LEARN@S’POREDISCOVERYCENTRE 2006

1. The Ministry of Education (MOE) launched its seventh Learn@ event this morning at the newly revamped Singapore Discovery Centre (SDC). Jointly organised by MOE and the SDC for students from Primary Four to Secondary Three, Learn@SDC seeks to encourage participants to develop a deeper understanding of what makes Singapore tick – our values, principles of governance and way of life. A total of 828 students from 119 schools participated in this event. Nexus and Singapore Telecommunications Limited (SingTel) are supporting the event.

2. Officially launched by Ms Seah Jiak Choo, Director-General of Education, Learn@S’poreDiscoveryCentre is an interactive and engaging approach to give the students a better understanding of the Singapore Story. The students’ learning experience during this event would be further enhanced with the use of information technology as a learning tool in settings outside the classroom.

3. In teams of four, students will be engaged in an interactive game using mobile technology while exploring the SDC. 3G Mobile phones, made available by SingTel, will be used by students to answer questions at designated exhibits based on information provided through the automatic download of multimedia hints on their mobile phones.

4. As part of the programme, students will also be given a first hand experience of visiting a SAF camp when they are brought around the nearby SAFTI Military Institute. This visit will give them a glimpse of the life of an SAF soldier, and encourage students to develop a deeper understanding of the military establishment in Singapore. In addition, the students will be treated to a combat ration display and sampling session as well.

5. At the end of the launch event, students will reflect on and blog about their learning experience at the SDC.

6. To encourage greater involvement and inclusiveness, this year’s event is open to both MOE mainstream schools as well as special education schools. A total of 6 special education schools have registered for the event. The participating schools include Tanglin School, Pathlight School, Canossian School, Grace Orchard School, Metta School and Singapore School for the Deaf.

7. Said Ms Seah Jiak Choo, “I am confident that Learn@S’poreDiscoveryCentre will give our students, both in mainstream and special education schools, a better understanding of what makes Singapore tick and what makes us Singaporean. It will also provide them with the opportunity to use their IT skills for meaningful and engaged learning.”

8. “Adopting an edutainment approach, the new Singapore Discovery Centre tells the Singapore story through immersive, interactive games and multi-dimensional audio-visuals. The students will go away with an understanding of what makes Singapore tick,” said COL (NS) Jordan Woo, General Manager of SDC.