Consortium CHAMPS to introduce immersive learning techniques through virtual reality
Singapore, 13 May 2008 -- Singapore Telecommunications Limited (Singtel) announced today that it is leading the consortium that has won the bid to implement the FutureSchools@Singapore project at Canberra Primary School.
Named CHAMPS, the consortium seeks to create an engaging, interactive learning and teaching environment that will stimulate creativity and help students develop social skills through the innovative use of infocomm technology (ICT).
A key feature of the CHAMPS solution is a state-of-the-art virtual reality lab that will provide students with experiential immersive learning through multi-sensory, 3D game-based lessons. With wireless facilities, lessons need not be restricted to the classroom.
Using mobile devices and laptops, students can take photos and videos of the real world and upload them to the virtual reality environment. They can also share information wirelessly and contribute to forums set up by the school.
One of the modules under development allows students to explore and interact with animals and plants in a true-to-life virtual forest. With this, students can closely examine the behaviour of species not found in Singapore.
Historical events can be brought vividly to life with virtual reality games that allow students to adopt an avatar and interact with characters from another time. For example, students can experience life in Singapore in the 1940s.
There is also a game that simulates the running of a school canteen. Designed to instil an entrepreneurial spirit in students, it introduces concepts such as profit and loss, inventory management and dealing with situations like an avian flu epidemic.
The CHAMPS solution incorporates an assessment tool which helps teachers track their students’ character development, academic achievements and performance, technical skills, personal interests and even employment history. This information would be a useful reference for educational institutions and prospective employers. The tool consolidates feedback from other teachers, mentors and parents to produce detailed reports and analysis.
There is an Interactive Digital Media (IDM) lesson builder tool designed to help teachers manage their lessons more efficiently. Students, teachers and parents will be able to gain easy access to a range of educational resources via the Canberra Live web portal.
Students will also be able to collaborate and share knowledge with their counterparts in schools overseas. This is possible through Singtel’s Internet and global connectivity solutions.
Ms Ratnasingam Selvarani, Principal of Canberra Primary School, said: “
As one of the participants of the FutureSchools@Singapore initiative, Canberra Primary seeks to push the frontiers of teaching and learning. We
will explore
using ICT tools such as immersive multi-user virtual reality environments, simulations, role-plays, gaming, mobile learning and interactive field trips to bring lessons to life. These will encourage pupils to be inquisitive and actively explore the world through collaborative learning and problem solving scenarios.
“Canberra Primary is excited to strategically collaborate with CHAMPS to create an environment where our pupils can truly Live, Learn the future, today. This will enable us to develop innovative teaching and learning approaches and experiences. It will also allow us to play our part in strengthening Singapore’s position as an education hub.”
Mr Bill Chang, Singtel’s Executive Vice President for Business, said: “CHAMPS is excited to play an important role in shaping the future of education in Singapore and grooming the next generation of leaders. Our innovative solutions will provide students with a superior learning experience that will equip them to make meaningful contributions to society.
“By leveraging ICT technologies, these initiatives will set a new benchmark in experiential learning and introduce ground-breaking methods for teaching and assessment. They will establish Canberra Primary School as a model for other schools to emulate.”
The CHAMPS consortium partners are leading educational software and ICT vendors ACP Computer, HeuLab, Learning Edvantage, Microsoft Singapore, NCS, Playware Studios and Singtel.
The consortium’s efforts will support the Ministry of Education’s (MOE) Teach Less, Learn More (TLLM) initiative and help to fulfill the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore’s (IDA) Intelligent Nation 2015 (iN2015) master plan to promote ICT in schools and spearhead the transformation of the education sector.
