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I'd like to add to this suggestion (see email from Leonard Bezzina below) because it particularly interests me.
Since I have been involved in formative assessments for some time now, an area worth pursuing is how to develop a system which will evolve the present system of education (exam based) into one which will take into consideration the special needs of 'individual' students.
In fact, the National Minimum Curriculum makes reference to introducing formative assessments as part of a school's delivery mechanism.
In many cases, exams are actually detrimental to our children, and instead of achieving the desired target of 'educating' our children, are actually harming them by focusing on getting the students 'through' exams.
The major problem with today's system is that it does the exact opposite of what such a system is supposed to do ie instead of the system being made to fit the student, the student is being forced to fit the system.
I would categorise students into three main groups, a) bookworm, b) learning by observation, c) learning by 'hands-on'.
The present system caters for only the bookworm (as we all know), and all other students end up falling through the net, and in most cases being branded as failures. This branding of students occurs at as early an age as 5-6 years.
The advent of ICT presents us with a unique opportunity to design a case study, eg take the syllabus of one particular subject in one particular year and present the same syallabus in three different formats to suit all groups of students (ie one format will address the bookworm and may not differ considerably from today's presentation method, but the other two would of course ensure that the student learns by using techniques customised to that particular group). The use of computers will be the fulcrum of delivery of curriculum.
Of course, proper tests are to be designed in order to be able to categorise students properly.
In this manner, one could use this case study on a group of students from a particular school (willing to participate), and results (statistics) could then be used and compared in order to gauge success (or failure) of the project.
These are just my thoughts..........
Juan
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, August 22, 2002 1:18 PM
Subject: Re: eForesee malta-ict: Scenarios for Malta in ICT
Dear Jennifer,
I would like to suggest the following scenario:
Malta would become a centre of excellence in ICT in education (practice and theory). This implies a situation where all teachers are making the best possible use of ICT in order to enhance teaching and learning in all areas of the curriculum and at all levels of our education system (primary, secondary, post-secondary and tertiary). This vision includes making most of the communication capabilities of current and future technology in order to promote learning at a distance and at all times of the day (e-learning) and at facilitating communication between parents/guardians and the school. It also implies a situation where Malta develops innovative ways of making use of ICT in our classrooms. Once such a vision is in place we can become a Mediteranean centre of excellence in teacher education in this area. We can then offer appropriate University level courses mainly through distance learning.
Leonard Bezzina
Jennifer Cassingena Harper wrote:
Dear Colleagues, We would like to initiate an on-line discussion on alternative futures for Malta in ICT. We would like you to send us up to ten different scenario themes for Malta in ICT. These can be scenario themes focused on:
- specific niche areas (e.g. Malta as an e-learning hub)
- or ICT-enabled initiatives (e.g. on-line gambling)
- or telecomms-related initiatives
- or any other ideas in general !!
Ideally, this exercise should not involve too much time - maximum 30 minutes - just jot down what comes immediately to mind. So send us your feedback if possible by Thursday 22 August.Looking forward to hearing from you, Jennifer
___________Dr. Jennifer Cassingena Harper
Head, Policy Unit,
Malta Council for Science and Technology
Villa Bighi, Bighi, Kalkara CSP 11, Malta
email: [email protected] http://www.mcst.org.mt
direct dial-in: +356 23602125
tel. +356 21 660340 (fax) +356 21 660341
___________
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Dr Leonard Bezzina
Department of Mathematics, Science and Technical Education
Faculty of Education
University of Malta
Msida MSD 06
Malta
E-mail address: [email protected]
Telephone number: 3290 2404
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