| Volume 1 Issue 7, March 2009 | | Newton, The Socratic Questioner: A Perfect Fit for Pedagogy and Technology By Alvin Tan & Lee Chin Teck, Ngee Ann Secondary School, Singapore | Digital Natives
With the advent of the Internet, the educational landscape of the 21st Century is beginning to change like never before. The world of Internet and its array of peripherals and digital gizmos are starting to breed a new generation of young people who are perpetually surrounding and connecting their five senses to the digital world. This new generation, the digital natives as they are commonly known, have different cognitive learning patterns from students of yester years. As such, we as educators, face a new challenge in teaching and educating them.
One particular digital phenomenon that swept through our region in recent years is the pervasive usage of Instant Messenger. Research and reports have shown that practically every student owns an MSN account and many of them spend hours interacting, chatting, and working on the Internet via instant messaging.
Instant Messaging
With the knowledge that IM (instant messaging) has become such a part of the life of a student, we decided to explore how we can infuse an educational pedagogy into this tool to bring about engaged learning. The instant messaging tool provides a natural platform for question-and-answer between two people, so we chose Socratic Questioning as the underlying pedagogy. With this in mind, we sought and collaborated with Microsoft to create a Socratic Windows Live Agent (WLA) called Newton to teach Newton's Laws.
A good match between Technology and Pedagogy Instant messaging is a tool of communication whereby two or multiple-parties engage in quick and short conversations. It has been used extensively, especially amongst students as a mode of communication. As such, the Socratic Questioning model avails itself readily as a suitable pedagogy which can be implemented fairly easily within the IM platform. Its basic mode of learning will allow a facilitator to guide students to acquire knowledge of a particular topic through a series of questions and feedback. In this case, it is the learning of Newtons' Laws. 
Feedback from Students The feedback and responses from the students in using the WLA as a tool for learning have been favorable. As a pioneering venture in integrating MSN with Socratic Inquiry Method to bring about teaching and learning in a virtual setting, we are glad that we have made a head start in making such a teaching platform a reality. Although the integration between pedagogy and the MSN platform is yet to be perfected, we managed to gather some feedback from our students on what they like about this new mode of learning, as well as suggestions for improvement. From the post-survey results, 99% of the respondents agree that they learn more about Newton's Laws of motion after interacting with WLA. From the answers that were given for the quiz, we can see that students indeed show reasonably good understanding of Newton's Laws. Reflection Engaging a whole new generation of digital natives, to bring about meaningful teaching and learning, has been our primary goal in embarking on this project. To this end, we believe that we have, in a small way, successfully incorporated and brought typical classroom teaching into the virtual space that our youths are so accustomed to. Instead of seeing the world of Internet and its arrays of peripherals and platforms as competitors and distractions to our typical classroom teaching, we believe it can serve to complement teaching and learning as well. The Windows Live Agent serves as a case in point, where if used appropriately, pedagogy (Socratic Questioning) can lead technology, to bring about effective and engaged learning in students. For more information contact Alvin Tan, alvin_tan@ngeeannsec.edu.sg or learn more at Ngee Ann Secondary School Web site, http://www.ngeeannsec.edu.sg.
The Mission of the Visionary By Zosimo B. Gomez
Maria Cristina National High School
Fuentes, Maria Cristina, Iligan City, Philippines
I joined the Department of Education as a mathematics teacher on July 16, 2002 and in my first year at Maria Cristina National High School, I was designated as the School ICT Coordinator. I was among those who subscribed to the vision of using ICT to improve learning and better prepare the Filipino Youth for the demands of a knowledge-based economy. While others hoped to create a network of schools for better and effective collaboration, I also had my own dreams-- to make our school the ICT center of the Iligan City Division.
With state-of-the-art IT hardware, peripherals and Internet connectivity provided by Microsoft Philippines through its Partners in Learning program, and the PC given by the Department of Education courtesy of its computerization program, I learned the technology using the available materials at hand. Though short of trainings, I took advantage of my background on WordStar, Lotus 123, and Dbase 3+. I found it difficult, but my aspirations drove me onward to acquire learning.
When the Department of Trade and Industry, through its PCPS I program, donated additional PC units, I was privileged to be taught the technology. The materials from Microsoft's Partners in Learning were user-friendly, so I decided to impart the skills I had acquired to interested high school students, high school teachers, grade school teachers, community residents and even grade school students. I wanted to help them appreciate the modern technology available at the locality and to gain support for laboratory sustainability.
To accomplish this, I had to sacrifice some of my priorities. I also went the extra mile by conducting trainings from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm on week days and 8:00 am to 5:00 pm on Saturdays.
