2.      A total of about 2000 local educators (from about 400 schools and institutes of higher learning) and 50 overseas educators from the APEC economies (The APEC economies represented at iTopia 2002 include: Australia, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, People's Republic of China, Republic of the Philippines, Thailand, the United States of America and Vietnam.) and the United Kingdom are expected to attend the iTopia 2002 conference (Information on the iTopia Conference is at Annex A.) and exhibition (Information on the iTopia exhibition is at Annex B.). They are mostly leaders and teachers from schools and institutes of higher learning. They will also participate in the Learn@Schools (Information on Learn@Schools is at Annex C.) programme where they will visit schools to appreciate how schools have integrated IT into the pupils' learning experiences.

3.       Please visit the website at http://www1.moe.edu.sg/iTopiafor more information and updates.

Annex A

ITopia 2002 - IT Opportunities, Innovations & Achievements in Education

iTopia 2002 CONFERENCE (24 - 26 JULY)

The iTopia 2002 conference will focus on opportunities in the world of IT for education and will feature 50 presentations by 70 overseas and local presenters. It will provide the platform for educators to share learning experiences and exchange ideas on innovative practices in IT for teaching and learning, as well as to explore future trends of IT in Education.

The keynote speakers will share insights on the impact future technologies will have on teaching and learning, and the need to develop new types of technological tools that will help children develop as creative thinkers.

Through the presentations, brainstorming sessions and workshops, participants will gain greater insight into the potential of education technologies, good practices and novel ideas. Participants will also understand the need for developing new types of technological tools and new educational processes to help children develop as creative thinkers. Some of the sessions include:

·        "Featured Delights" - There are 5 concurrent presentations in this session focusing on the skills needed for the future, the principles behind web-based instructional design and the challenges involved.

·        "Tropical Delights" - There are altogether 4 tracks including IT@School, IT in Curriculum and Instruction, IT in Learning and Exploration, and IT in the Classroom. They will provide a glimpse of the innovative practices in technology-enabled learning environments in our schools and institutes of higher learning.

·        "iFeast" - There will be brainstorming sessions, practitioner workshops and presentations to provide participants the opportunities to dream, create and be inspired with new ideas.

There will also be a session for school leaders designed in collaboration with the Academy of Principals. This will focus on school leadership in the Knowledge Economy, and will feature speakers who will share insights and strategies on how to manage the changing environment in schools and the world.

PROFILE OF KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Dr David Thornburg
Dr. Thornburg is the founder and Director of Global Operations for the Thornburg Center focusing on how emerging technologies impact learning. Dr. Thornburg is an award-winning futurist, author and consultant whose clients range across the public and private sector, both in the United States and Brazil. At the Thornburg Center and as Senior Fellow of the Congressional Institute for the Future, he conducts research and provides staff development in the areas of educational futures, multimedia, communications and education throughout the Americas.
http://fourh.ucdavis.edu/conference/slf/2000/Thornburg.Bio.htm

Abstract of his Keynote address
Title: Future Technologies and Their Impact on Education
Date: 24 July (Day 1)      Venue: Hall 601

This presentation will explore current technology trends relating to education and examine the task of preparing learners for life in the post-information society, where technological developments will continue to push the envelope of what is possible. It will also consider the rapid rise of wireless handheld devices which allows learning to take place anywhere and anytime, and also new ways that the Internet can be used in support of student learning.

Ms Cheryl Lemke
Cheryl Lemke is CEO of the Metiri Group, a learning technology consulting firm based in Los Angeles, California. Last year, through her leadership, the Metiri Group co-developed enGauge, a nationally recognized framework for effective use of school technology with the North Central Regional Educational Laboratory (NCREL). With more than 20 years experience in public education, she has held positions as the state technology director in Washington State, the Associate Superintendent for Learning Technology for the Illinois State Board of Education and the executive director for the Milken Exchange on Education Technology. In addition, Ms Lemke was also the principal writer for the enGauge 21st century skills, which were published in the fall of 2000 and recently endorsed by the Washington DC-based CEO Forum.
http:// www.metiri.com/cheryl.html

Abstract of her keynote address
Title: Different World - Different Schools
Date: 25 July (Day 2)       Venue: Hall 601

This presentation will consider six essential conditions in schools that determine the effectiveness of school technology and show how educators can position their schools as a learning environment where students could acquire 21st century skills and digital age literacy.

