Pre-session 1

1.  What are the main goals of each Masterplan for ICT in Education and why do you think it is important for MOE to develop them?

The goal for Masterplan 1 is to introduce the use of ICT in schools and to equip teachers with basic knowledge of ICT. By introducing ICT to schools, students are able to communicate efficiently with other organisations around the world, hence gaining more exposure and knowledge. Students are also instilled with more sense of responsibility when making decisions and judgements.
The goal for Masterplan 2 is to strengthen the use of ICT in classrooms, so that the culture of classroom studies will not stagnate. Teachers also keep on upgrading to ensure that the capacity of learning keeps on expanding. Students can also practise independent learning, unlike in the past, where knowledge are just limited to textbooks.
Masterplan 3  aims to continue with the integration of ICT and also the strengthening of the use of ICT. This is to prepare students for the incompetent knowledge economy.

It is very important for MOE to develop these masterplans as this is to prepare the students for the challenging economy. By integrating ICT and also the continued strengthening in the use of ICT, students will practise independent learning and will not just study what is required to. Sense of responsibility will be instilled in students by having initiatives to learn more and expand their capacity of learning. As teachers play a part in educating the students, teachers will also gain the knowledge, upgrading themselves continuously.

2. Has any of the Masterplans impacted you as a student? Share your experience on how ICT had been used in the classes you attended as a student.

In my previous school, Temasek Polytechnic, we were required to share some recipes, together with the science of preparing them in the form of a blog. It was very successful in gaining our attention and most of us were very active in visiting the other classmates' blogs,  since most of us like to 'blog hop' during our free time. What made it more efficient was the use of chatboxes in all the blogs. Lecturers were also able to give their feedbacks, without us having to meet in person. This saved a lot of time and we were still able to edit our blog posts to meet the standards set by the lecturers.


3. How do you think the Masterplan 3 for ICT in Education may affect your role(s) as a beginning teacher?

As a beginning teacher, I may have to familiarise myself with the use of ICT in schools and have to equip myself with more knowledge on ICT so that I will be on par or even more advanced than the students so as to keep up with them. I will also have to keep on upgrading myself to bring in new ideas to the classroom during lessons. With the integration of ICT in classroom studies, I am sure I will be able to attract the attention of students, to make them more interested in the subject. I will also have to update myself with more information regarding the subject I will be teaching. This is to prepare myself with the students' queries once they have received more information through their research work with the use of ICT. Therefore, even after being a teacher, I will still continue to gain more knowledge to better myself.