Trainings conducted by different sponsoring agencies made me realize that aside from teaching technology, it is very important to use technology as a tool in the teaching - learning environment. I shifted from Computer Literacy to Information Literacy. Computer Aided Instruction and ICT Integration were part of the teaching strategies in different learning areas in our school.
Today, six years have passed. While my dream of making the school an ICT center in the Division seems to be difficult to achieve, the vision is now clearer. The laboratory was declared as one of the PCPS-assisted best computer laboratories. Moreover, the school has produced three Innovative Teachers Leadership awardees. It has allowed students to excel in the ICT-assisted skills competition. It has also produced national ICT trainers and even developed training materials for teachers. Maria Cristina National High School was among the schools that were able to send teachers to conduct training for fellow teachers, a task usually done only by IT professionals. ICT was instrumental in making the out-of-school youths and community adults become more productive. ICT enabled the school administrator and teacher to take online courses. Our school continued to use information and communication technology because many believe that it improves learning and is essential in workforce preparedness. This belief allowed us to gain support from the local government units, parents, teachers and community associations, NGOs, foundations and other benefactors. Now, I realize that it is not the place that makes the ICT center, but it is the activities that occur in the ICT center. Computers and the Internet will continue to be the most accessible source of information and will also continue to be used in teaching with technology because we unveiled the key to sustainability-- SHARING. In sharing there is always partnership. It is where you and I belong. WE are partners in learning. For more information contact Mae Rivera-Moreno at mrivera@microsoft.com,
Innovation and Educational Leadership in Costa Rica By Maritza Monge
What roles and responsibilities do school leaders need to assume to insure we offer all students powerful learning activities? What changes are necessary from our leaders to reshape school culture to provide teachers with the professional development they need to meet students' needs? In September 2009, the Innov@ Institute of the Omar Dengo Foundation (ODF) in San Jose, Costa Rica provided a workshop for leaders that offered participants the opportunity to address these and other key issues. The Educational Leadership workshop was lead by Les Foltos from Puget Sound Center for Teaching, Learning and Technology. The participants for the seminar included the key leadership groups that can shape innovation: K-12 classroom teachers, project directors, curriculum developers, curriculum supervisors, K-12 administrators, teacher educators and pre-service teachers. Each of them came from institutions that participate in the Peer Coaching program, which is part of Partners in Learning. The seminar was exciting to the participants because they had the opportunity to discuss and define innovative learning and address the changes needed in teaching and learning, professional development and school culture in their particular contexts, whether they are in primary schools, middle schools or alternative education settings. The Omar Dengo Foundation included leadership on its list of key issues of the professional development program to work with professionals in education, cognition and government to help students receive the highest quality 21st century education. This year, the foundation has launched a project that addresses the many issues facing current academic and administrative leaders and the developing leaders who will guide institutions deep into a leadership program to engage in inquiry and dialogue about important leadership topics. The Foundation works jointly with the Costa Rican Ministry of Public Education on their National Educational Informatics Program to implement programs reaching over 450,000 children and teachers throughout the country. Their programs focus on education, technology, and economic development, with a particular interest in human development, creativity and learning. For more information contact at Maritza.Monge@fod.ac.cr.
Robotics Studio Training - As an Educational Alliance Activity
Robotics Studio training is part of the Microsoft Education Alliance and it is a showcase of innovative use of ICT in education. Microsoft created a Robotics Studio curriculum for students, and this is deployed to help enhance the creativity of students in Daejeon. The curriculum has the basic and advanced versions, where the latter is under development, based on Visual Studio technology. The feedback from the trainees and the Office of Education was extremely strong. With this alliance, Microsoft is able to present a more seamless experience to customers in the education sector, both in terms of the educational services and the educational product that Microsoft produces. Furthermore, students' creativity is enhanced. Participants also get an opportunity to sign up for the Local Robotics Studio competition and Imagine Cup. This portal was launched in August of 2006. As of today, 11,774 educators have registered and the portal was accessed 753,080 times. This site provides all information on PiL activities in Korea, even foreign educational information. Educators are also able to join communities for various PiL trainings conducted in Korea. Examples of PiL trainings include Peer Coaching, 21st Century Schools, Leading Change, and e-Problem Based Learning. There are 282 communities for the training and approximately 40 teachers per community. To further enhance the value proposition brought by Microsoft Korea, the site recently integrated Live@edu services. Now, in a single registration, anyone who registered at www.mspil.co.kr simultaneously gets an account to access the PiL content and Live@edu services. Previous members of this site can now renew their membership and utilize Live@edu resources. For more information contact Bum Joo Park at bumjpark@microsoft.com.
