Child Underperforms Because Tested Above Cognitive Level

[Chenonceau]

ksi:

laughingcat:

Worse.....she shared this......\"teachers and MOE mgmt have high ego and so they cannot be wrong\". Even if they are, you must quietly \"correct\" them without them knowing.

:rotflmao:

Delusions of grandeur

[Chenonceau]

It has been said that the differences in teaching quality arise from the empowerment given to Principals and Teachers to respond flexibly to student needs. It is quite possible to have flexibility AND equivalent high quality at the same time. In this way, there is BOTH empowerment and consistent quality. One of the easiest way to do so is to provide sufficient high quality resources to ALL teachers so that they can flexibly decide how to help each individual student without being constrained by whether or not the school itself provides enough teaching resources, or that she has no time nor the ability to write them.


Don't Teachers realize that it is their inalienable right to have access to educational materials to teach with without having to write them personally? Would a farmer ask an odd job labourer to hoe the soil without providing a hoe?

I am all for empowerment. One can ensure complete equity in access to resources and STILL have empowerment. It is not one or the other. MOE is in the business of knowledge transfer. Organisational Consultants are also in the business of knowledge transfer.

More than 10 years ago, as a young consultant, I hadn't yet amassed the kind of experience I have today. My company had consulting offices in 66 locations worldwide. We were linked to a common BRAIN with every imaginable case study possible from all 66 locations. In there, I could access with a few clicks, research papers and consulting reports written for every client that the company had ever had, in every country that the company worked in. If I wanted, I could make a request for raw data too... Everything was there. Formulae, models, spreadsheets...

We had to Think Global Act Local. No... I didn't work in HSBC. Nonetheless, we were still asked to do that. Back in those days, IT networks weren't quite as advanced. The company ran hardwired cables to carry the kind of data consultants needed to be able to tailor interventions to clients. Many of our clients were MNCs. They expected a consistent level of quality service tailored to their needs in the different countries they were present in. When Caltex first set up HQ in Singapore, their Global HR Director was a PhD. She gave my company business not because of me. I had NO PhD. I didn't KNOW research. She knew more than me, except that I was a conduit through which my company passed know-how to her.

It didn't matter who was the consultant, you had access to the same materials, the same BRAIN. The company just needed to recruit people who could think and process fast, so that we could process all that data and info, and pass it on. I was young and inexperienced but I was greatly empowered. No one told me what to do with the client. As long as there are no complaints, you do your job with little interference. I was EMPOWERED no less by access to the BRAIN. If I had trouble, there were practice leaders to ask. These could be in ANY country.

MOE is in a single country. It's Teachers don't share teaching resources. It's schools don't share teaching resources. Why? Households are fast getting open net. Mindef gives its recruits iPADs. MOE does not have a e-sharing platform that would cost a fraction to set up today compared to the system we set up to link up 66 offices worldwide. Why?

MOE has been sleeping all these years, and it still thinks it is world class. MOE management was busy getting Teachers to serve that it forgot that they need to serve the Teachers too.

[janet88]

Do read this. I agree with it 100%.

http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/STIStory_767767.html
This is quoted from the article.
So, if teachers stick to the sanctioned syllabus, most children can cope. The problem arises because what is taught is a far cry from what is assessed.

I gave up helping my children when they reached Primary 5. Who did we turn to? Tuition centres.

[Chenonceau]

janet_lee88:

Do read this. I agree with it 100%.

http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/STIStory_767767.html
This is quoted from the article.
So, if teachers stick to the sanctioned syllabus, most children can cope. The problem arises because what is taught is a far cry from what is assessed.

I gave up helping my children when they reached Primary 5. Who did we turn to? Tuition centres.

YES! I saw this. A Daddy wrote it. We need more Daddies to speak up! Daddies have the assertiveness and aggressiveness Mommies don't have! Daddies should go to sammyboy's and SPEAK UP. Our kids need their protectors to take up arms too. I can't go to sammyboy. I don't dare.

Daddies who have inroads into TR and TOC should speak up too. Our children need their Daddies to speak up in their booming Daddy voices.

[janet88]

Chenonceau:

janet_lee88:

Do read this. I agree with it 100%.

http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/STIStory_767767.html
This is quoted from the article.
So, if teachers stick to the sanctioned syllabus, most children can cope. The problem arises because what is taught is a far cry from what is assessed.

I gave up helping my children when they reached Primary 5. Who did we turn to? Tuition centres.

YES! I saw this. A Daddy wrote it. We need more Daddies to speak up! Daddies have the assertiveness and aggressiveness Mommies don't have!

We need MORE parents like this daddy. Daddies who coach their kids should voice out. Women do not have the aggressiveness like fathers.
When FATHERS speak out, there will be MORE weight.

[Snow Crystal]

janet_lee88:

Do read this. I agree with it 100%.

http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/STIStory_767767.html
This is quoted from the article.
So, if teachers stick to the sanctioned syllabus, most children can cope. The problem arises because what is taught is a far cry from what is assessed.
I gave up helping my children when they reached Primary 5. Who did we turn to? Tuition centres.

