For example, the missions required students to get involved in doing research on water quality, and these research methods include interviewing the characters from the Taiga unit. 

However, I think the activities can be improvised in such a way that learning does not end once the missions are over. If possible, it will be good if it can be continuous. Or students themselves can adopt avatars to carry their own research. I think this will be helpful as they are now required to do fieldwork in Geography, and by being able to do so, will aid them in understanding the concept behind doing fieldwork. Furthermore, it is difficult to carry out actual fieldwork due to lack of resources, manpower, financial aid, thus by creating a second world where students can carry out fieldwork in the comforts of their home, serves as a reasonable alternative. Learning Geography is not complete without doing fieldwork, and with this approach, it will hopefully get the students to be interested in them because it is actually very fun.


The Secondary 1 students in the school are also required to take ICT workshops to equip themselves with basic skills that will be useful for them. Teachers are also taught to use Hot Potatoes, for the E Learning.

MOE Masterplans for ICT in Education

In your opinion, why do you think it is important for MOE to develop the three Masterplans for ICT in education? 

Looking at how fast the world is changing right now, it is crucial for Singapore to be as technologically advanced as the other countries as well. This is to ensure that we are always ready, and that we can continue to develop progressively. Thus it is important for teachers to incorporate ICT education, as schools play an important role in shaping a student's future. By starting young, we are equipping the future generations the necessary skills for them to use. This is vital in ensuring Singapore's stability.

Has any of the Masterplans impacted you as a student? Share your experience of how ICT had been used in the classes you attended as a student (if applicable). 

Back when I was an undergraduate in NUS, I took a Level 1 module in Thai Language. Learning languages used to be just verbally, where students will listen to how the teacher pronounces the word, and repeat it back. The module uses podcast for us to learn Thai in a more engaging and interactive manner. Each podcast aims to develop our command in Thai, be it in terms of being able to read the words, write them in Thai scripts, and even understand Thai. I thought it was very effective as it definitely helps us to score during our listening comprehension or the weekly class tests. 

Based on your enhanced school experience, how do you think the current Masterplan 3 may affect your role(s) as a beginning teacher ?

It will be challenging, without a doubt, as I am not that IT savvy sadly despite being 'the younger generation'. It will definitely require some effort on my part, to equip myself with the necessary skills and to constantly upgrade myself, while at the same time ensure that I will not stray away from my main focus in lessons. However that being said, I think this upgrading will help me in delivering my lessons more effectively and in a more innovative way, as students will be more engaged in this approach.