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Cultivating a Culture of SharingAmong Teachers

Dr Philip Wong and Nenny Noorman, ACIS

MICA (P) 014/03/2006

T he importance of the culture of sharing has beendemonstrated through the success of the World Wide Webwhich is based on the principle of sharing. Acknowledging

this importance, the National Institute of Education (NIE) plans tocultivate the culture of sharing among student teachers as part oftheir learning experience at this institute.

A sharing platform in the form of a resources repository will bemade available to student teachers. Through this repository, studentteachers can upload digital materials that they themselves havecreated. Examples of these digital materials are lesson plans,worksheets, activity sheets, PowerPoint slides, animation clips andphotographs taken during field trips. Once uploaded, these digitalmaterials can be shared among all teachers in Singapore.

Similarly, NIE student teachers can gain access to resourcesprepared by teachers who are already in the schools. They candownload the latter’s digital resources for their lesson plans duringpracticum as well as teaching after their training at NIE.

Singapore teachers will benefit through the repository as thesenon-copyrighted resources are always available for their use. Therepository also saves the teachers from the time-consuming processof creating their own materials. In addition, with the use of thematerials downloaded from the repository, lessons will be madericher and more interactive.

Student teachers can access the repository through the NIE Portal.Do look out for announcements regarding the repository in thenear future.

CONTENT 2 Desktop Security 3 Library Guide 4 Educational Technologies

6 Services Hub 7 NIE Portal & ICT Services Guide 8 ICET Announcement

Flowchart illustrating the sharing of resources

NTU Reg. No: 200604393R

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Desktop SecurityDesktop SecurityDesktop SecurityCordelia Chee, ACIS

Anti-Virus SoftwareAn unprotected computer can be infected with a virus/worm/Trojan horse in a matterof minutes once it is connected to the Internet. Make sure your computer is protectedwith an anti virus software with the latest virus signatures.

Operating Systems & Applications PatchesMost operating system vendors and applications release security patches to addressvulnerabilities detected in their products. Make sure your computer has the latestoperating systems and applications patches installed so that it does not become aneasy target for hackers.

Spyware, Adware &RootkitSpyware refers to programs that watch what you do with your computer and sends thisinformation to a hacker over the Internet. Adware refers to any software which displaysadvertisements on your computer with or without your consent. An anti-spyware softwarecan remove such malicious programs from your computer. A rootkit detector goes onestep further to remove hidden malicious programs not detected by the anti-spywaresoftware.

Personal FirewallA personal firewall installed on your PC can help control incoming and outgoingcommunications on your computer. Legitimate traffic will be allowed while malicioustraffic is denied.

Regular BackupsBacking up the data in your computer regularly is a good practice to prevent loss ofdata in the event your hard disk crashes. Retrieving lost data is an expensive, timeconsuming and cumbersome process, so make sure you regularly copy your data toanother media.

PasswordsPasswords act as a first line of defence protecting your computer fromunauthorised access. A strong password is one that does not consist of part/thewhole of your logon ID or known facts about yourself or dictionary words. Astrong password should be 8-15 characters long, have alphanumeric and specialcharacters, and contain both upper and lower cases.

Copyright and Intellectual PropertyMost software, recordings and videos available today are protected by copyrightlaws. To obtain a work that is not in the public domain, it is necessary to getpermission from the owner of the copyright or intellectual property. Illegaldownloads, sharing and use of copyrighted and intellectual property may resultin harsh penalties.

The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), Motion Picture Associationof America (MPAA), and other companies representing the entertainment industrywill contact the National Institute of Education if they believe illegal downloadshave occurred and will provide identifying information that obligates NIE totrack down the copyright violator.

For more information on IT security, please go to http://www.nie.edu.sg/ITSecurity/index.htm.

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Library Guide fy Guide fy Guide for Neor Neor New Studentsw Studentsw StudentsLee Meow Hui, LIBRIS

LIBRISwould like to extend a warm welcome to all new student teachers and programme participants.Being an effective user of the Library’s services and its rich resources (print, audio-visual and electronic)will go a long way towards helping you complete your programme with less hassle and stress. Hence,

we have compiled a handy guide containing useful tips such as the web pages you need to access, accounts to remember, telephonenumbers to call and where to go for assistance.

Essential URLs and information:• Library WebOPAChttp://opac.nie.edu.sg

• Library Websitehttp://www.acis.nie.edu.sg/libris

• Get To Know Your Library!Go to Get To Know Your Library! under Quick Access at LibraryWebsite.

Must Know Accounts:Use your NIE Network Account for remote access to e-databases,e-journals, e-books and examination papers.

Enquiries: ACIS Helpdesk, Library Computer Lab, Level 4 (Tel:6790 3033. Email: acishelp@nie.edu.sg)

Use your NIE Library Account for checking, via WebOPAC, booksborrowed and due dates, online renewal, changing of PIN,placing holds and accessing digital dissertations/theses.

Enquiries: Membership and Loan Counter, Level 2. (Tel: 67903627. Email: libcirc@nie.edu.sg)

Service PointsInformation DeskTel: 6790 3626. Email: LIBRIS@nie.edu.sg◆ General enquiries, guidance on the use of WebOPAC and

Self-check Machines and Booking of Group Discussion Room.

