Critical Review Of Thinking Schools And Learning Nations Implementation Of Curriculum Review In Singapore

Summary

Discuss about the Critical Review for Thinking Schools and Learning Nations.

The article is based on ‘Thinking Schools, Learning Nations’ Implementation of Curriculum Review in Singapore which was published in Educational Research for Policy and Practice journal in the year 2005. The article was published by Vanithamani Saravanan of National Institute of Education and Nanyang Technological University.  The article provides an insight into the policy implemented by Goh Chok, Minister of education who introduced the model: Thinking school and learning nation.  This article provides article regarding the manner in which the school has adopted the changing approaches. The author has made the research on imparting science and mathematics through English language. The purpose of the article is to introduce various different tools that help in leading the nation. The educational reform system has a major role in defining the status of the country (Chang, 2004).

The overall research is based on the changes in relation with the teaching and learning approach in the schools and the IPW approach to enable a class of underachievers.

The article provides a critical review regarding the author insight and his proposal in meeting the desired changes in the overall education system. The overall structure of the article is clear. Author is specifically focusing upon the training sessions in a systematic manner.

The article review is regarding the changes in the overall curriculum pattern introduced by the minister of education in 1997 to change the overall education mechanism. The new educational reform has changed the overall curriculum assessment. The schools were dependent upon the traditional manner of imparting education to the students. This caused a major concern to the government organization. There were consistent mistakes in the primary and lower level sections. Students and teachers were finding difficulty in accepting the overall educational mechanism. The language exercise undertaken in the schools was restricted to spelling exercise.  The students in the classrooms were restricted merely to the rote learning routine ( Lee et al 2004).  The pedagogy of teaching was restricted where teachers were subject to fill the worksheet. This has become a regular exercise in the class-room.  In the view of the rigid approach in the classroom, the review committee has introduced integrated project work in order to make learning more effective.  The overall purpose was to make learning more interesting. The purpose of the review was to inculcate social responsibility in the students and the teachers. The ministry of Education has organized various training programs so as to develop effective skills in their teaching method (Gopinathan, Ho, & Vanithamani 2004).

Critical Review

The author has provided an insight into the implementation of curriculum in Singapore. The overall aim of the article is to make learning more resourceful. The article provides with recommendations that need to be implemented in order to attain desired results. The review is to understand the efficacy regarding the initiative taken by the committee in order to bring changes (Emmer & Grewels 2002).  The IPW is one of the integral parts of education mechanism. The purpose of the article is to distinguish the role of every individual related to education so as to provide them with effective tools. 

The Author has however highlighted the manner in which training should be done for imparting education. The article is related to the critical implementation of the curriculum in the learning pattern in Schools at Singapore. The IPW approach is now implemented at every school located in Singapore. The purpose of implementing a new technique was to make overall education pattern more effective. Three teachers who were already teaching in the primary three class-rooms were selected to pair-up with English, mathematics and science teacher.  They were asked to provide weekly instructions to the student and their work being weekly reviewed.  The article is regarding the training sessions provided to the teachers where they have to learn role-play in order to function effectively.  They were given different role so that they can behave efficiently in future.  The purpose was to inculcate effective learning skills by providing them with training. It is necessary to understand that effective learning is necessary for developing a better future (Penuel, Fishman, Yamaguchi & Gallagher, 2007).

There were different planning stages whose purpose is to impart training by developing effective future. The teacher has to accept various roles in order to meet the objective.  The teachers were able to synthesize the knowledge received from different programs. It is necessary for an individual to develop specific skills so as to attain desired goals(Emmer & Grewels 2002).

The structure of the article is systematic where author has aligned his thoughts in a well structure. This is to highlight the severity of current policy implementation. The primary goal of the activity was to attain the objectives of IPW. Instructions were circulated in the schools that specifically focused on promoting creative learning and improving the communication skills in the pupil. Computers were used as a medium to create awareness among teachers. Group presentation and project learning were the part of overall mechanism.  The teachers were acknowledged during the overall process. The purpose of the project is to initiate the effective learning method. The previous learning pattern was monotonous and boring. The purpose of new learning method was to develop high level of learning. This is however necessary for an individual in order to understand the overall system and the mechanism.  Internet was used as an important tool to seek information in order to accomplish the desired goals(Deng, Gopinathan & Lee,2013).

