I think that differences between the schooling system in Winchester College and Singapore would be the focus on all rounded development and class size. Singapore has being focusing on academics development from the past, where most of the time in school, teachers are rushing to complete syllabus to prepare the students for examinations. The education policy had changed which not only focusing on students academics but other aspect of development as well. The class size in Singapore is double or triple of the class size in Winchester College. Hence, the workload for teachers were heavier, and teacher would not be able to fully meets the needs of every students, considering a class of forty students. The school had tried to reduce the number of students in a class in view of such circumstances; I think that there are still rooms for improvement.
I think that an instant change from Cambridge Board-- GCE “O” and “A” level examination to a local examination board would not be suitable. It is because GCE “O” and “A” level examination is recognize international examinations that being use as parameter to help us gauge where our standard are. However, as our education policy changes, I believe that there is a need for us to review our examination system. While GCE examination is on academics base, Singapore is now looking at an all rounded development for our students, hence, to gauge a student’s abilities base on academics results would not be fair to the students. I think that if the local examination were to take place, it can consider segregating the examination system into examination base and non examination base. In addition, we should take into consideration the standard that we have to set in order to judge where our students stand internationally.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Friday, September 5, 2008
My Learning With Learning Journey - By Mohan
The learning journey conducted by Mr Lit was certainly an eye-opener for me as it made me realise the many differences between the schooling systems in Winchester College and Singapore. One such difference that Mr Lit highlighted to us is on the house systems that both the schooling systems adhere to.
From his sharing, it was certain that Winchester College seem to have a more committed house system as it will enable students to relate their patriotism towards their house and strive for a greater bonding amongst their house members. This is made possible as all the students there have to stay in the boarding school with their house mates. Accumulation of points to the house will be based on many criteria ranging from school activities to the activities in the boarding school. In Singapore, on the other hand, we seemed to only have such houses for the sake of doing so. To the extent that, we only get reminded about the houses when the school’s sports day come. Well, this is very different from that in Winchester. In fact, it was indeed surprising for me to hear from Mr Lit that the whole purpose and meaning why the house system was introduced in schools like Winchester College, was completely altered and modified in Singapore.
The other difference between the two schooling systems that Mr Lit mentioned was the teacher to student ratios in the schooling systems. It was indeed very shocking to hear that the largest class in Winchester College only had 15 students. This makes the teacher to student ratio to 15:1. Such a ratio indeed matters a lot for the teacher as it will allow the teacher to give better attention to each and every one in the class. This, in turn, will certainly benefit the students. However, this teacher to student ratio in Singapore is about 40:1. Now, with a class of 40 students, the attention and time span that a teacher will spend with every student in the class will certainly be affected and in fact, be reduced. As per what Mr Lit mentioned in his sharing session, our government have realised this now and have started taking some measures to improve the situation that still persists in Singapore with regards to the teacher to student ratio.
On the whole, I feel that there might be many differences between the schooling system in Winchester College and Singapore. However, I think each system has its own pros and cons. For example, like what Mr Lit mentioned in class, it is certainly evident that the Singapore education system holds strong beliefs in meritocracy and aims to give equal treatment to all its citizens. Such a belief or a goal is not followed in all education systems around the world. So, though I think there is certainly room for improvement in our system, I am definitely proud of our system that puts meritocracy as its main criteria in most things, which not all educational systems around the world give importance to.
From his sharing, it was certain that Winchester College seem to have a more committed house system as it will enable students to relate their patriotism towards their house and strive for a greater bonding amongst their house members. This is made possible as all the students there have to stay in the boarding school with their house mates. Accumulation of points to the house will be based on many criteria ranging from school activities to the activities in the boarding school. In Singapore, on the other hand, we seemed to only have such houses for the sake of doing so. To the extent that, we only get reminded about the houses when the school’s sports day come. Well, this is very different from that in Winchester. In fact, it was indeed surprising for me to hear from Mr Lit that the whole purpose and meaning why the house system was introduced in schools like Winchester College, was completely altered and modified in Singapore.
