Experimentation@Schools (ESP) focuses on pioneering innovative use of technology that supports Self Directed Learning (SDL) and Collaborative Learning (CoL). It aims to seed and encourage ICT innovations between schools and industry in the use of ICT for Learning and Teaching. By doing so, we hope to achieve

• Continuous creation of new products and services for use in Learning and Teaching, and subsequently reap returns through commercialisation; and
  
  
• Sustainable cascading of innovative infocomm applications to all schools to drive adoption of ICT in Education.
  

IDA and MOE will jointly identify potential educational technology themes to support MOE's ICT Masterplan. These themes include:

• Collaborative Learning Tools (CoL)
• Learning on the Move (LOTM) and more.

These themes will set the direction for ICT experimentation in education as IDA supports the infocomm industry and establishes strategic alliances, such as with MOE and Microsoft in the BackPackLIVE! programme, to develop and pilot new learning applications.

Collaborative Learning Tools (CoL)

With the proliferation of social networking tools, teachers who use such tools face the challenge of having to access multiple tools and systems to evaluate students' learning patterns. They also require tools to provide an aggregated view of students' data for the analysis of learning patterns and progression.

A CFC was awarded in Oct 2010 to iGINE Pte Ltd to develop tools to facilitate access to a wide variety of existing and familiar web-based collaborative and learning management tools through a single system. The dashboard interface will offer teachers and students access to a range of functionalities to support this collaborative learning framework. Teachers can also get access to information on student interactions and collaborations through social networking and knowledge sharing activities for the application of data mining and analytic technologies.

The CoL tool will be ready for piloting in schools by September 2011.

Learning on the Move (LOTM)

Teachers often face the challenge of engaging students in authentic environments beyond the classroom. The LOTM project seeks to develop ICT tools which enable teachers to create interactive learning trails for students to collaborate and learn more effectively.

A Call-For-Collaboration (CFC) was awarded in Oct 2010 to LDR Pte Ltd to create an innovative LOTM solution in order to:

• Increase interaction and retention of information among learners;
  
  
• Support collaborative learning through the interactive exchange of ideas and participation; and
  
  
• Allow learners to have direct and hands-on experience to access and analyse information that supports self-directed learning and critical thinking.

The LOTM tool will be ready for piloting in schools by September 2011.

BackPackLIVE!

MOE, IDA and Microsoft Singapore announced the launch of the BackPackLIVE! Initiative on 16 July 2009. This initiative is an expansion of the previous five year IDA-Microsoft BackPack.NET initiative launched in 2003. The new collaboration will focus on inspiring, exploring and scaling ICT practices among teachers to develop students' self-directed and collaborative learning capability. BackPackLIVE! aims to cascade the good practices and solutions emerging from these Professional Learning Communities to other schools. The 3 focus areas in BackPackLIVE! are:

Supporting Professional Learning Communities in Schools
One of the focus areas of BackPackLIVE! is promoting the innovative use of ICT to transform classroom practices through the support of Professional Learning Communities within and across schools. Through the programme, educators will be able to tap on the expertise of overseas education consultants and local research partners to develop pilot projects on the use of ICT to achieve self-directed learning, collaborative learning and effective assessment.

The aim is to cascade the good practices and solutions emerging from these Professional Learning Communities to other schools.

Cultivating Developers Community
BackPackLIVE! will give educators the opportunity to see their ICT ideas transform into reality. Under this sector, the developers will work closely with educators in the Professional Learning Communities to create innovative solutions for the pilot projects undertaken by the schools.

IDA offers development grants to the selected industry partners to develop and test their applications and products in the pilot schools to determine the effectiveness of their solutions. Eligible companies can also leverage Microsoft's business and technology capabilities in the education sector to build up their expertise.

Promoting Cyber Wellness Education
It is important to educate students on the safe and responsible use of ICT. The third area of BackPackLIVE! is about promoting cyber wellness through active engagement of students and the dissemination of the programme's messages to their peers. Schools will be invited to take part in the Cyber Wellness Student Ambassador Programme which aims to train a group of students to promote cyber wellness to their peers. Students will be educated on good netiquette and learn the potential dangers that exist in cyber space.

* These schools are in the process of securing their industry partners.

Visit www.backpacklive.sg for more information on schools' projects and industry partners.

Downloads

Download Experimentation@Schools Presentation Slides in PDF.

Enquiries

For more information, please send your queries to infoedv@ida.gov.sg.