Speech by Mr Gan Kim Yong, Minister of State, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Manpower, at the Educational Research Association of Singapore Conference 2006 on Monday, 29 May 2006, at 9.00 am, Orchard Hotel

SPEECH BY MR GAN KIM YONG, MINISTER OF STATE, MINISTRY OF EDUCATION & MINISTRY OF MANPOWER, AT THE EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATION OF SINGAPORE CONFERENCE 2006 ON MONDAY, 29th MAY 2006, AT 9.00 AM, ORCHARD HOTEL

Associate Prof Tan Oon Seng, President Educational Research Association of Singapore

1. I am pleased to be here with you at the Opening of the Educational Research Association of Singapore Conference 2006. The ERAS has chosen the theme “Diversity for Excellence: Engaged Pedagogies”. This is most timely and most relevant in the knowledge economy where we prize creativity, value creation and innovation. We must recognize learners in our classrooms learn differently and behave differently. It is important, too, that we understand that unless we harness this diversity, and accept different abilities and talents, we will not be able to fully tap the potential of all our people. The challenge for our teachers, therefore, lies in being able to identify the different learning needs of a diverse group of students and keep all their minds engaged.

2. The advent of new technologies offers new possibilities as well as new challenges for educators. Our new generation of young children and adolescents do not learn the way we did decades ago. Today’s students are fascinated with, and often distracted by, the many hi-tech gadgets and multi-sensory entertainment around them. MP3 players, massive multi-player online games, RPGs (Role-playing games), 3G phones, mobile blogs, the list goes on. Information and knowledge are no longer static. As a result, educators have to consider how they can adopt and adapt technology to enhance interactivity and make learning more enriching.

3. With broadband access and 3G handphone, our students’ world already extends beyond their desk and home. Their learning environment must go beyond the classroom. Teachers’ role is changing rapidly from teaching to facilitating. Teachers are facilitators to help students become independent and critical thinkers and to help them acquire knowledge themselves.

4. Our children learn best when they are motivated. I believe that students have to be convinced of the benefits of their lessons. How are the lessons or projects going to be useful to them? Therefore, how teachers package their lessons to make them more interesting and appealing to students will be crucial to engaging their attention. Discussions and sharing on different ways to engage learners will create better understanding of the need for more effective pedagogical practices.

5. Platforms such as this conference give us the opportunity to engage in the invaluable exchange of ideas and professional know-how.

6. Schools these days are given much more opportunities and resources to try new ideas and approaches. It is important for them to know what others are doing. They will then be able to develop more innovative practices that can be shared among all. When effective, engaged pedagogies are practised, there is a two-fold reward: it empowers both the students and the teachers. I am confident that there will be projects that will spin-off from this conference, projects that will ultimately benefit our students.

7. I note that the ERAS Conference has lined up a list of reputable speakers as well as a very comprehensive range of papers, symposium and workshop presenters. I trust that you will have a fruitful time over the next three days sharing your insights with one another and critically examining engaged pedagogies that will deepen learning experience among students.

8. I take this opportunity to wish you a pleasant and fruitful Conference and I commend ERAS for their efforts in organizing this conference.