Prof Mitchel Resnick
Professor Mitchel Resnick is the Director of the Lifelong Kindergarten group at the Media Laboratory at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Prof Resnick's group developed the ideas and technologies underlying the LEGO Mindstorms robotics construction kit, and he co-founded the Computer Clubhouse project, a network of after-school learning centers for youth from under-served communities. He earned a BA in physics at Princeton University (1978), and MS and PhD degress in computer science at MIT (1988,1992). He is also the author of the book Turtles, Termites, and Traffic Jams (1994), co-author of Adventures in Modeling (2001), and co-editor of Constructionism in Practice (1996).
http:// web.media.mit.edu/~mres/

Abstract of his keynote address
Title: Technologies For A Creative Society
Date: 26 July (Day 3)      Venue: Hall 601

This presentation will examine how success in the future (for individuals, for communities, for nations as a whole) will be based not on how much we know, but on our ability to think and act creatively. It will examine the need to develop new technologies and educational practices to enable children to design local solutions to local problems, such as "computational construction kits" that empower children as designers and inventors.

Annex B

ITopia 2002 - IT Opportunities, Innovations & Achievements in Education

iTopia 2002 Exhibition (24 - 26 July)

Our IT Journey

The exhibition, "Our IT Journey", will be held in conjunction with the conference and will feature the impact IT has on:
a)      the way pupils learn;
b)      the role of the teachers;
c)      the programmes in our schools; and
d)      the ties between schools and the local and global communities.

The iTopia 2002 Exhibition is open to the public and will be held at Hall 602, Level 6, Suntec City, from 12 pm - 7 pm (24 - 26 July). It will comprise 6 sections and will feature exhibits and samples of innovative practices from 50 schools. They are:

·      The IT Ship - It focuses on the goals and key dimensions of the Masterplan for IT in Education, as well as milestone events.

·      The Pupil - It highlights how pupils learn through exploring, playing and creating using IT.

·      The Teacher - It highlights the roles of the teacher as a creator of digital resources, an explorer of new teaching strategies, and a collaborator who shares teaching ideas.

·      The School - It showcases how schools use IT to enhance teaching and learning, encourage holistic development and promote administrative excellence.

·      The Community - It showcases how schools use IT to forge partnerships with Institutes of Higher Learning and the industry, reach out to the community and form connections with other stakeholders.

·      The World - It focuses on how IT is used to increase and enhance linkages between schools and the world, in collaborative projects and exchanges.

SOME EXHIBITION HIGHLIGHTS

1.      Taking a Closer Look at Nature - Nan Chiau Primary School

For this project, pupils from Nan Chiau Primary School investigated plants and animals using QX3 digital microscope. They learnt how to take digital photographs, movie clips and also enhancing images using the software. These include the Cupid's Shaving Brush, Mimosa, caterpillar, mealy bug, dragonfly and millipede. The digital microscope allows pupils to take a close look at the organisms around them. Pupils found the experience enriching and are more aware of the beauty in the world of nature. The presentation that the pupils put together won the Gold-Award at the i-Micro Award organised by MOE in 21 April 2001.
http://www1.moe.edu.sg/iteducation/initiatives/ima/winners.htm

2.      Creative Connections - New Town Primary School

"Creative Connections" is a collaborative project between students of New Town Primary and students in Australia and Germany. For this project, the students sent articles and personal write-ups on their countries to one another as a form of cultural exchange. The project not only helped to enhance the students' reading and writing skills, but also improved their computer literacy. They are also motivated by the opportunity to befriend other children from the other countries and learn to maintain the friendships through email exchanges. This project has opened the students' minds to the cultures of other countries and also brought about a greater understanding of the world.

3. Sea@venture Learning Series - Educational Technology Division, Ministry of Education

The Sea@venture Learning Series challenges the traditional delivery of content and introduces a novel way of using technologies to bring learning beyond the classroom. Students from about 10 schools will have the opportunity to participate in "live" science lessons and enjoy learning experiences in more authentic environments. Five interactive underwater explorations will be transmitted live from remote locations around Singapore waters, and streamed into schools through broadband webcasting. Selected students can interact with field experts in real time via chatroom and the telephone. They will also be able to participate in online activities after each webcasting episode. River Valley High School will showcase how their students have benefited from their participation in this learning series.
http://www.venturelearning.com.sg.

Annex C

ITopia 2002 - IT Opportunities, Innovations & Achievements in Education

Learn@Schools (25 - 26 July)
IT Open House@Schools (27 July)

The Learn@Schools programme is a unique feature of iTopia 2002 which will offer participants an opportunity to experience what schools have accomplished in their IT programmes. A total of 60 schools and institutes of higher learning will host the Learn@Schools programme.