Conclusion

The author is primarily focusing on the importance of implementing IPW. The purpose was to understand the feedbacks given by the trainee. The study has confirmed that the effective learning helps in creating an effective learning environment. The purpose of the overall technique and its implementation was met due to IPW. The teachers became less of disciplinarian and focused on facilitating effective role by encouraging the pupil development (Parkay,  Anctil & Hass,2014).

The role given to each individual was very well accomplished. The people in the group were able to give effective results.  The purpose was to understand the way in which one can fulfill the gap in imparting effective education. The co-operative learning is one of the effective way in which an individual can meet all his goals. The purpose was to introduce motivating programs so that the individual participates in the activity (Venville, Sheffield, Rennie & Wallace, 2008). IPW stood right exactly with its motive. The overall purpose of implementing the policies was made easily. Pupil in order to grow has to develop an effective learning mechanism.  The overall procedure helped them to work in a better manner (Burgess, Robertson & Patterson,2010).

The author has provided a review about the techniques that are necessary to be implemented in order to attain efficiency in teaching process.  There was a clear observation that the people want to incorporate effective learning. People were able to develop leadership quality in them which in return helped them to evolve.  The co-operative behavior has helped them to attain efficiency so that they can cope up with the pressure (Lim, Lee, Saito & Syed Haron, 2011).

Conclusion

Overall the article has effectively being framed with value thoughts in order to highlight the issue. Author has interpreted the thoughts in a well structure. The critical review is regarding the new integrated learning approach adopted by the government. There is a necessity to improve the overall learning pattern so that individual can develop a better learning in them. The language exercise undertaken in the schools was restricted to spelling exercise.  The students in the classrooms were restricted merely to the rote learning routines.  The purpose of the article is to evolve new learning mechanism in order to develop effective teaching. The article is regarding the training sessions provided to the teachers where they have to learn role-play in order to function effectively.  This has become important in the current scenario that the organization should improve overall productivity by developing effective role.  This has become important for an individual in order to meet the parameters related to effective education.

References 

Burgess, J., Robertson, G., & Patterson, C. (2010). Curriculum implementation: Decisions of early childhood teachers. Australasian Journal of Early Childhood, 35(3), 51.

Chang, A. (2004). Promoting Thinking Skills through Project Work, unpublished manuscript. ERAS, Annual general Meeting.

Deng, Z., Gopinathan, S., & Lee, C. (2013). Globalization and the Singapore Curriculum. Singapore: Springer.

Emmer & Grewels (2002). Cooperative Learning in Elementary Classrooms: Teaching Practices and Lesson Characteristics. The Elementary School Journal.

Gopinathan, S., Ho, W. K. & Vanithamani Saravanan (2004). Ethnicity Management and Language Education Policy: Towards a Modified Model of Language Education in Singapore Schools. Ed Lai Ah Eng, Eastern University Press.

Lee, Christine, Mary Cherian, Rahil Ismail, Maureen Ng, Jasmine Sim, & Chee Min Fui. (2004). Children’s Experiences of Multiracial Relationships in Informal Primary School Settings. In Beyond Rituals and Riots: Ethnic Pluralism and Social Cohesion in Singapore. pp. 228–257. Ed Lai Ah Eng., Institute of Policy Studies, Eastern University Press, Marshall Cavendish

Lim, C., Lee, C., Saito, E., & Syed Haron, S. (2011). Taking stock of Lesson Study as a platform for teacher development in Singapore. Asia-Pacific Journal of Teacher Education, 39(4), 353-365.

Parkay, F. W., Anctil, E. J., & Hass, G. (2014). Curriculum leadership: Readings for developing quality educational programs. Prentice Hall.

Penuel, W. R., Fishman, B. J., Yamaguchi, R., & Gallagher, L. P. (2007). What makes professional development effective? Strategies that foster curriculum implementation. American educational research journal, 44(4), 921-958.

Venville, G., Sheffield, R., Rennie, L. J., & Wallace, J. (2008). The writing on the wall: classroom context, curriculum implementation, and student learning in integrated, community?based science projects. Journal of research in Science Teaching, 45(8), 857-880.