Cher Ping Lim

Teachers' pedagogical beliefs and their planning and conduct of computer-mediated classroom lessons

In this study, we observed and interviewed six teachers from two Singapore primary school classrooms. The schools were reportedly achieving high levels of computer integration as reflected in a nationwide questionnaire survey. Out of the 18 lessons that we observed, 14 lessons have incorporated some elements of constructivist teaching. However, closer examination revealed that the underlying orientation of the lessons was inclined towards information acquisition and regurgitation. Five out of the six teachers we interviewed were reportedly inclined towards constructivist notion of teaching. The teachers accounted for the inconsistency between their espoused beliefs and the teacher-centric teaching practice as due to contextual constraints. The teachers expressed that the need to complete the syllabi according to stipulated schedules so as to get the students ready for examination was the main barriers that prevented them from engaging in more constructivist teaching. This case study therefore highlights that although it is necessary for teachers to hold pedagogical beliefs that are compatible with the constructivist notion of teaching and learning, this is an insufficient condition to shift traditional teaching practice. Changes in assessment systems and substantial professional development are further conditions that have to be addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gaming in a 3D multiuser virtual environment: engaging students in Science lessons

Based on the exploratory study of a 3D multiuser virtual environment (3D MUVE), known as Quest Atlantis (QA), in a series of Primary Four (10- to 11year-olds) Science lessons at Orchard Primary School in Singapore, this paper examines the issues of learning engagement and describes the socio-cultural context of QA’s implementation. The students and teacher were observed during the lessons, interviewed after, and the completed quests were analysed to determine the level of engagement achieved. A pre- and posttest on the Science concepts covered was also administered. A seven-level taxonomy of engagement was used to provide the study with a more holistic perspective of engagement, together with the attempt to concretise the element of engagement into observable traits. Although there was a significant improvement of the posttest over the pretest, the level of engagement of the students was low (between 3 and 4). The lack of engagement might be a result of the distractions in the 3D MUVE, the students’ difficulty with language used in the QA, their lack of computer competency for QA tasks, and/or their inability to complete the quests’ section on reflections. The biggest challenges to the integration of QA into the Science curriculum were the interdependent issues of time (or lack of it) and ‘buy-in’ by the school and parents.

A Theoretical Framework for the Study of ICT in Schools: A Proposal.

A sociocultural approach towards the study of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in education rejects the view that ICT can be studied in isolation; it must be studied within the broader context in which it is situated. The paper argues for a more holistic approach of studying ICT in schools by adopting a sociocultural perspective. It proposes a theoretical framework based on activity theory, with the activity system as a unit of analysis that is surrounded by different levels of ecological circles.

An activity-theoretical approach to research of ICT integration in Singapore schools: orienting activities and learner autonomy

This paper discusses the findings of two case studies (two primary schools in Singapore), which are part of a larger research study, that aims to examine and analyze where and how information and communication technologies (ICTs) are integrated in Singapore schools to engage students in higher order thinking activities. For students to engage in higher order thinking, they first need to have autonomy over their learning processes. The focus of the paper is on how orienting activities support learner autonomy in the ICT-based learning environment. Taking the activity system as a unit of analysis, the study documents the actual processes by which orienting activities are planned and organized to support learner autonomy in their contexts. By employing methods such as observations, focus group discussions with students, and face-to-face interviews with teachers, an account of how the activity systems within and between classrooms, and the schools are generated. The account identifies and describes five categories of orienting activities: introductory sessions to ICT tools, advance organizers and instructional objectives, worksheets and checklists, dialogues among participants, and tools for post-instructional reflection. It also highlights the constraints of time and lack of knowledge and experience in the contexts that the teachers are working under, and how these constraints are addressed.

Global citizenship education, school curriculum and games: Learning Mathematics, English and Science as a global citizen

Based on an account of how two classes of primary five students in Singapore engage in the learning of English, Mathematics and Science by playing the role of global citizens, the paper suggests an alternative but realistic approach to teaching global citizenship education. Set against the back story of Atlantis facing ecological, social and cultural decay due to the blind pursuit of prosperity and modernisation by its rulers, each student became a quester called on to save Atlantis. Throughout the mission they were presented with different problems in Atlantis (similar to existing global issues) and were expected to research and suggest solutions to the problems by alone or with fellow questers. These problems were tied to the primary five English, Mathematics and Science curriculum. Through documenting and making sense of these activities via observations, interviews and pre-post questionnaire surveys, the paper shows how the new approach may enhance the learning engagement, academic motivation and social commitments among the students. We also explore the sustainability and scalability of such an approach in the school system and highlight constraints. The paper then draws implications for global citizenship education in schools that include designing a meaningful context for engaged learning in schools with components of global citizenship, developing a research culture in schools as a stepping stone for global citizenship education and building capacity of teachers and school leaders in global citizenship.