These hosting schools will also be open to the public as an island-wide IT Open House@Schools on Saturday, 27 July 2002. This will give the community an idea of how IT is used in schools to enrich the pupils' learning.

The schools are grouped into 8 different themes, which are named after common places in Singapore. Some of the schools and their IT programmes are:

1. Arts Avenue (IT in the Fine Arts and Performing Arts)

Chung Cheng High (Main) (E5 Cluster)
Geylang Methodist Secondary

To offer greater scope for creativity in the Aesthetics, two secondary schools in the East 5 cluster have attempted to infuse IT into Music and the fine Arts. Chung Cheng High (Main) School has an instructional system, which harnesses IT for learner-centred, self-directed music education, while Geylang Methodist Secondary, the co-host, used Adobe Photoshop to enhance digital photography.

2. Collaboration Club (Collaborations between schools or school and industry) - Xishan Primary (N2 Cluster)

4 schools from the N2 cluster schools (Xishan Primary, Huamin Primary, Ahmad Ibrahim Primary and Peixin Primary) will be collaborating real time on a project via video conferencing. Visitors will also see how the wireless network system helps teachers in the sharing of resources and pupils in accessing an online education platform in the cybercafe. The schools will also share their self-created movies and an interesting inventory tracking system.

3. Connection Café (Online platforms for learning and building a community) - Singapore Polytechnic

A hands-on session will be conducted for visitors on: Rapid Content Development, Content Mapping and Content Warehousing through a Course Management System (CDMS) for Online Learning, which is an interesting Interactive Virtual Laboratory Development.

4. Enrichment Esplanade (IT in enrichment and co-curricular activities) Ping Yi Secondary

The STAR (Striving Towards Achievement and Responsibility) project, which integrates the Ministry's initiatives into one, will be featured. This partial online learning and CD-ROM enrichment learning package covers the three key MOE initiatives, namely IT, Thinking Skills and National Education. Success stories on developing entrepreneurship in students will also be shared.

5. Innovation Interchange (Innovations in IT infrastructure and systems) Canberra Secondary

Visitors will be led by student E-ambassadors to experience the eight E-Xperiental Hubs in the school -- E-information, through a Knowledge Management website; E-Broadcast; E-Newsroom, E-Movies featuring pupils' video clips/movies, E-transport showcasing students' electronic and robotic products, E-Attendance and E-food ordering system. The marking of attendance and ordering of refreshments will also be done online using a contactless smart card.

6. Media Mall (Media-rich resources to enhance the learning environment) Victoria Junior College

The development of IBBMM (Internet Broadband Multimedia) content under the FastTrack@VJC programme will be featured. Visitors will participate in lessons and interact with the administration, teachers and students on how broadband connectivity have extended opportunities for teaching and learning and created a pervasive IT culture.

7. Project Plaza (IT in Project Work) - Si Ling Primary (N7 Cluster)

6 schools from the N7 Cluster (Si Ling Primary, Fuchun Primary, Marsiling Primary, Qihua Primary, Woodgrove Primary & Woodlands Ring Primary) will present hands-on activities and lessons that include the use of dataloggers to capture real-time data, digital art using iMicro, digital movies and webquest projects.

8. Wireless Way (Wireless technology for learning) - ITE East (MacPherson)

Wireless projects featured are the WAP m-commerce application for ITE MP Co-Op's Mac's Mart, the WAP application for searching and retrieving information (e.g. timetable) and the computerised inventory management system using wireless scanner. Visitors will also experience digital video production and editing using blue-screen technology, and e-learning using the e-Tutor way.

Annex D

ITopia 2002 - IT Opportunities, Innovations & Achievements in Education

Academy of Principals (Singapore)

The Principals' Track at iTopia 2002 Conference is organised in collaboration with the Academy of Principals (Singapore). This conference track is designed for school leaders and focuses on School Leadership in the Knowledge Economy.

The Academy of Principals (Singapore) is a recognised professional body for school principals. The Academy provides a variety of experiences designed to support and nourish its members, and to build strong, mutually-influential networks. The Academy provides principals with the opportunities to share ideas and debate problems and issues. It also organises talks by both home grown and overseas experts for principals.

The Academy was formally launched by RAdm Teo Chee Hean, Minister for Education and Second Minister for Defence, on 11 Jan 2002. It is located at:

Teachers Network
51 Grange Road
Block 2 #01-04,
Singapore 249564.

More information on the Academy can be obtained at the website www.academyofprincipals.edu.sg