EDUCATION STUDIES

Education Studies will acquaint trainee teachers with the key concepts and principles in education that are necessary for effective instruction and reflective practice in primary schools. The modules will deal with pupil development, the social context within which schooling operates, the application of psychology in teaching and learning, proactive approaches to develop creative and critical thinking skills and the use of instructional technologies in the classroom.

The component comprises two groups of modules namely CORE MODULES and PRESCRIBED ELECTIVES. The core modules are compulsory as they deal with basic educational concepts and principles. The prescribed electives allow choices which are intended to provide trainee teachers with an opportunity for in-depth and rigorous study of some significant areas in the field of education and to serve as a basis for the application of educational principles in a variety of instructional contexts.

Education Studies

PED503 Instructional Technology

Learning, thinking, and the effective use of instructional technologies in the classroom; instructional planning models; selecting, creating, evaluating, and integrating instructional technologies and resource materials; promoting creativity and complex thinking through IT project work activities; organising and managing instructional activities with appropriate IT resources in the classroom.

PED504 Social Context of Teaching and Learning

The historical development, structure and organisation of the Singapore education system; key education policies. Sociological perspectives on teaching, learning and socialisation: the school and society; home and school; effective school organisation; teaching as a profession. Philosophical perspectives on teaching and learning: the concept of education; moral education; authority, freedom and education.

PED505 The Psychology of Pupil Development and the Learning Process

Understanding different aspects of child development and how these influence the teaching and learning processes. Physical changes in childhood, stages of moral development, psychosocial developmental tasks and the self-concept, and theories of intellectual development. Application of psychological principles and learning theories to classroom learning; understanding how pupils learn and how some pupils fail to learn; proactive approaches to motivate and enhance learning, develop creative and critical thinking and problem-solving skills; remedial measures to help weaker pupils.

PED506 Teaching and Classroom Management

Emphasis on the application of pedagogical knowledge and instructional skills for facilitating learning, the understanding of different models of classroom management and the role of classroom management in fostering academic achievement and appropriate pupil behaviour in different classroom settings, such as, computer and science laboratories, subject rooms, and the process of evaluating teaching-learning process. In addition, the importance of the practice of proactive classroom management and positive interpersonal teacher behaviour on classroom learning is stressed.

PED521   Schooling in Meritocratic Societies  

Meritocracy is one of the “sacred cows” of Singapore’s education system. But does this mean that all students experience schooling in the same way? This module explores the implications of such a system for different groups of students (male/female; different racial/ethnic groups; socio-economic status) and some of the challenges these issues might pose for teachers in Singapore. By drawing on teaching and learning experiences in Singapore, as well as other meritocratic systems across the world, participants will have an opportunity to consider different strategies that can be used to manage these challenges.  

PED522   Moral Education Across the Curriculum 

It has been often pointed out that every teacher is a moral educator. This module is an attempt to show why and how this saying is true. With the help of actual examples, the module explores the various facets of a teacher's work in the classroom, school and community, in order to show that all subject teachers, and not only Civics and Moral Education teachers, teach knowledge which are needed for our students' complete understanding of their moral obligations within their specific life situations. They do this both within the curriculum, and also at co-curricular activities. And beyond promoting the understanding of moral obligations, all teachers also have a role in training students in the commitment, strength of will and skills needed for effective moral practice, no matter what subject they teach and what CCA they conduct. 

PED523   A New Learning Paradigm for Schools: The Learning Organisation (LO) Approach

Are we teaching what we ought to be teaching in the way that we ought to teach? Are our students learning what they ought to be learning in the way they ought to learn? How can teachers promote more effective and efficient learning through the practice of the five disciplines of the Learning Organisation (LO), namely, Personal Mastery, Mental Models, Shared Vision, Team Learning and Systems Thinking. This module is an introduction to how beginning teachers can acquire some of the skills and tools of learning organisations and how these can be employed for their classroom and school-wide interactions with other participants of the school organisation.

PED524   Rebels with a Cause!

