Information Communication Technology in Education

This book seeks to present a comprehensive review of Singapore's ICT Masterplans in education, providing a rare behind-the-scenes look at policy planning, as well as the lessons learnt and insights gained from the past decade of the use of ICT in teaching and learning. Since 1997 (when the First Masterplan was launched) to 2008, schools and teachers have made great strides in their use of ICT for education at all levels: primary, secondary and junior college. The seeds of this change were planted in the Pioneer Years (1980–1996) which marked the pre-Masterplan period, and they began to germinate in the momentous Foundation Years (1997–2002) when the First Masterplan got underway. The subsequent period of the Engaging Years (2003–2008) outlines the growth of the Second Masterplan, while the Future Years present the vision of what the future of ICT will look like in Singapore schools in 2009 and beyond.

This comprehensive coverage of the evolution of ICT use in Singapore schools includes views and reflections from key individuals involved in the planning and implementation of the two ICT Masterplans, students, teachers, ICT experts, and policy makers. It also includes articles detailing significant projects and programmes of the First and Second ICT Masterplans.

Contents:

• The Masterplans:

  • Pioneering Years (1980 to 1996)
  • Foundation Years (1997 to 2002)
  • Engaging Years (2003 to 2008)
  • Future Years (2008 and Beyond)

• Iconic Programmes:

  • Teacher Training: The Backbone of the ICT in Education Masterplans
  • edu.MALL: A One-Stop Service Portal
  • Digital Media Repository (DMR), iSHARE and Digital Exchange: Lessons from a Digital Content Journey
  • Infrastructure: Building the Backbone to Support ICT in Education
  • eduPAD: A School-Industry Partnership Scheme Project
  • BackPack.NET: Mobile Learning Places Singapore on the Global Map
  • LEAD ICT@Schools and FutureSchools@Singapore: Supporting New Peaks of Excellence
  • Learning Sciences Lab: Research and Capacity Building in Pedagogy with ICT

Readership: Educators, researchers and government/ministry officials from Middle East countries (e.g. Qatar, Dubai, Kuwait), UK (e.g. BECTA), US, South East Asia (e.g. Thailand, Malaysia).