1. A very good afternoon to all! I am delighted to speak to all of you this afternoon. This is an important occasion. We are gathered to recognise the beacons of professional learning and to celebrate the spirit of sharing and innovation.
2. Congratulations to all award recipients for the AST Academy Awards for Professional Development!
The Academy Awards for Professional Development
3. As some of you may be aware, the Awards were previously known as the Teachers' Network, or TN, Awards. In 2012, with the changing nature of learning and contributions, the TN Awards were rebranded. This was to recognise MOE officers and partners for their contributions to the professional development of the fraternity in various areas, namely:
- Innovation;
- Mentoring of Peers;
- Research; and
- Facilitation of Networked Learning Communities and Workshops
4. This year, we are recognising one new area of contribution: Innovation in Resource Development on the SG Learning Designers Circle Facebook group, and the Community Gallery in the Student Learning Space. Over the last two years, there has been an exponential increase in generous sharing by fellow educators on these platforms. The creation and sharing of resources on these online platforms have allowed innovative ideas and teaching practices to circulate in our professional communities. It has also fostered the spirit of professional excellence and continued engagement amongst educators.
5. As we move towards an era of greater global uncertainties, we must also ask ourselves how we can prepare and nurture our students to overcome new challenges. And one answer is professional collaboration for professional development. And I would like to illustrate this with a story.
Collaborative Learning
Once, there were 200 people attending a seminar.
At one point, the speaker told the group they were going to do an activity. He gave each attendee a balloon and told them to write their name on it. Then, the balloons were collected and moved into a very small room.
The participants were then asked to go into the other room and were given 2 minutes to find their balloon.
It was chaos…
People were searching frantically for their balloon, pushing each other, and running into one another while they grabbed a balloon, looked at it, and inevitably tossed it back to the side.
At the end of the 2 minutes, no one had found their own balloon
Then, the speaker asked the participants to go back in the room and this time to pick up one balloon at random, look at the name, and return it to its owner. Within minutes, everyone had their original balloon.
The speaker then told the group, "This is what it is like when people are frantically reaching for their own goals in life. However, if we work together and support one another, we will all accomplish our goals, in a shorter time and in a much more enjoyable way."
6. We need to constantly hone the way we teach to meet the needs of learners whose learning does not stop after formal education in schools.
7. While many of us may be able to pick up new knowledge on our own, the future of learning will require us to learn from our colleagues, our peers, and the experts. In our Networked Learning Communities, team learning is a key mechanism. It can help our teaching fraternity become strategically and operationally adaptive and responsive.
8. These communities, including the Professional Learning Communities, are set up by teachers for teachers. These communities provide a safe space with like-minded peers, where they can explore topics and pedagogies that they are passionate about. And they can also eventually share their findings with the larger fraternity.
9. The camaraderie in these communities is what makes it special for professional collaboration to remain robust. The cross pollination of ideas enriches our fraternity greatly as we bring new ideas to our schools. These platforms help colleagues learn how to improve learning outcomes in a systematic, timely and holistic manner.
10. I am heartened by the positive trend in the nominations of the Awards over the years. Despite the disruptions caused by COVID-19, our MOE colleagues have continued to foster professional development in one another through adopting a blended approach and via various online platforms.
11. This year saw the highest number of nominations received for both the Fellow and Associate of AST awards. We received close to 670 nominations, which is an increase of more than 60 per cent from the last year. This demonstrates that our fraternity values professional learning and the professional development of others.
12. Let me share with you four examples from this year's recipients of the AST Academy Awards for Professional Development.
- One of them is Dr Radha, Lead Teacher for Mathematics from Hai Sing Catholic School.
- A reflective practitioner who is committed to strengthening her e-pedagogy and that of the Mathematics teaching community, Dr Radha collaborates actively in Networked Learning Communities to share her expertise. In addition to her active participation there, Dr Radha has been generously sharing learning approaches with teachers on the SG Learning Designers Circle Facebook page and virtual meets.
- Another recipient is Mr Ng Bing Fu, Senior Teacher for Biology from Peirce Secondary.
- Committed to deepening his pedagogy through championing learning among peers, Bing Fu initiated and formed an NLC focusing on literacy in Biology. Bing Fu engages fellow NLC members in active discussions and motivates them to explore, innovate and indigenise pedagogical approaches for meaningful learning. An advocate for innovation, Bing Fu together with a team of Biology teachers, designed and put together a hydroponic system to enhance students' learning of Biology.
- Mr Brendon Chee, Senior Teacher for History at St. Andrew's Junior College.
- A strong advocate in sharing learning experiences, Brendon initiated and is the key facilitator of the 'Teaching for Conceptual Understanding in A-Level History' Networked Learning Community. Alongside the Master Teachers, Brendon engages fellow members in active discussions and motivates them to explore the use of inquiry-based learning as a pedagogy in the A-level history curriculum. He also encourages them to apply inquiry-based learning in the development of students' understanding of the historical concept of evidence.
- Mr Abdul Halim, Senior Teacher for Physical Education at Greendale Secondary School.
- Halim is an active core team member of the PESTA Teacher Leader Network. Working closely with his team members, he has put together and co-facilitated a series of networked learning sessions on blended learning in Physical Education. A technology meditated instruction provides a multisensorial engagement for the varied needs of students. The use of virtual reality in Outdoor Education allows lessons to be conducted in inclement weather and as part of the flipped learning approach. To encourage collaboration, Halim initiated and developed a google site for the fellow North Zone teacher leaders. The site functions as a repository and a collaborative platform for fellow teacher leaders to share their resources and best practices.
13. Radha, Bing Fu, Brendon and Halim provide just a snapshot of the dedication and commitment of all our award recipients towards the growth of the fraternity.
14. I would also like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to all our Partner of AST award recipients for supporting the professional growth of our colleagues. Your continued support brings out the best in both our colleagues and students.
Closing Remarks
15. Once again, I would like to extend my heartiest congratulations to all award recipients.
16. With all of us working together to improve and strive for the best, we will be able to make a big difference in our students. Let's continue to Lead, Care, and Inspire one another.
17. Thank you very much.