EDUCATION PRESENTATION

Leong Qi Dong

Jaw Li Wen

Joshua Tan

Foo Guo Wei

STANDARDIZED TESTS

Purpose of standardized testing

Raised standards vs grade inflation To motivate students to succeed A focused approach towards teaching

test contents Standardization Accurate comparisons

Purpose of standardized testing

Improve accountability Have a norm-referenced score Raise the standard of education in

schools Practicality Better gauge of ability

Current situation

Non-instructional factors come to play Standardized-test scores often measure

superficial thinking Time, energy, and money Restricted curriculumn

Flaws

The distribution of resources is very uneven

Standardized tests measure the temporary gaining of facts rather than understanding

Testing only on knowledge

Vicious cycle of raised test standards vs grade inflation

Teaching to test, drill-and-skill teaching Distorts and narrows education High stakes

Possible alternatives – In the 21st century Introducing performance-based

assessment where students are evaluated on the basis of real work

programs where students are challenged to read, explore, investigate, think and progress rapidly

DOES OUR EDUCATION

SYSTEM BREED ELITISM?

Reasons

Streaming

Gifted Education

Programme

National Examinations

Reasons

Students

School

Media Public

Branding

ReasonsName of School Picture Comments

Anglo Chinese School (Independent)

Socially adept, well-groomed, sleek.

Hwa Chong Institution (High School)

Mandarin-speaking, reserved, hardworking.

ReasonsName of School Picture Comments

Nanyang Girls High School

Down to earth, reserved, studious.

Singapore Chinese Girls School

Outgoing, classy, articulate.

Reasons

Programmes Offered

Results

Solutions

Media should take the effort to understand school’s students before publishing articles

Introduce some programmes that elite schools have to the other schools.

BILINGUALISM IN A MULTICULTURAL SOCIETY –

ARE THESE PROBLEMS UNIQUE TO SINGAPORE?

Problems in America

There are more than 300 languages spoken in the United States by people whose primary language is a language other than English.

Problems in America

If the United States were to become a bilingual society, it would spark off a heated argument among the immigrants on the choosing of the two official languages.

Problems in America

If the 2 languages are not properly learned, a mix-up of the 2 might happen, creating something similar to singlish. Pronunciation and spelling of the 2 languages would also be affected.

Problems in America

With the increase in number of Hispanic population in America, many fear that Spanish would dominate the language system.

THANK YOU