Thanks for link and yes, totally like what you quoted.
In an ideal world, all teachers in school teach well ie they are all equipped with good knowledge and teach clearly, materials are comprehensive and exams are testing them what is being taught. Thus no tuition is needed and the after school hours could be used to do homework and revise for not more than 1.5-2hours, leaving them free time to idle, read, daydream, exercise, watch TV, catch up with friends and family. Hope this materialize for my grandchildren's generation :evil: *dream on*

[nani]

Ah Heng and his staff got come in here and read wan or not :roll: :rant: ...27 pages liao if he still don't come in..bery hard to catch up one lei :skeptical:

[Chenonceau]

Snow Crystal:

janet_lee88:

Do read this. I agree with it 100%.

http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/STIStory_767767.html
This is quoted from the article.
So, if teachers stick to the sanctioned syllabus, most children can cope. The problem arises because what is taught is a far cry from what is assessed.
I gave up helping my children when they reached Primary 5. Who did we turn to? Tuition centres.

Thanks for link and yes, totally like what you quoted.
In an ideal world, all teachers in school teach well ie they are all equipped with good knowledge and teach clearly, materials are comprehensive and exams are testing them what is being taught. Thus no tuition is needed and the after school hours could be used to do homework and revise for not more than 1.5-2hours, leaving them free time to idle, read, daydream, exercise, watch TV, catch up with friends and family. Hope this materialize for my grandchildren's generation :evil: *dream on*

Ideal world should also have no sex fiends in schools preying on our daughters (and maybe sons). Nothing is gonna change if we dun speak up. LKY and his team TOLD civil servants what to do. In today's Singapore, civil servants TELL politicians what to say.

The true leaders of the country are the faceless civil servants who know that politicians come and go, and that they themselves are the ones who make things happen... or stop things from happening. We must speak up or nothing will change. Even if we do speak up, maybe nothing will change... but we have tried and if enough people hear us by 2016, change might come.

[doodbug]

Chenonceau:

Snow Crystal:

[quote=\"janet_lee88\"]Do read this. I agree with it 100%.

http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/STIStory_767767.html
This is quoted from the article.
So, if teachers stick to the sanctioned syllabus, most children can cope. The problem arises because what is taught is a far cry from what is assessed.
I gave up helping my children when they reached Primary 5. Who did we turn to? Tuition centres.

Thanks for link and yes, totally like what you quoted.
In an ideal world, all teachers in school teach well ie they are all equipped with good knowledge and teach clearly, materials are comprehensive and exams are testing them what is being taught. Thus no tuition is needed and the after school hours could be used to do homework and revise for not more than 1.5-2hours, leaving them free time to idle, read, daydream, exercise, watch TV, catch up with friends and family. Hope this materialize for my grandchildren's generation :evil: *dream on*

Ideal world should also have no sex fiends in schools preying on our daughters (and maybe sons). Nothing is gonna change if we dun speak up. LKY and his team TOLD civil servants what to do. In today's Singapore, civil servants TELL politicians what to say.

The true leaders of the country are the faceless civil servants who know that politicians come and go, and that they themselves are the ones who make things happen... or stop things from happening. We must speak up or nothing will change. Even if we do speak up, maybe nothing will change... but we have tried and if enough people hear us by 2016, change might come.[/quote]But Chenonceau, unlike politicians, the faceless civil servants are not accountable to the people, are they? They face a different set of incentives?

[doodbug]

Chenonceau:

I absolutely understand. If you had asked me in end-P4, I would have maintained that we have a world class system too. Besides, I ain't on a warpath... I'm on something of a ladylike, gentle mission. Voilà! A bit of nuance there...

Oh oh Chenonceau and many other KSP mommies, I think I am probably more critical. My kids are not near P5, and yet I don't feel that the education system is worldclass on many counts.

First, it is extremely narrow, and doesn't embrace going 'broad' before going 'deep'. Granted, the system is GREAT at producing mathematical and analytical kids, and for the languages, it hones exam-smart students. However, the content of our syllabus at the Primary School level is nowhere as broad and rich as in Western countries. Can you imagine, within our system, it is completely fathomable that top PSLE kids are good at the 4 subjects, but have no appreciation or knowledge of geographical manmade or natural landmarks, where the USA or China is, major historical events and their learning points, anything about Singapore's culture and history, major sporting feats, or any inkling or appreciation for major literary works, or musical or artistic works. Our world is...so narrow. Has anyone watched 'Are you smarter than a fifth grader?' - It gives an idea of what 5th graders in the US are exposed to. Certainly, they are nowhere as good in model mathematics or ratios or whatever. However, I firmly believe that content specialisation and depth can be picked up later in life. Learning calculus at 10, 12, 14 or 16 - is there a huge impediment to acquiring it later?

Broadness of vision gives one so much more appreciation of specific disciplines in future. It helps children appreciate so much of life and this world. Life is beyond English, Mother Tongue, Math and Science - unfortunately, this is the paradigm of life for many Singaporean children.

Sorry if this sounds out of this world.