August 2008: Computer games to make learning fun, interactive digital media and field trips, virtual learning and digital textbooks, are some of the tools and applications that children can experience in the school of the future.

Technology the great enabler, is used to support experiential and inquiry-based learning, role-playing, decision-making and problem-solving. Students will enjoy rich learning experiences anchored in both the real and virtual worlds.

Early this month, the Ministry of Education announced a new six-year master plan to bring Information Communication Technology (ICT) into classrooms. The plan includes a network of labs to develop new learning tools, as well as better broadband infrastructure so that students can learn on the go.

Students can also expect lessons to take on a more interesting approach. Specially designed computer games integrate fun and action with lesson plans such as "set squares and perpendicular lines".

Most schools in Singapore have been using computers in classrooms since 1997. But Minister for Education Ng Eng Hen says a gap continues to exist between familiarity with ICT and translating this into effective teaching.

Educational labs will be set up so that teachers and curriculum specialists can create and test IT tools. These labs will also allow schools to share their innovations.

The Ministry says at the initial stage, these labs could be located within the five schools selected for the Future Schools project. They are Beacon Primary, Canberra Primary, Crescent Girls, Jurong Secondary and Hwa Chong Institution.

The ambitious four-year Future Schools project was launched by the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore in May 2008 when it awarded four consortiums of ICT vendors and suppliers, to design and create the futuristic education environment:

• The first consortium led by Civica and comprising five other members, offers its Problem-Based Learning-Authentic Learning programme centered on an interactive 3D learning environment. Problem-based learning scenarios challenge students to work collaboratively with peers to solve problems.
• The second consortium, led by Hewlett-Packard, is based on an integrated physical and virtual learning environment. Students take interactive field trips and access learning resources and tools such as games, virtual reality learning content and interactive digital textbooks.
• The third consortium, led by SingTel, leverages on 3D educational games with simulations, interactive digital media and mobile learning applications. Students participate in the games, they also role play, collaborate in decision-making situations and learn problem-solving skills.
• ST Electronics leads the fourth consortium, offering an interactive 3D Virtual Learning Environment called Beacon World.

Grand vision

The overall technology-based vision for education is set out in the iN2015 Education and Learning plan to foster an engaging learning experience that meets the diverse needs of Singaporeans, through the innovative use of infocomm.

Three strategic thrusts have been developed:

• to create an enriching and personalised learner-centric environment in the educational institutions;
• to build a nation-wide Education and Learning infrastructure; and
• to position Singapore as a centre for innovation in the use of infocomm technologies for Education and Learning.

Going beyond the classroom is an IT-based learning programme by IDA, known as EdVantage. Aligned to the Ministry of Education's IT Master Plan II, the programme uses innovative solutions to showcase Singapore as the leader in exploiting infocomm in education.

EdVantage can help create revenue opportunities and new capabilities for local infocomm enterprises in the education sector.

BackPack.NET is another initiative, a collaboration between IDA and Microsoft Singapore. Launched in October 2003, this five-year project facilitates the research, development, testing and showcasing of new infocomm technologies to create an eco-system for emerging technologies in education. Innovative educational tools include tablet PCs and digital inking applications.

Singapore has an enrollment of more than 530,000 pupils in over 350 schools, from primary to tertiary, according to the Ministry of Educationт€™s 2007 Statistics Report.