E-textbook: Déjà vu?

(An abridged version of this article, re-titled "Comprehensive Study Needed", was published in The Star Educate on 11 November 2018)

With reference to the report in the Sunday Star dated 28^th October 2018, “E-textbook introduction draws mixed reaction from public”, and the many questions I have been asked about it, I must say this was indeed a surprise announcement by the Deputy Education Minster!  My initial reaction is: How is this “school-going- digital” initiative which gets all stakeholders so excited or worried about, different from the large scale Smart Schools initiative of the late 1990s? How is it tying in with other ICT project(s) currently in schools such as the BistariNet?    

Without having further details, and judging by the statement made that only PDF files will be used for a start, I can only caution that if proper long-term plans are not already in place for its rollout next year, this initiative may turn out to be little more than a costly déjà vu. After all, students reading PDF files means that the e-device is only a page-turner and a storage of digitized content; and e-textbook is nothing more than a change of form, not substance. (However, just an aside here, if we can extrapolate and utilize it to promote bilingual education, then it may be a different story!)  Admittedly, moving from PDF to interactive learning materials could be a real reform involving a change in substance, but this cannot happen without seeing it and planning for it in a larger context.  Are not all these interactive learning materials supposedly already developed and in use during the Smart Schools era or thereafter? If yes, do we have enough of such materials now ready for use soon? If not, is the development of such materials still in the pipeline, or only work in progress?           

I wonder if any official comprehensive study has been conducted since the days of the Smart Schools Project – for which the previous government has spent millions if not billions of ringgit -- to assess and evaluate the current state of ICT and its use or applications in teaching and learning in our schools nationwide. If yes, I certainly hope the MoE can use its findings to effectively bring the e-textbook initiative to the higher level of deploying it as an enabler and empowering tool to improve the quality of teaching and learning in schools. For now, the advantages of using e-textbook touted by some, do not seem overwhelming, considering its cost and in view of the many disadvantages already voiced by various quarters so far.

This brings to mind a report which may be of some use to the MoE in planning to go digital by way of the e-texbook. Microsoft implemented its Partner-in-Learning (PiL) projects in various Asian countries including Malaysia, when a MOE was signed between Bill Gates and our then Minister of Education, Malaysia in June 2004. In 2006, I worked on a consultancy project with the then National Institute of Education in Singapore to evaluate for Microsoft, its PiL project’s impact in Malaysia. The report may be “old” but the many issues, problems and challenges unraveled are perhaps still current and relevant.  Maybe it is time to take a relook at this report as well?

Finally, I would like to quote what I said in my “IT and Education” column in the Star years ago, with regard to the then Smart Schools Project and the many subsequent ICT initiatives in schools:” ....If we can impose some limits rather than getting entangled in a high-tech frenzy, we may be able to free some valuable financial resources devoted to technology and channel them to some impoverished fundamentals such as: providing adequate physical amenities for a conducive learning environment in all schools, building up the nation’s core of knowledgeable, dedicated and inspiring teachers, and teaching solid skills in thinking and learning.”  In other words, e-textbooks must not be implemented in haste, without a comprehensive study of where we are in the use of ICT in schools right now, the resources currently available and in place in schools, the overall cost and potential effectiveness of the e-textbook initiative, and its implications for our long term goal of substantive education reform in schools. Finally, questions that beg to be answered: Is this e-textbook initiative planned as a significant cog in the larger wheel of education reform in schools? Or is it a stopgap measure or quick fix for some other problems?    

Education Reform and 21st Century Learning

An abridged version titled "A move in the right direction" was published in Educate, Sunday Star 16 December 2018

Education Reform and 21^st Century Learning

I refer to the cover story “Towards 21^st Century Learning” of Star Educate on 4 November 2018. As a curriculum and instruction specialist who has strived to keep abreast of changes and advances in the education arena over the years, I must say this is a move in the right direction. The pilot project Genosis does sound promising, judging by the list of learner attributes which reflect the desirable learning outcomes.  

However, as the cliché goes, the devil is really in the details. As rightly pointed out, the success of such a project, if it eventually goes nationwide, will hinge on a well-planned and implemented teacher education and accreditation programs, both pre- and in-service. How this can be achieved will require a lot of resolves and efforts on the part of all stakeholders. For starters, we can only hope that the soon-to-be- rolled-out pilot project involves a truly representative sample of our public schools attended by both the haves and have-nots in our huge student communities. With this, perhaps rigorous evaluation -- both formative and summative -- will produce the necessary findings to guide and ensure the scalability and adaptability, as well as long-term sustainability of this project nationwide.