A framework for developing pre‐service teachers’ competencies in using technologies to enhance teaching and learning

This paper presents a framework for developing pre‐service teachers’ competencies in using technologies to enhance teaching and learning. It focuses on building the capacity of teacher education institutions (TEI) based on six strategic dimensions: (1) vision and philosophy; (2) program; (3) professional learning of deans, teacher educators and support staff; (4) ICT plan, infrastructure, resources and support; (5) communications and partnerships; and (6) research and evaluation. This paper describes each of these six strategic dimensions and synthesizes these in the overall framework for developing pre‐service teachers’ competencies in generating technology‐enhanced teaching and learning.

Those Who Can, Teach - The Pivotal Role of the Teacher in the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) Learning Environment

Abstract Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in education is often perceived to be the critical element in the drive towards a knowledge‐based society. It is believed that ICT helps students confront their own preconceptions in a critical way and become thinkers with emerging theories about the world, and hence, develop a culture of thinking among them. As ICT empowers students, it cannot be assumed that the teachers role is superfluous and no external agency is required to facilitate the use of ICT. Although the teacher no longer monopolizes activities as the transmitter of the subject matter, he/she takes on a broadened role of mediating the learning of individual students. Based on a case study of the use of WinEcon in an A‐level Economics course in England, this paper provides a descriptive and interpretive account of the pivotal role of the teacher in the course. Relieved of the necessity of being the exclusive source of expertise and authority, the teacher in such an environment plays a broadened role in designing, organising and re‐adapting activities to help students apprehend the structure of the discourse, integrating parts, acting on the world and descriptions of the world, using feedback, and reflecting on their learning experiences

Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in Primary Education

It is increasingly recognised by researchers, governments and educators around the world that ICT presents many opportunities for teaching and learning in primary (elementary) education. A lack of ICT in the classroom may be seen as disadvantageous for children because without access to this, they are denied opportunities to acquire some of the skills and attributes they need to become full participants in an increasingly ICT mediated and globalised world (UNESCO, 2008). Even so, it needs to be acknowledged that having ICT in the primary curriculum and classroom does not guarantee enhanced learning, and may represent little more than new means of reaching pre-existing, and perhaps inappropriate or outdated, ends (Adams, 2011). Furthermore, ICT in education needs to be supported by appropriate policies (Tondeur, van Keer, van Braak & Valcke, 2008) at all levels and effective professional development for teachers (Lim, 2007).

Open-Source Learning Management System and Web 2.0 Online Social Software Applications as Learning Platforms for an Elementary School in Singapore.

This paper analyses how an elementary-level future school in Singapore implements and uses various open-source online platforms, which are easily available online and could be implemented with minimal software cost, for the purpose of teaching and learning. Online platforms have the potential to facilitate students’ engagement for independent and collaborative learning, enhance student–teacher interactions, and develop students’ technological skills. A framework is constructed to facilitate the conceptualisation of the various pedagogical approaches for learning using such online platforms – learning from and with technology is proposed. Learning from technology leans itself more towards the didactic and behaviouristic theories whereas learning with technology has its origin from the constructivism and social constructivism paradigms. In addition, both the didactic and constructivist pedagogical approaches are applicable for online learning as they could be used to achieve different outcomes depending on the learning objectives. Implicit in the findings is also the importance of the teachers’ commitment and competencies and good infrastructural and technical support in the use of technologies for teaching and learning in an educational setting.

A Holistic Approach towards the Use of an Integrated Online Delivery and Management System

ABSTRACT Drawing upon our understanding of the importance of situating education innovations in a socio‐cultural‐historical context, this paper aims to provide a descriptive and interpretive account of how an integrated online delivery and management system, Blackboard™, was used in a pre‐service teacher training module, PED503/513. We trace the transformation of the module over a five year period; from a conventional mass lecture and tutorial approach to its current hybrid of online and onsite learning activities. The mediated learning model was adopted to afford a holistic approach towards the use of Blackboard™ in the course. The model guided the design and planning of the module to optimise the potential of Blackboard™, and to address its limitations. The module consisted of four major components: anywhere/anytime lecture, onsite laboratory tutorial, onsite independent laboratory work, and online asynchronous discussion. The method of delivery shifted from cognitivist‐oriented to social‐constructivist oriented, and was complemented with a shift in the mode of assessment from summative to more formative evaluation. Based on this account, the importance of adopting a holistic approach towards the use of an online learning system was highlighted