Overview of E-learning Practices in Singapore

1. Overview of E-learning Practices in Singapore Lim Kin Chew Digital Learning Asia 2006 Bangkok, 26 – 28 April 2006

2. Contents Background of e-Learning in Singapore E-learning in the schools in Singapore E-learning in the corporate bodies in Singapore Future of e-Learning in Singapore

3. Background - 1 1970’s – Mainframe-based computer-based training. Only for government ministries and big MNCs 1980’s – Mini-computer-based computer-based training, e.g. PDP machines & Honeywell computers Mid 1980’s onwards – Apple II computers & IBM PC-compatible PCs. Widespread use of languages like PC-Pilot Late 1980’s – video-based training, widespread use of laser disks Early 1990’s – multimedia-based authoring systems, e.g. IconAuthor, Authorware, ToolBook. CD-ROMs became very popular Mid 1990’s – The Web took over everything. LMSs gained widespread use. AICC specification used for tracking Early 2000’s – SCORM specification promoted widely Now – Open Source Software based LMSs giving commercial LMSs a run for their money. E.g. Moodle, Sakai Project, ATutor

4. Background - 2 Polytechnics & universities are the early adopters of e-learning Schools have two Masterplans: 1st IT Masterplan for Education (1997 – 2002) 2nd IT Masterplan for Education (2003 – 2007)

5. 1st IT Masterplan in Education Teachers to acquire basic proficiency in IT integration All teachers to be trained in the IT core skills (30 – 50 hours per teacher per year) All schools to be equipped with the IT infrastructure – networked and connected to the Internet 2 teachers to share one Notebook PC Pupil:PC ratio of 6.6 : 1 (primary schools). For secondary schools, the ratio is 5:1 Other accessory IT equipment (projectors and printers) Every school to have one Technology Assistant

6. 2nd IT Masterplan in Education Emphasis is on engaged learning Intended outcomes: Pupils use IT effectively for active learning Teachers use IT for professional & personal growth IT used to enhance connections between curriculum, instruction & assessment Schools to use IT for school improvement (e.g. administrative work) Active research on IT in eduation (e.g. Setting up the Centre for Research in Pedagogy & Practice, CRPP, in the NIE)

7. Use of LMS in Schools

8. Importance of System, Content & Technical Support

9. E-learning in the Institutions of Higher Learning (IHLs) Decisions are made independently as all the institutions of higher learning (IHLs) are totally decentralized. Every IHL has its own e-Learning system team and content development team. E-learning in all the IHLs is delivered mainly via LMSs, e.g. Blackboard, IVLE, WebCT, Moodle. Some contents are subscribed from vendors like SkillSoft and NETg.

10. Types of Content used in IHLs

11. E-learning in Corporate Bodies E-learning is used mainly to train their staff in specific competency areas, e.g. sales, marketing, language proficiency, renewing taxi driver’s license, servicing bank loans Companies tend to outsource the e-learning development LMS used may be customised for the company’s sole use, e.g. DHL eCampus Pedagogical strategy is rather limited. Mostly based on behaviourist approach – e.g. learn company’s products and services and then go out to sell them.

13. NTUC Income -2 Cooperative Insurance company – one of the big 4 insurance companies in Singapore 800 office staff; 4,500 insurance advisors No. of training hours per staff per year: 40 Annual training budget: 4% of company’s payroll Rationale for e-learning: Recognises limitation of classroom learning; e-learning – own time and pace, wider range of courses Wants to be an organisation which uses technology to train their employees

14. Started exploring since 1995 – On Intranet - simple documents on instructions (e.g. How-tos) for learning (e.g. Clerical to technical, covering duties) Actual e-learning initiative: Started in Oct 2001; now 9 months into initiative Assigned 1 full-time staff to coordinate 500 staff now receiving e-learning – 62.5% of office staff No. of e-learning hours per staff: 10 hours per year Total as at 30 June 2002: 3,500 hours

15. Types of e-learning content: Off-the-shelf (e.g. from SkillSoft, NETg) Procedures to guide staff in their jobs Product knowledge Courses preparing staff for professional exams – e.g. Financial Planning Future Directions: Use gaming for learning purpose Introduce virtual classrooms Develop in-house course development capability – i.e. develop own e-learning courses Offer e-learning courses to company’s 1 million policy holders Wants to have own company’s LCMS

16. Set up facilities for e-learning. Every centre has at least 1 PC for e-learning. Allows staff to e-learn in office. Encourages e-learning at home. Put in place e-learning champions to provide mentoring for e-learning courses. Has co-ordinators to monitor usage of e-learning. Supervisors to monitor staff’s e-learning monthly.

17. Management support is important. Mindset change is difficult. IT support is crucial. Sourcing & selecting vendor is a hassle.

18. Civil Service College - 1

19. Civil Service College: training institute of Singapore’s public servants. Total no. of civil servants: 120,000 Training hours per staff per year: 100 No. of full-time e-learning staff: 6 No. of staff receiving e-learning: 2,000 Serving e-learning to statutory boards and other government ministries

20. Launched Open Academy, the eLearning portal in July 2001 Serving public sector: Offer about 220 off-the-shelf e-learning courses, duration ranges from 4 to 13 hours, vendors include SmartForce, NETg, SkillSoft, etc.) Help build e-learning portal Offer admin & maintenance services Host the online courses Early adopters – Attorney General Department, Ministry of Education Use synchronous platform for certain courses About 2,000 trained in online courses

21. Periodic meetings with organisations to monitor e-learning adoption Organise forum to share information & experiences Organise roadshows to raise awareness Has e-Facilitators to guide e-learners

22. ELEAP - 1 E-learning Early Adopters Programme Introduced by the IDA from June 2002 to mid 2003. Pilot project meant to encourage companies to use e-learning. Objectives: Facilitate the development of the e-learning infrastructure Encourage companies to embrace e-learning for continual and effective employee training Develop the e-learning industry

23. ELEAP - 2 Criteria for participating companies: Singapore-registered companies At least 70% of the trainees must be Singapore citizens and/or Permanent Residents Company must train at least 30% or 150 employees for a minimum of 20 e-learning hours per employee for a period of 3 years Funding can come up to 50% of development cost but not exceeding S$100,000. Courseware & E-learning activities are subject to quality review.

24. Future of E-learning in Singapore Schools putting much of their content learning online Schools trying out new models of learning, e.g. simulations, games, virtual reality Schools using ICT tools to help in project works assessment, self and peer assessment Companies using customised LMSs for HR training

25. Conclusions E-learning has now been accepted as the norm in the delivery of education and training. There are differences amongst the schools, the polytechnics and the IHLs. MOE now working on a using e-learning during national emergencies like bird flu pandemic. We learnt much from the SARS pandemic in 2003! E-learning companies going to regional countries to get the e-learning business