The main concern of many stakeholders right now is how will the implementation of Genosis fit into the larger picture of education reform. As a proponent of cooperative learning since the 1990s, I can only say I am glad to see that Genosis is emphasizing on many learner attributes that can be cultivated through this learner-centered approach that I have tried to promote over the last many years. To this end, and to facilitate school-based education programs for teachers, especially those in service, I have co-authored a book “Learning cooperative learning via cooperative learning”, first published in the US; then followed by a BM version here in Malaysia, and later a Chinese version in China. Packaged with the BM version is an interactive courseware for environmental education that creates awareness in environmental issues, reinforces cooperative learning skills, and promotes higher order thinking among students. Perhaps this courseware, which was distributed to all secondary schools in Malaysia -- with the sponsorship of Hewlett Packard -- can now serve as some kind of prototype for the development of more of such learning material to help achieve the learning outcomes as outlined by Genosis. Project-based learning advocated by Genosis is fine, and in fact, together with inquiry learning, it has purportedly been widely used in schools in Malaysia over the years. Unfortunately, without a proper group structure such as that of cooperative learning, its impact on learning outcomes has remained somewhat unclear.      

In conclusion -- and to cut a long story short – the Genosis project, like the e-textbook initiative, must be planned and implemented as an integral part of the larger framework of the education reform we are all looking forward so much to, with bated breath. As it is, without knowing enough details, teachers are already whining and moaning about the prospect of having to do more report-writing and daily data entry, using yet another platform or learning management system.

Dr Gan Siowck Lee

PiL Project in Malaysia: Conclusion

                                                         AN APPEAL TO THE PM TO REVISE THE NEP

by Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam

Chairperson Asli Center of Public Policy Studies

June 27th , 2018 

Most Malaysians , especially the Bumiputras, will welcome the statement made by the Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad , in the Channel NewsAsia  interview recently that the  - `Affirmative Action is still needed to bridge the gap and avoid  conflict between Bumiputras and other races`.

This has  been the  policy adopted  in our  socio economic planning and implementation since the New Economic Policy was introduced in 1970 .

However , the socio economic scenario  has improved considerably over time . The Affirmative Action has  significantly reduced the risks of conflicts that can be caused by socio economic and wealth  disparities .Today the gaps between the Bumis and Chinese and many  others  have  been largely narrowed . 

The greater challenge now is the growing gap in incomes and standards of  living  and the quality of life of the rich and poor  Malaysians of all races between and also within   ethnic groups . There are very poor Malays, Chinese , Indians and other Minority Groups all over Malaysia  ! Its more  a national issue and not confined to any racial group as such !

Appeal to PM

Thus many Malaysians , regardless of race , l therefore Appeal to the Prime Minister and his able Cabinet and wise the Council of Eminent Persons (CEP) ,  to review and revise the NEP , to adopt and adapt to  the new socio economic and political realities   , after their most impressive  and welcome electoral GE 14 victory !

Currently , the economic  disparities or socio economic gaps ,  are  based  more on income disparities, rather than race differences . Since we are  blessed with a New Government after 61 years of the same Government , this  is the New Malaysia Era  (Malaysia  Era Baru ) . Therefore  we will need to express the  vast  political tsunami, and sea change in more practical socioeconomic terms for a better future . 

Hence , the New Government  will need to adopt more socio economic policies that are  income based and  related to fulfilling the basic needs and human rights of all Malaysians . our new policies need to be founded on our  sincere conscience and religious values of fairness and fraternity , for all Malaysians .

We can no longer afford to be exclusive , but have to be inclusive  in all our policies and implementation , for all Malaysians  and not only to some exclusive  groups to benefit  from our future national development . We have now to be much more Inclusive in all our policies and practices or we will revert to past policies and practices which were rejected by the voters ! 

New Malaysia Economic Policy (NMEP)

Indeed the New Government  in the New Malaysia,   could  devise and introduce a New Malaysia Economic Policy (NMEP)  that   will contribute to more genuine and sustainable  national unity.  The previous NEP had unfortunately  and regretfully caused much national division , disparities and disunity  , not only  between our races, but also within the Bumiputra/ Malay  and other Racial  and Minority groups , all over the country .

While we would follow the advice of the Prime Minister to accept that  Affirmative Action is still needed in Malaysia   , we  fervently hope  that our new Government will now  ensure  ,more than ever before , that all Malaysians , regardless of Race , who deserve  Affirmative Action  treatment , will enjoy  the new Affirmative Action . This New Affirmative Action should   be meant  for all deserving Malaysians , based on Basic Needs and not Race. Most Malays /Bumis would also gain by this Needs Based Affirmative Action Policy , while the  poor  Non Malays would also benefit  from the new and revised  NEP  !!.

