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April 2008
The Oracle Education Foundation (OEF) launched its first regional 21st Century Learning Institute in Asia Pacific to help educators successfully integrate project-based learning and 21st Century learning skills training into their curriculum. These skills include communication, teamwork, critical thinking, innovation, cross-cultural understanding, self-direction, and technology.
“To excel in the workforce, students today require higher levels of reading, communication, math, and problem-solving skills than ever before,” said Natasak Rodjanapiches, Regional Managing Director, Oracle ASEAN. “The Oracle Education Foundation helps teachers address the gap between how and what students are currently learning in the classroom and the skills they need to compete in a global economy.”
The 21st Century Learning Institute was held in Singapore February 26-29, 2008, at the Nanyang Technological University. The four-day program brought together 55 educators from nine countries in Asia Pacific, including Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Pakistan, Singapore, and Thailand.
“As a pioneer in this program, I am very keen to implement project-based learning to ensure that my students will be successful and well prepared for the 21st century,” said Glory Goh, ICT teacher at Suzhou Singapore International School in China. “I am also introducing other teachers to the importance of 21st century skills development and offering guidance on how they too can incorporate project-based learning into their teaching.”
Throughout the four-day program, teachers learned to design and implement online learning projects that help students develop 21st century skills. The course used the OEF′s global technology programs, Think.com and ThinkQuest, to showcase exceptional project-learning examples and help teachers produce projects as a part of their training experience.
“As Pakistan moves forward to keep pace with the advancements in technology and especially in ICT, communication and technology skills are now being integrated into more curricula,” explained Shaida Talib, teacher at Karachi High School in Pakistan. “This week has been extremely valuable. I am now equipped with skills to incorporate better use of technology through project-based learning and to customize them according to my students' needs.”
The 21st Century Learning Institute aims to address a growing demand for a project approach to learning as more educational institutions, governments, and ministries recognize how 21st century skills are critical to students′ success in a knowledge-based economy. Upon completion of this program, teacher participants now are able to share their knowledge with students and other teachers in their local countries, thus extending project learning skills to students across the region.
“The 21st Century Learning Institute is designed to help educators around the globe successfully incorporate project learning into everyday curriculum, so that students walk out the school door with the skills needed for life and work in the 21st century,” said Clare Dolan, Vice President, Corporate Citizenship, Oracle. “These students will not only possess a firm knowledge of basic skills like reading and math, but they will also acquire the applied skills needed to succeed in a global economy -- critical thinking, creativity, cross-cultural understanding, and teamwork.”
OEF is a strong proponent and leader in the 21st century skills development movement. From its innovative technology programs, Think.com and ThinkQuest, to its grant-making philosophy, professional development programs, and education partnerships, OEF′s mission is to help students gain vital skills needed for future academic and career success.
“Many primary and secondary teachers are challenged with how to implement technology-based project learning while still linking to curriculum and standards. The 21st Century Learning Institute provides a structured approach to preparing and implementing learning projects do just this,” Clare continued.
Teachers attending the event were required to complete three phases of training before successfully concluding the 60-hour professional development program. The three phases included four weeks of online, virtual training; four days of in-class training with project learning experts; and, the successful mentoring and implementation of a planned project in the participant′s school.
“Teachers across the globe need to learn new teaching techniques in order to help prepare the younger generation to live and work successfully in a global economy. Students today need new skills and the ability to learn and leverage technology. This high-quality professional development program by the Oracle Education Foundation will help teachers bridge the gap between what students need to learn in the classroom and the skills they need to compete in the ‘flat’ world of the 21st century,” said I Ketut Suparsa, a teacher from SMKN 1 Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia. “There is significant benefit for an educator to discover and change to a project-based learning model that promotes collaboration.”
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