eForesee

Re: Re(2): eForesee malta-ict: Scenarios for Malta i n ICT

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  • Subject: Re: Re(2): eForesee malta-ict: Scenarios for Malta i n ICT
  • From: "Adrian Mallia"
  • Date: Tue, 27 Aug 2002 10:20:54 +0200


I do not think that this is a University bashing. It is simply a healthy
discussion among professionals. If on the way, some institution or other
gets some flak does not mean that we should throw in a wet blanket. I
assure you our own organisation gets quite a lot of that ... but that helps
you to stay on your toes and to try not to repeat mistakes.
I think Ray's point referred to a wider issue relating to the education
system in general not just the University - it does not deal only with ICT
professionals (and I largely agree with Brian as well re: entrepreneurs
employing professionals - it happens a lot in other industry -and
especially abroad). The whole point is that we should stimulate the
education system and the educators in particular to allow children/students
to think "outside of the box". Thinking skills are always helpful whatever
the profession. Unfortunately what several of our students are ending up
with are nice certificates but very little else with regards to innovative
ideas. Without generalizing, often these same bright students (including
graduates) find it hard to apply what they have learnt in the classroom to
real world situations.
 
 "Cachia Robert 
 Michael at OPM" To: [email protected], [email protected] 
  [email protected]> Subject: Re(2): eForesee malta-ict: Scenarios for Malta i n ICT 
 Sent by: 
 owner-malta-ict@efo 
 resee.info 
 
 
 26/08/2002 15:12 
 Please respond to 
 malta-ict 
 
 
Brian,
Well stated.
University bashing will get us nowhere.
Perhaps we need to look around the full 360 degrees.
Dr. Robert M. Cachia
CSM chair (8/27/02 1:00 AM):
>Ray,
>
>you've made a very important point.
>
>In a previous discussion it has been said that perhaps the university is
not
turning out the required high level of ICT graduates. I believe that this
is
incorrect, and that the University is turning out graduates to the required
academic level.
>
>However, an adequate supply of suitably-qualified ICT graduates will not
give
us what we're after, which is growth of the ICT industry in Malta. Perhaps
ICT
students are not entrepreneurial by nature, perhaps any entrepreneurial
spirit
they may have has never been encouraged, or perhaps they were never taught
how
to turn ideas into business.
>
>Perhaps we don't even need ICT graduates who are also entrepreneurs.
Perhaps
all we need is entrepreneurs, who can get an ICT business started up and
employ
ICT professionals to develop his ideas.
>
>In any case, there's a lot that needs to be done to develop the ICT
industry
in Malta, but raising the academic level of University graduates is fairly
low
on that list.
>
>Brian
>
>
>Brian Warrington
>Chairman, Computer Society of Malta
>www.csm.org.mt
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Ray Muscat
> To: [email protected]
> Sent: Monday, August 26, 2002 11:50 AM
> Subject: RE: eForesee malta-ict: Scenarios for Malta in ICT
>
>
> Juan,
>
>
>
> I like your contribution. Indeed, our current education system is
failing.
Instead of trying to nurture the innovative and inquisitive elements of our
children, the system is filtering the few academically gifted students from
the
many practical (and possibly those that do think out of the box) students.
The
system is preparing students to University, which is itself not
entrepreneurial,
leading to graduates that are indeed very low on creativity. On the other
hand,
given the opportunity (such as Young Enterprise), our youngsters prove to
all
that they can indeed be creative.
>
>
>
> Ray Muscat
> KBIC
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Juan Borg Manduca []
> Sent: 22 August 2002 14:17
> To: [email protected]
> Subject: Re: eForesee malta-ict: Scenarios for Malta in ICT
>
>
>
> 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 -----
>
> From: Leonard Bezzina
>
> To: [email protected]
>
> 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
> ___________
>
>
>
>
> +++++++++++++++
>
> 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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