The other difference between the two schooling systems that Mr Lit mentioned was the teacher to student ratios in the schooling systems. It was indeed very shocking to hear that the largest class in Winchester College only had 15 students. This makes the teacher to student ratio to 15:1. Such a ratio indeed matters a lot for the teacher as it will allow the teacher to give better attention to each and every one in the class. This, in turn, will certainly benefit the students. However, this teacher to student ratio in Singapore is about 40:1. Now, with a class of 40 students, the attention and time span that a teacher will spend with every student in the class will certainly be affected and in fact, be reduced. As per what Mr Lit mentioned in his sharing session, our government have realised this now and have started taking some measures to improve the situation that still persists in Singapore with regards to the teacher to student ratio.
On the whole, I feel that there might be many differences between the schooling system in Winchester College and Singapore. However, I think each system has its own pros and cons. For example, like what Mr Lit mentioned in class, it is certainly evident that the Singapore education system holds strong beliefs in meritocracy and aims to give equal treatment to all its citizens. Such a belief or a goal is not followed in all education systems around the world. So, though I think there is certainly room for improvement in our system, I am definitely proud of our system that puts meritocracy as its main criteria in most things, which not all educational systems around the world give importance to.
Monday, September 1, 2008
Thoughts of the Learning Jouney.
After attending through the Learning Journey as conducted by Mr. Lit, I was really shocked and envious of Winchester College in terms of their classroom sizes between them and Singapore. The classroom sizes of Winchester College was amazingly a 10 : 1 teacher - students ratio and the "largest" size is only 15: 1. Comparing the class size into Singapore's local context, the teacher : students ratio is, 40 :1. Which makes us ponder..., "Are we really touching every child's mind and soul?"
I could almost visualise myself teaching in a class of 10. Every child's behaviour, every child's movement and I, the teacher, will be able to know them more easily and apply appropriate strategies into managing the classroom better. I could even use new thought of strategies into teaching lessons whereas it would not be as as "advantageous" as teaching in a class of 40. By saying this sentence, I don't mean it's impossible to use new strategies in a class of 40, it's just that i felt it's harder and the impact made on students will be reduced.
However, it is understandable for our Government to put class sizes to 40 pupils. There is always a demand for teachers and i have observed that the turn-over rate for teachers is high. This could well be the very reason that class sizes has not been reduced. On the other hand, MOE has been coming up with new policies like "Teach less, Learn More", "SEED" programmes as well as "Innovation and Enterprise". All of these mentioned helps teachers to engage students into a more student-centered learning environment, e.g. by using ICT or engaging the use of learning centers in classrooms.
Overall, i feel that as a teacher, constant changes in always around us; be it school changes, or policy changes. All we have to do is to accept the "change", and "change" ourselves accordingly and learn as much possible and apply the skills necessary whenever we can.
I could almost visualise myself teaching in a class of 10. Every child's behaviour, every child's movement and I, the teacher, will be able to know them more easily and apply appropriate strategies into managing the classroom better. I could even use new thought of strategies into teaching lessons whereas it would not be as as "advantageous" as teaching in a class of 40. By saying this sentence, I don't mean it's impossible to use new strategies in a class of 40, it's just that i felt it's harder and the impact made on students will be reduced.
However, it is understandable for our Government to put class sizes to 40 pupils. There is always a demand for teachers and i have observed that the turn-over rate for teachers is high. This could well be the very reason that class sizes has not been reduced. On the other hand, MOE has been coming up with new policies like "Teach less, Learn More", "SEED" programmes as well as "Innovation and Enterprise". All of these mentioned helps teachers to engage students into a more student-centered learning environment, e.g. by using ICT or engaging the use of learning centers in classrooms.
Overall, i feel that as a teacher, constant changes in always around us; be it school changes, or policy changes. All we have to do is to accept the "change", and "change" ourselves accordingly and learn as much possible and apply the skills necessary whenever we can.
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