EARCOME 5 Plenary Panel Discussion

Plenary Panel Discussion
Excellence in Classroom Practice
Yeap Ban Har
Marshall Cavendish Institute
Singapore
Pathlight School
Singapore
banhar.yeap@pathlight.org.sg
Photo: Princess Elizabeth School, Singapore

What does it mean by "excellence" in classroom practice in Singapore?
What are examples of "excellent" classroom practices?
Focus
Princess Elizabeth Primary School, Singapore

Mathematics is an excellent vehicle for the development and improvement of a person’s intellectual competence in logical reasoning, spatial visualisation, analysis and abstract thought. ... When ideas are discovered and insights gained, students are spurred to pursue mathematics beyond the classroom walls.
Ministry of Education 2006
Primary Mathematics (Third Edition)
What is
Excellence in Classroom Practice?
From the Perspectives of Curriculum
Focus on Thinking
Thinking Schools, Learning Nation (1997)

Engaging Pedagogies
Learning by Doing
Learning through Inquiry
Learning by Collaborating
Learning by Reflecting
Learning in and about the Real World
Photo: Fuchun Primary School, Singapore
What is
From the Perspectives of Pedagogy
Engaging Pedagogies
PERI Report (2009)

What is
From the Perspectives of Teacher Education
Methods courses that emphasize both content and learning theories
Courses are organized around content, for example teaching of whole numbers, teaching of algebra, teaching of trigonometry and so on.
Learning theories such as Bruner, Skemp and Dienes are given emphasis.
12 ÷ 4 = 3

A poultry farmer raised chickens, ducks and geese in his farm. Taking into account various conditions such as sale of poultry, deaths caused by infection, etc. that affect the population of geese on his farm, the number of geese of geese at the end of n months is modelled by un where

un+1 = 0.75 uo + 80

where uois the initial number of geese.

Calculate the values of u1, u2, u3 and u4 in the cases when (i) uo = 576 and (ii) uo = 320. Comment briefly on your results.

Show that un = 0.75n (uo– 320) + 320 and deduce that when n becomes very large un  320.

Justify the comments you have made earlier with the aid of the expression of un you have just proven.

Draw the graphs of y = k 0.75x + 320 for 3 different values of k. With the aid of your graphs, provide an advice to the farmer.
Photo: Princess Elizabeth Primary School, Singapore
What is
From the Perspectives of Technology
Calculator in Upper Primary Levels (MOE 2007)
Graphing Calculators in Junior Colleges (MOE 2005)
Integration of ICT with curriculum, pedagogy and assessment (MOE 2008)

Photo: PCF Kindergarten PasirRis West, Singapore
It emphasises the important role of assessment to support our children’s holistic development. “Transformative assessment” reflects MOE’s commitment to enabling our primary schools to harness the potential of assessment to improve learning and teaching.
Grace Fu 2010
Senior Minister of State
Ministry of Education
What is
From the Perspectives of Assessment
Holistic Assessment especially in early grades.
PERI Report (2009)

Jim bought some chocolates and gave half of them to Ken. Ken bought some sweets and gave half of them to Jim.
Jim ate 12 sweets and Ken ate 18 chocolates. After that, the number of sweets and chocolates Jim had were in the ratio 1 : 7 and the number of sweets and chocolates Ken had were in the ratio 1 : 4.
How many sweets did Ken buy?
Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board 2009
What is
From the Perspectives of Assessment
Assessment includes challenging problem-solving tasks especially at the upper grades.

What is
From the Perspectives of Individual Differences
Programmes Catering to Students with Different Level of Readiness
Learning Support Programme (LSM) for Primary 1 and 2
Foundation Mathematics for Primary 5 and 6
Gifted Education Programme from Primary 4
Express, Normal (Academic) and Normal (Technical) Courses in secondary levels

Photo: Northlight School, Singapore
This year, the School of Science and Technology, with its niche in applied learning and rich ICT learning environment, took in its first batch of 198 students, and is well positioned to be a new peak of excellence in the landscape.
For those students who benefit from a different more hands-on learning style, we have Northlight School and Assumption Pathway School, which gives them a practical education. You will be visibly moved by the dedication and patience of teachers in these schools.
What is
From the Perspectives of Individual Differences
Schools Catering to Different Needs at Upper Levels
NUS High School for Science and Mathematics
Integrated Programmes
Northlight School and Pathway Assumption Schools
Pathlight School

What are some issues involved in bringing “excellent” practices to classrooms?
Focus
Balestier Hill Primary School, Singapore

The Singapore Case
Towards a more educated teaching force
Common pre-service courses
Emphasis on the use of manipulatives
Limited opportunities for practice
Photo: National Institute of Education

Photo: National Institute of Education
What are key factors associated with pre-service teacher education?

What are key factors associated with in-service professional development?
Fuchun Primary School, Singapore
A good education system depends on high quality teachers who constantly seek to improve their practice, supported by school leaders and administrators, and resources from departments and agencies within MOE.
Minister of Education 2009
Princess Elizabeth Primary School, Singapore

North Vista Primary School, Singapore
collaboration
authentic
Fuchun Primary School, Singapore
We need to build capacity for teachers themselves to take the lead in professional upgrading.
Minister of Education 2009

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EARCOME 5 Plenary Panel Discussion

by Jimmy Keng on Aug 14, 2010

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EARCOME 5 Plenary Panel Discussion — Presentation Transcript