Posts

Reflective Blog on Topic 5: Lessons Learnt – future practice

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The ONL course is very informative. Although I have been teaching and doing instructional design for the past 22 years, I feel that my knowledge concerning technology-enabled learning increased quite a bit after attending the course.   The most important thing that I have learned through my engagement in the ONL course is to never assume that students or teachers are comfortable with technology-enabled and open learning. There needs to be ample preparation prior to the start of an online course. This can include:   Bridging the gap in knowledge using an online tools   Mitigate privacy concerns, if any Mitigate the factors that may hinder or facilitate open-learning Be aware of the benefits and obstacles of collaborative learning before implementing them Be aware of the benefits and challenges of synchronous and asynchronous learning   Choosing the appropriate tools when designing an online lesson   I enjoyed learning new things from my PBL group classmates and also being able
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Reflective Blog on Topic 4: Design for online and blended learning

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Scenario: “ Two years ago, we were forced to work online with the implementation of emergency remote teaching and learning because of the Covid-19 pandemic. It seems that in many instances we may still be approaching our teaching practice in the same way without using any of the existing models of learning design for blended and online learning to inform our practice. How do we draw on current best practices and review how we design blended and online learning to promote active learning; and how we combine synchronous and asynchronous activities that encourage students’ engagement and learning?” The scenario is similar to my own experience. My institution has been conducting workshops face to face and we adopt the Team-Based Learning strategy. When Covid-19 struck, we have to switch to a fully online workshop. While I have been teaching for more than 20 years and leading the instructional design team for more than ten years, it is still a challenge for me. Fully online learning was alw
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Reflective Blog on Topic 3: Learning in communities – networked collaborative learning

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This blog entry will discuss what is collaborative learning, the benefits and obstacles as well as my personal experience on how I overcome collaborative learning obstacles in class.   What is Collaborative Learning?   According to Laal (2011), collaborative learning is an educational approach to teaching and learning that involves groups of learners working together to solve a problem, complete a task, or create a product. Smith and MacGregor (1992) added that usually it involves students working in groups and they mutually search for understanding, solutions, or creating a product. In his theory of social development, Vygotsky (1934) stressed that community was an important factor in the process of creating knowledge.   Collaborative learning is about working together as a team and the enhancement of learning through teamwork. There are many benefits to collaborative learning. However, the implementation of collaborative learning is not clear-cut. Educators might face so
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Reflective Blog on Topic 2 - Open Learning – Sharing and Openness

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First of all, I would like to state, for the record, that I am a key believer of sharing educational materials for the benefit of students. However, I feel that there are still challenges that need to be addressed with regards to open learning. As mentioned in my first reflective blog, Ministry of Education (MOE), Singapore, introduced the Masterplans for ICT in Education since 1997. In the Education Technology Plan , teachers are envisioned to be designers and facilitators of meaningful tech-mediated learning. They should be able to: Be designers of learning experiences; Be skillful practitioners who facilitates active learning by leveraging on technology and learning data, and; Be digital learners who develop themselves professionally to learn and share digitally and keep abreast with educational technology.   Hence, the path and platform for Singapore educators for sharing and openness are already there. There is also support for teachers and learning resources are shared
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Reflective Blog on Topic 1 – Online Participation and Digital Literacies

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My Experience I began teaching in 1998. In 1997. When the Ministry of Education (MOE) in Singapore, began introducing the Masterplans for ICT in Education , quite a number of educators were relatively new to information technology and were hence rather sceptical in utilising it to teach. They preferred the chalk and talk method of teaching that educators have been accustomed to for decades, rather than this new advanced technological way of teaching. However, as MOE introduced the Masterplan in 4 phases, educators began to adapt to the new reality that Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in education was here to stay. As such, educators themselves have to keep abreast of this change. From 2003 to 2008, MOE pushed forth an emphasis for schools to achieve the basic ICT standard in education and integrate ICT in their curriculum and assessment methods. From 2009 to 2014, the focus was on strengthening this integration of ICT in school curriculums and modes of assessments
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