This module examines a number of controversial rebel educators who rocked the boat of established educational ideas and practices throughout history. Examples of rebel philosophy include:
 “Do not tell a child anything which he can learn for himself” (Rousseau).
“Education must harmonize with nature” (Pestalozzi). “Replace authority in schools with freedom” (A.S. Neill).
“Children should be allowed to follow their own interests” (Bertrand Russell).
"Schools encourage children to act stupidly” (John Holt).
These controversial statements will be discussed in terms of their relevance to the prevailing socio-economic environment in Singapore today. Students enrolled in this module will be encouraged to reflect on the material presented through lectures, tutorials, student seminar presentations, formal debates, films and informal discussions.

PED525   Investing in Social Capital: Building Effective Relationships with Educational Stakeholders

This module explores the key concept of social capital and how school professionals can leverage on social capital to build positive school-community links with major educational stakeholders. It examines examples of cross-cultural research on the benefits of parental involvement in schooling and provides opportunities for basic research into parent-teacher relationships in Singapore and strategies for creative partnerships at primary and secondary levels of schooling.

PED530 Teacher as Researcher

Understanding children’s socio-cultural contexts and implications for a permeable curriculum. The teacher as researcher and approaches to professional inquiry. Exploring appropriate teacher research methodologies: case study and action research. Understanding and using data collection tools: questionnaires, interest inventories, interviews, observations, portfolios, professional journal keeping. Interpreting the data, presenting research results, writing a research report. Planning, implementing and reporting on an action research project to be done during Practicum.

PED531 Assessment for Effective Learning

Role of assessment in the learning process; assessment practices in Singapore schools; basic knowledge and practical skills of monitoring and assessing pupils' learning; essentials of measurement in the cognitive, affective and behavioural domains, the use and construction of classroom tests; item analysis and test reporting; basic statistics for educational measurement; use of computers in educational assessment; evaluation of teaching and learning.

PED532 Pupil Management in Primary Schools

Principles and practice of Pastoral Care and Career Guidance and its introduction to Singapore schools; group dynamics in the classroom and techniques in developmental group guidance; social and psychosocial factors affecting the personal development and learning of pupils; assessment of guidance needs; the place of career education in primary schools; the helping process and basic counselling skills.

PED533 Helping Pupils with Special Educational Needs

Issues and problems of pupils with special educational needs; low achievers; slow learners; underachievers; gifted and talented pupils; identification and diagnosis of needs; nature and nurture; causes; characteristics; differentiated curricula; types of educational programmes available; strategies and teaching approaches.

PED535 Message Design and Computer-based Instruction

The application of effective instructional message design principles to design, develop and evaluate a small computer-based learning project. The use of a variety of software technologies, including appropriate authoring tools to create courseware materials for web-based delivery or for stand-alone use. Computer skills: Authorware and Macromedia Flash. (Training sessions will be arranged.)

PED536 Strategies for Effective Thinking and Learning

The place of thinking skills in teaching and learning; different types of thinking skills; role of the teacher in creating a learning environment conducive for thinking; relevant thinking programmes and their implications for classroom practice; teaching thinking skills to enhance learning; observing, monitoring and evaluating the development of thinking skills in the learner.

PED537 Understanding and Helping Pupils with High Intellectual Ability

Definitions; issues and research; concept of "high intellectual potential"; identification and assessment procedures; nurturing of giftedness and talents; fostering the growth and development of high ability; special educational provisions in primary schools; the importance of the home and school in fostering the achievement of pupils' learning.

PED538 Making Learning Interesting

Teacher as a motivator; motivating and demotivating factors affecting learning; strategies for motivating different types of learners.

PED539 Understanding Social Behaviour in School

An understanding of social behaviour in school and in the classroom. How teachers and students think about and interact with others; how students think about their own attitudes and behaviour and how these are influenced by situational and social factors. Specific topics include self-esteem, social identity, helping and aggressive behaviour, obedience & conformity, leadership, and intimate relationship.

