MASTERPLANS FOR ICT IN EDUCATION

Brief Background of Masterplans for ICT in Education

Currently, Ministry of Education (MOE) Singapore is at its 3^rd Masterplan for ICT in Education. MOE has embarked on a ICT Journey since 1997. There are three stages for ICT in education. The rationale for putting these masterplans in place is to better equip our students with essential and critical skills to meet the needs of the economy. These masterplans aim to better prepare our students to face the future challenges and demands of the economy.

For more details of the 3 Masterplans for ICT in Education, do visit the MOE website:

http://www.moe.gov.sg/media/press/2008/08/moe-launches-third-masterplan.php

Why is it important for MOE to develop the three Masterplans?

The world has entered into an information-technology era and globalization has been the norm. The global landscape has changed with these external influences. In this 21^st Century, Information Communication Technology (ICT) has increasingly become a central component of communication, information handling, collaboration and decision-making. As a government body, MOE is in the position to gear and implement an education system which is of the nation's best interest. It is agreed by many that the overarching purpose of education will be equipping the population with the critical skills to meet future challenges and needs of the economy. In other words, education is to help the nation to create or rather prepare a pool of skilled workforce to ensure the nation's competitive edge for continual success. Hence, given the current context where ICT will be the key competency required in the economy (now and also for future), it is important for MOE to develop the three Masterplans for ICT in Education to equip and prepare the students as well as the educators with the critical skill for success in this 21^st century for our nation's survival.

There are two important reasons for MOE to develop the three Masterplans for ICT in education that I wish to highlight.

• The most obvious reason why developing the three Masterplans for ICT in Education is important had already been mentioned earlier on, which is to prepare our population for future demands of the economy. These Master plans are implemented in school curriculum where they aim to equip the students with the 21^st Century competencies in order to survive in this knowledge-based and globalized economy for our own nation's survival. In our myopic view, we look at the Masterplans as a mean to equip only the students. In fact, in my opinion, this is not true. Developing the three Masterplans for ICT in education has positive externality to the society. As mentioned, many recognized that the primary role of education is to prepare our population for the demand of the economy. Hence, any changes or shift in the education system indicates the changing demands in the current and future economy for the population at large, not limited to students. This sent a signal for the current workforce on the needs for upgrading of skills and this applies to the educators as well. Hence, by developing the three Masterplans for ICT in Education helps to improve the overall quality of nation workforce .

• As an overseer of schools in Singapore, MOE functions as the brain of this body. By developing the three Masterplans for ICT in Education, MOE set the national framework and directions for the schools to execute the plans with clear objectives and guidelines in place. This will provide standardization across schools to ensure that the core learning objectives are being met without much disparity across schools. In the three Masterplans developed by MOE, it can be seen that the necessary infrastructures and resources to aid in the continual development of ICT in Education across all schools. The different stages developed help the schools to identify their own progress before moving on to the next stage. Hence, maintaining a dynamic and forward-looking education system which caters to the different learning needs of the students in the various schools.

My experience as a students with ICT in Education

In my secondary school days, PowerPoint slides and videos had been used in the classrooms for teaching and learning purposes. The use of PowerPoint slides and videos were able to engage students through our visual and audio senses which spiced up our learning in a way. Research projects were also part of my ICT experience as a student. We were tasked to do online research on the topic given and come out with our own PowerPoint slides for class presentations. These projects experience helped us to be more independent in our own learning which is very important when I come to realize in my university days.

How current Masterplan 3 may affect my role of a beginning teacher based on my ESE?

I think the main challenge with the current Masterplan 3 to my role as a beginning teacher is to infuse ICT into our lessons planning and curriculum so as to attain a higher level of engagement and reap the benefits that can potentially come from the more effective use of ICT in education. Many of the times, though ICT is used in classrooms teaching, I do feel that the tools basically are just add-on. The teaching method (pedagogy) did not differ much from the traditional teaching methods. In this today's school context, the students learners are very different from the past and hence the effective use of ICT in education is very crucial for engaged learning. Hence, the design of lessons that integrate ICT will be the trend and key for future schools. Therefore, I foresee the constant need to build up our capacity to deliver innovative and engaging lessons which tap on the various ICT resources as I begin my teaching career.