Announcements Prestigious National Award in 2008 - The Minister Award for Contributions on ICT Education Bum Joo Park, Academic Program Manager, received the National Award from the Minister in Education, Science and Technology on December 31, 2008.
This award is based on the excellent job Bum Joo Park has done under Partners in Learning (PiL) in Korea, where Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MEST) and Microsoft have been training underprivileged students, beginning November 2005 to December 2008. During this period, approximately 2,800 students were trained by the IT training camp and there were 58 training sessions conducted in all. At this camp, students picked up basic IT skills, presentation skills and multimedia editing by learning Windows, Office, Movie Maker and Project-based Learning. Bum Joo Park felt a great sense of fulfillment as his visionary leadership and hard work in PiL has added value to the national ICT and contributed towards Microsoft's Education vision.
Student's Reflection Jin Su Park (student, participant in the 1st training of 2007) "I hope one more participation in this training!!! I did several activities in this camp. I learned how to make a script with MS Word, make a presentation with MS PowerPoint and a quotation with MS Excel program. Also, I made a film after take some pictures with digital camera and digital camcorder and participated in the competition with other teams.I thought the training would be a program on basic IT skills, but I knew the training is a wonderful thing beyond my imagination.Thanks again for Microsoft to give great opportunity to me."Teacher's Reflection Jung Gu Park (education official from Julanam-do Office of Education) "I was supposed to bring students from Julanam-do to participate in this training program... There were many problems in the planning and preparation. Prior to the training, I was worried that things will not go on well because I felt the students don't like the training. But I knew it was. my misunderstanding at once after starting the training.
The teaching method was fresh and the students were immersed in the training by teaching of teachers. Also, I knew ICT tools can be well integrated in classroom differently from school. Actually, in school, ICT education is just for ICT skills. Students here get training how to use ICT, e.g., MS Office and they do homework or class work by ICT tools. But, I knew teachers can do various methods for teaching and learning using ICT Tools in this training program.
The most important things in this program I think is that the students from disadvantaged environments can get individual dream and life vision in this program and ICT can support their dream and vision.
Thanks a lot for all." For more information, please contact to Bum Joo Park at bumjpark@microsoft.com.
Department of Education, Microsoft Extend Partnership for ICT-empowered Learning At the recently-held Educators Congress in Baguio City, the Department of Education (DepEd) and Microsoft Philippines signed a Memorandum of Understanding, signifying their continuing partnership to enhance the Philippine educational system through ICT-enabled teaching and learning. DepEd and Microsoft also renewed their collaboration for Partners in Learning, as the program enters its next phase. Partners in Learning is a Microsoft global initiative for education, designed to increase schools' access to technology and improve the use of ICT in the classroom. "Microsoft has provided major support to DepEd's ICT Program through Partners in Learning. Their commitment to education is inspiring and commendable," said Department of Education Secretary Jesli Lapus. "We look forward to collaborating with them on more projects in the coming years." Seng Heng Chuah, Education General Manager, Microsoft Asia Pacific joined Lapus during the signing. "We have had the great opportunity to touch the lives of over 90 million students, teachers, and policy makers in 101 countries," said Chuah. "Some of the most moving stories about how technology has changed the teaching and learning experience have come from the Philippines." In the next five years, Partners in Learning will focus on identifying, sharing and scaling practices and behaviors that improve learning outcomes, through three program areas that have the greatest potential to empower and transform education: Innovative Schools, Innovative Teachers and Innovative Students. "With the Department of Education, we have been able to reach more schools and train more teachers," said Michelle Casio, Academic Programs Manager, Microsoft Philippines. "The second version of Partners in Learning will build upon the most effective programs of the last five years," she added. Since 2003, around 20,000 educators have been trained on Digital Literacy and ICT Integration, 21st Century Leadership, and advanced ICT courses. Partners in Learning teachers also trained abroad on curriculum delivery. Educators who have undergone training become tech coaches, voluntarily conducting training sessions for their colleagues. Aside from training, Partners in Learning has made software available to public schools through Fresh Start and Partners in Learning School Agreement, which offers special pricing on Microsoft Office applications. A portal with over 40,000 community members has been developed to enable teachers to share lesson plans and best practices. Furthermore, Microsoft provided an e-mail system for all DepEd teachers through the Windows Live@edu initiative. Currently, over 20,000 teachers have their own DepEd e-mail accounts and the project is set for roll-out nationwide this year. For more information contact Mae Rivera-Moreno at mrivera@microsoft.com.
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