PED540 Developing Thinking Skills Through Instrumental Enrichment

A powerful thinking strategy developed by Reuven Feuerstein. The foundation of clear thinking and transfer of what pupils learn in the classroom to beyond. Practical tools and activities to develop the concept of mediated learning, strategies for overcoming cognitive difficulties and the creation of lifelong learners. Thinking strategies and skills, instruments and techniques, Instrumental Enrichment, the teacher as mediator and the cognitive map.

PED541 Assessment to Promote Thinking in Primary Schools

Understanding and applying the basic principles in assessment to the classroom situation. Basic knowledge and practical skills to manage and monitor pupils’ learning at the primary level. Covers alternative assessment to assess different thinking skills.

PED542 What it Means to be a Teacher: Understanding the Practice of Teaching

Developing a more reasoned understanding of the nature of the practice of teaching; the uncertainties of teaching; teaching as transition of knowledge and skills and as transformation of character, values, understanding, and thinking; teaching as a moral (and intellectual) endeavour; teaching learning; selections from teacher autobiographies, teacher case studies, and scholastic writings on teaching.

PED543 Developing Creativity in the Primary Classroom

The psychological principles of creativity development; essential concepts and techniques for promoting and assessing creative thinking in the classroom; the qualities of the creative product; procedures of the creative process; characteristics of the creative person; conditions of the creative environment; psychometric and consensual approaches to the assessment of creativity and individual differences in creativity.

PED544 Strategies for Encouraging Problem-solving Talents in Lower Primary Children

The requisite knowledge, skills, and values to effectively maximise problem-solving potential in lower primary school children; how young children think and learn and how they make sense of their world; individual differences in children in terms of their developing problem-solving skills and abilities; the ability-driven curriculum and the development of talents and abilities; how to nurture young children's understanding, and self-motivation; teaching strategies to extend young children's natural curiosity, their enjoyment of discovering and inventing, and their pride in their achievements; a focus on child-centred activity in the lower primary classroom.

PED545 Developmental Perspectives on How Children Think and Learn

The many images of childhood as presented by key developmental theorists and the new ideas, research and practical lessons for teachers that have emerged from recent research in the last decade; the central importance of understanding children's conceptual development if we are to help them think and learn; individual differences in children's achievements and experiences at school, and a focus on the implications for educational practice.

PED546 The Application of Developmental Psychology in Teaching and Learning

How individuals develop and change through the life span; the fundamental concepts and characteristics of developmental psychology, basic theories of human development, research methods and recent findings related to human development; human development and individual differences; factors influencing development; cognitive development and relevant theories; personality development and relevant theories; social and moral development and relevant theories; implications of these theories for learning and teaching and their application in the classroom.

PED547 Assessment of Higher Order Learning in Primary Schools

Understanding and application of principles of assessment in the classroom; present and future developments in the field of assessment to promote thinking and higher-order learning; the knowledge and skills to develop suitable quality assessments for the different thinking skills; design of appropriate scoring rubrics for judging student performance; interpretation of assessment results for different purposes.

PED548 Instructional Strategies and Learning Effectiveness

Careful planning and implementation of instruction for effective learning; various instructional strategies such as whole-class teaching, small group instruction, group work, individual instruction, out-of-classroom instruction, games and simulation and their effective implementation for facilitating learning in the classroom; the importance of empowerment of students in learning and the teaching of thinking and learning strategies to students during the process of instruction.

PED549 Using the Project Approach with Primary School Children

The processes of project work: Planning the project, conducting fieldwork, documenting and representing information. The learning environment, role of the teacher and assessment. A project is included as part of the assessment.

PED550 The Psychology of Learning and Memory

An introduction to learning and memory. It will examine how knowledge is acquired, stored, and retrieved. In addition, different ways in which learning and recollection can be maximised will be investigated. The lectures will give trainee teachers an overview of the pertinent issues. Using computerised experiment generators, debates and mini learning activities, the tutorials will give trainee teachers deeper insight on the phenomena examined in the lectures. At the end of the course, trainee teachers are expected to be able to discuss, evaluate, and apply findings from research on learning and memory.