This New Malaysia Economic Policy  is essential , in order  to promote greater national unity  and a more peaceful , prosperous , progressive and Happier New Malaysia (Malaysia Baru ) 

We pray that the Almighty , will Bless and Guide the New Government Leaders , to be Fair to all Malaysians and especially all the poor and underprivileged Malaysians .

An Enchanted Evening at The Royal Lake Club

This musical event, co-organised by Science for Healthy Living (S4H) and the Library Subcommittee of the Royal Lake Club, was held on 27 July 2017 at the Banquet Hall. It was a sold-out dinner show, attended by enthusiastic music lovers from both the Royal Lake Club and S4H. The performance was preceded by a simple yet delicious dinner, which included a chicken curry that everyone still raved about many days later!    

Aptly titled “an Enchanted Evening”, it was indeed an enjoyable evening of enchanting classical songs and popular Broadway musicals, performed by Sonnia Chaing Yiling and her talented 15-year old student, Jared Ngoh Jie Ern. Sonnia Chaing is an international opera singer (mezzo-soprano) and a soloist/opera singer with the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra and Kuala Lumpur City Opera, as well as the OperaSiam. (Jared Ngoh, who is very passionate about music and the performing arts, had passed his piano grade 8 with distinction and is now preparing for his upcoming grade 8 singing examination with the Trinity College of London. He was awarded a Gold Medal from the Musa Musica Young Musician at one of their recent contests.)

Sonnia is currently also the adjunct music lecturer of UCSI, as well as the Sunway University. True to form, she managed to cleverly weave a program for the evening that was not just entertaining, but also educational for some in the audience. She introduced the theme of the evening program as “Sun, Moon and Star”, and illustrated it using anecdotes -- including a short pop quiz! -- about the three great composers Haydn, Beethoven and Mozart. Moving on to a small dose of classical music appreciation, she talked about their life stories, personalities and compositions that are associated with the Sun, the Moon and the Star respectively. This “lecture” was interspersed by snippets of  music “Sunrise Quartet (Haydn)”, “Moonlight Sonata (Beethoven)” and “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star Variation (Mozart)”. (By the way, contrary to what many believe, Mozart did not write this famous melody, but he did compose some 15 variations on it!) 

With the tone of the evening thus set, Sonnia and Jared went on to sing various classical songs, opera arias and Broadway musicals. There was also sing-along or audience participation for songs like “You are My Sunshine”,“O Sole Mio”, and the immensely popular “Yue Liang Dai Biao Wo De Xin” (“月亮代表我的心”), loosely translated as “The Moon Represents My Heart”, certainly very appropriate for the theme of the enchanted evening. However, to many in the audience, the highlight of the program had to be Sonnia’s exhilarating rendition of “L’amour est un oiseau rebelle” (Habanera or “Love is a rebellious bird”) from Bizet’s “Carmen”. Yes, no mezzo-soprano worth her salt would ever pass up a chance to perform on stage this famous aria of all time.  It was indeed a superb performance by Sonnia who literally came alive as Carmen, the vivacious man-magnet of Gypsy descent. The audience was enthralled, bowled over by her beautiful voice and singing, not to mention the impressive vocal range. Everyone craved for more, but alas, the performance came to end soon, with the duo singing the all-time classical crossover hit “Time to Say Goodbye”, made popular by none other than Sarah Brightman and Andrea Bocelli.

In a simple survey carried out after the show by S4H, 92% of the respondents rated the performance as very good, even though the music accompaniment was at times less than satisfactory.  Many of them commented that more of such musical events should be organized in the club for the enjoyment (and health?) of members. Why not? After all, the President of S4H, Tan Sri Augustine Ong did remark in his opening address that music has been proven by science to be vital for healthy living!

Please follow the link https://youtu.be/vrEBDA1ATTA  to view the interesting five-minute footage of “An Enchanted Evening”, as well as listen to “Love is a rebellious bird”. Who knows? This “seductive” aria may help you tune in to the life-affirming force of classical music, and perhaps entice you to turn up for more enchanted evenings in the club in the near future. 

  

               

Finally, there is someone whose view resonates with mine....

A Tribute to Mr Lee Kuan Yew

1923-2015

Singapore is Lee Kuan Yew and

Lee Kuan Yew is Singapore

A giant in history, a statesman of exceptional intellect,

steely resolve, relentless tenacity...