Membership and Loan CounterTel: 6790 3627. Email: libcirc@nie.edu.sg◆ Membership/loan enquiries, loan tran-sactions and library

account matters.

Media CounterTel: 6790 3628. Email: libmedia@nie.edu.sg◆ Instruction on the use of Automated Disc-Dispensing Machine

and SMART Board, Booking of Lounge; Loan/Return of Audio-Visual materials.

Reference CounterTel: 6790 3623. Email: libref@nie.edu.sg◆ Reference/research enquiries, instruction on the use of

WebOPAC/e-resources for individuals/groups; guidance onthe use of microform reader-printer, document procurement,loans of education papers, newsclippings, test materials andresource files.

Internet Access◆ Network points and wireless access are available throughout

the library.

Your responsibilities◆ Safeguard your personal belongings, e.g., lock your notebook

computers by making use of the legs of the rectangular readingtables or the metal brackets under the tables/counters at thecafé area.

◆ Consume food and drinks bought from the café on Level 3within the café area only. Food/drinks bought from outsideshould be consumed outside the Library.

◆ Ensure that your mobile phone is turned off or switched tosilent mode to help maintain a quiet environment for alllibrary users. You may send SMS but not make or receivecalls on your mobile phone.

ACIS SerCIS Services Hubvices Hub A Place not to be missed!

Illustrated by Muhammad Azhar, CITE

The Services Hub islocated in the Librarycomputer lab, level 4

of the Library building.

Equipment/Servicesavailable:

◆ Black & white/ colourprinting & scanning

➪ Payment for printingis by cash, cash cardor EZ-link card

◆ Local and overseasfaxing

◆ CD burning for non-copyrighted materials

➪ Sales of blank CDs &floppy diskettes

◆ Wireless networksupport

➪ Installation &configuration ofwireless software

➪ Wireless softwarelicence key update

➪ Wireless-relatedenquiries

◆ Other services

➪ Password resetting forNIE portal, CampusNetwork Account &Studentlink

➪ Computing-relatedenquiries

◆ Counter OperatingHours:

8.45am to 5.30pm(Mon to Thur)8.45am to 5.00pm (Fri)8.45am to 12.30pm (Sat)

Please contact the ACISHelpdesk at 6790 3033 forany enquiries, or just walkinto the Services Hub duringits operating hours.

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NIE Portal at a Glancehttp://nieportal.nie.edu.sg

Nenny Noorman and Seow Chow Loon, ACIS

NIEPortal is a “one-stop single logon interface”which allows users to access relevantinformation, online modules and

administrative functions without having to go from one websiteto another.

Main features of NIE portal

Applications

◆ Student Course Registration for registering for modulesonline

◆ Student Exam Results

◆ GeNIEus (a.k.a Blackboard) for accessing the online modules

Information Services

◆ Campus News and Events

◆ Campus Map

◆ Online Student Handbook

◆ Exam seating arrangement

Interactive online environment

◆ Forum allows trainee teachers to discuss and share viewson topics of interest

◆ Market place whereby traineeteachers can post items for sale orpurchase

NIE Portal aims to provide a unique and fulfilling learning experiencefor the student teacher at NIE.

Resource Sharing

◆ allows sharing of personal contentresources over the Internet.

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EDITORIAL COMMITTEE

Advisor A/P Philip Wong, ACISChief Editor Ms Yvonne Yin, LIBRISMembers Ms Nenny Noorman, ACIS

Ms Seow Chow Loon, ACISMs Lee Hui Ru, ACIS

ACIS Plug-In is published three times a year. We welcome articles, pictures or comments from staff ofNational Institute of Education. These contributions will be accepted, rejected or amended at the discretionof ACIS Editorial Committee. Opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the views of the Committee.

Please forward your correspondence to: Editorial Committee, ACIS Plug-InFax: 6896 9108Email: nnoorman@nie.edu.sg

ACIS Plug-In is available online at: http://www.acis.nie.edu.sg/nie-acis/acis/resources/plugin.do

3rd International Conferenceon Educational Technology“Reflections on IT Integration in Education:Moving Forward and Beyond”

7th - 8th September 2006Singapore Expohttp://www.icet.com.sgThe investments in technology and professional developmentof teachers and school leaders have paid off significantly in thehigher occurrences of ICT-mediated lessons in schools.However, more needs to be done at all levels to changethe existing culture of learning and pedagogy in schools tooptimise the affordances of ICT for teaching and learning.

Many research studies have argued for the shifting of thepedagogical beliefs of teachers towards constructivist ones,changing the culture of schooling to support innovation,promoting a better understanding of the affordances of ICT forteaching and learning, and addressing other ecological issuessuch as the mode of professional development, the alignmentbetween learning and assessment, and technology leadership.

ICET 2006 will be a 2-day conference comprising 4 KeynoteAddresses, 7 Symposia, Invited Papers, Pre-ConferenceWorkshops and Professional Tours.

The first 100 NIE Student Teachers to register will get a heavilysubsidised rate.

See you all at ICET 2006!

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