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EDUCATION
131
January14
How can parents ensure that the students aren’t
using the devices inappropriately?
Where schools focus on the device and the app first, and
the learning second, lesson design tends to be shallow,
and students can tend towards less effective and even
inappropriate use of the iPad. Our teachers have already
begun the process of curriculum and lesson design as a first
point of planning, and will then look to see what apps fit the
design outcomes. This ensures deeper levels of educational
engagement with the iPad and avoids “baby-sitting”. We
will also be using back-end mobile device management to
tightly control apps that are installed on student devices.
Finally, students will be taken through essential agreements
with teachers to build understanding and commitment to
appropriate device handling and use.
LANGUAGE: Daily Mandarin
How much Mandarin instruction have students
been receiving up to now?
In Preschool, 20 minutes each day; in Prep to Year 5, three
40-minute classes a week.
Why Mandarin?
It’s important for us as an IBPYP school in Singapore to support
the learning of one of the host country’s main languages. We
want the students from an early age to acquire an additional
language that they build upon through their Elementary School
years. The collaboration of the experienced Mandarin staff
ensures a strongly innovative, differentiated programme.
We also want to build on the Australian commitment to
the initiatives from the “Australia in the Asian Century”
government white paper, and Australia’s engagement with
Asia as part of the Australian Curriculum.
Will the daily classes be based on the
immersion method?
Mandarin will be used throughout the lessons with a focus
on developing skills in speaking, listening, reading and
writing. Our teaching team has worked hard in 2013 to
develop a rigorous, coherent curriculum with a focus on
differentiation in preparation for daily Mandarin. Language
expert Dr Andrea Truckenbrodt has been guiding them, and
she will continue to support the teamwith their teaching and
assessment practices.
The Mandarin programme will also be supported by
the Apple 1:1 programme. Using technology is already a
feature of learning Mandarin at AIS, and greater access to
devices will further enhance the learning.
What level will students reach by Year 5?
If they start the programme from Preschool they should be
fluent enough both inside and outside the classroom to
converse about daily life and events. The students should
be able to recognise 150 characters and write up to 100
characters.
6883 5155 |
ais.com.sg