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Singapore teachers swap tech tips in Topsham
Nov 18, 2009 11:11 am
Tech tips
Photo:
Photo: Staff from Maris Stella High School of Singapore visited Mt. Ararat High School in Topsham on Tuesday to discuss topics like laptops and collaborative learning. From left to right are visitors Koh Kiat and Elenda Loh; Mt. Ararat teacher Donna Dionne and students Cassie Littleford and Chip Greene.
TOPSHAM — A dozen teachers and administrators from Singapore's Maris Stella High School visited Mt. Ararat High School on Tuesday to talk about topics like laptop computers and collaborative learning.
While Mt. Ararat students have had their own laptop computers since September, the one-to-one computing initiative started earlier at Maris Stella.
"We're trying to learn from them, because they've had this for two years," Mt. Ararat High Principal Craig King explained.
He said the Singapore group had visited schools in Chicago and planned after Topsham to visit Yarmouth before returning home.
Following a meet-and-greet and technology-related classroom visits, the Mt. Ararat ITeam and Maris Stella representatives each gave presentations and then had a discussion centered around a collaborative teaching project between the two schools. The project includes science, math, technology and engineering, according to Stephen Spaeth, ITeam adviser and student leadership developer at Mt. Ararat High.
"So the kids would work together in real time between Singapore and Topsham," King said.
The ITeam is comprised of student leaders who are helping to move technology forward at the school, and assist other students and teachers with "just in time" help, King explained.
Alex Lear can be reached at 373-9060 ext. 113 or alear@theforecaster.net.
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SCSpaeth says:
The visitors from Singapore described how they already collaborate with schools in China, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Australia. They came hoping to establish collaborations with schools, and innovative teachers and students in the United States.
The Mt. Ararat HS ITeam's presentation seemed to surprise them. They reported seeing, for the first time, what it means for students to take leadership roles in promoting effective uses of technology to enhance learning. While the one-to-one laptops are new at the high school, students have more experience because nearly all members used them in seventh and eighth grades at Mt. Ararat Middle School. During discussions, the visitors encouraged Dr. King and district technology leaders to work with them to plan international collaboration projects.
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Stephen Spaeth
MSAD 75 ITeams Advisor
Topsham, Maine