MSEA) 2017 - Open Educational Resources / Open Source Physics @ Singapore | Open Educational Resources / Open Source Physics @ Singapore"

This briefing document summarizes the key themes, important ideas, and facts presented in the provided source, which details the recognition received by the "Open Educational Resources / Open Source Physics @ Singapore" initiative at the MOE Service Excellence Award (MSEA) 2017.

Main Themes:

• Recognition of Service Excellence: The central theme is the acknowledgment of the initiative's outstanding service delivery, aligned with the MSEA criteria of Courtesy, Accessibility, Responsiveness, and Effectiveness (C.A.R.E.). The award highlights the passion for service and the ability to inspire colleagues.
• Impact of Open Educational Resources (OER): The source emphasizes the significant positive impact of openly shared educational resources, particularly in physics and mathematics, on teachers and students. This includes increased access to materials, opportunities for professional development, and enhanced learning experiences.
• Leveraging ICT for Education: A key aspect of the initiative's success is its effective use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to create and disseminate interactive learning resources, supporting Singapore's ICT Masterplan 4 goal of "Quality Learning in the Hands of Every Learner - Empowered with Technology."
• Culture of Sharing and Collaboration: The source showcases a collaborative spirit within the educational community, facilitated by the initiative's open culture of sharing resources and expertise. This is evident through teacher feedback and collaborative projects.
• Innovation in Educational Resources: The development of open-source, adaptable, and affordable learning resources, such as interactive JavaScript/HTML5 applet simulations, is a significant aspect of the initiative's service improvement efforts.

Most Important Ideas and Facts:

• MSEA 2017 Recognition: The "Open Educational Resources / Open Source Physics @ Singapore" initiative received Platinum and Gold recognition at the MOE Service Excellence Award (MSEA) 2017. The MSEA recognizes MOE staff who "are passionate in their service delivery, consistently serve internal and external customers with C.A.R.E (Courtesy, Accessibility, Responsiveness and Effectiveness), and inspire their colleagues to do likewise."
• Past Service Excellence Awards: The initiative also received the following awards in the preceding two years (Apr 2015 - Mar 2017):
• "Innergy Gold: Open Source Physics @ Singapore" by MOE in March 2017.
• "Open Source Physics @ Singapore" by UNESCO in January 2016.
• Positive Impact on Teachers:CPDD Tze Kwang thanked Lawrence for supporting the use of ICT in the science learning community.
• Ashik, a school teacher, expressed being "grateful" for detailed workshop materials shared via email, even though he couldn't attend the "Becoming Scientists through video analysis workshop." The source notes that "Due to the digital open culture of sharing by Lawrence, many teachers benefited from the educational technology tips and how-to just by visiting his blog and digital library."
• Seng Kwang, a teacher who attended a workshop, shared his own physics 3D computer model and thanked Lawrence for "enlightening" him in coding physics simulations. This highlights the empowerment of teachers to create their own resources.
• Service Improvement Initiative (Apr 2016 - Mar 2017): The initiative focused on creating open-sourced Mathematics learning resources compatible with most mobile devices, funded by the ETD Senior Specialist Track Research Fund on “Explore-Useful Learning Math Apps.”
• The aim was to support the ICT Masterplan 4 goal.
• Initial research indicated that "teachers and students are better able to use ICT meaningfully via our service improvement initiative."
• The developed ICT practices are described as "accessible (Licenses creative commons attribution), adaptable (Open source codes) and affordable (free of charge)."
• Examples of classroom implementation include LT Anna's lesson where students used an app for telling time and MTT Theresa's lesson using a Primary Maths Addition digital card game.
• Extensive Collection of Open Educational Resources: The webpage lists a vast array of interactive JavaScript/HTML5 applet simulations covering various topics in physics and mathematics, indicating a significant contribution to the availability of OER. Examples include simulations for projectile motion, electromagnetism, waves, optics, calculus, geometry, and more.
• Viral Timetable to ICS Converter: The initiative developed a "viral Timetable to ICS Converter" intended to "inform and inspire the SLS MOE Calendar Planner," further demonstrating its commitment to providing useful tools for educators.
• Licensing: The content is licensed under a "Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 Singapore License," promoting open access and sharing. Commercial use of the EasyJavaScriptSimulations Library requires a separate license.

Quotes from Original Sources:

• "The MSEA recognises MOE staff who are passionate in their service delivery, consistently serve internal and external customers with C.A.R.E (Courtesy, Accessibility, Responsiveness and Effectiveness), and inspire their colleagues to do likewise." (About MSEA)
• Ashik, a school teacher was surprised and “grateful” (usually workshop required attendance for workshop materials shared)..." (My mCARE+ Case No 2)
• Seng Kwang thank Lawrence for “enlightening” him in the ways of coding physics simulations." (My mCARE+ Case No 3)
• "The ICT practices are accessible (Licenses creative commons attribution), adaptable (Open source codes) and affordable (free of charge)." (Describe at least 1 service improvement initiative...)
• Discover the viral Timetable to ICS Converter that's changing the game for educators." (Within the list of simulations)

Conclusion:

The recognition at the MSEA 2017, along with the previous awards from MOE and UNESCO, underscores the significant impact and value of the "Open Educational Resources / Open Source Physics @ Singapore" initiative. Its commitment to creating and sharing accessible, adaptable, and affordable ICT-based learning resources has demonstrably benefited teachers and students, fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation within the educational landscape. The extensive library of simulations and the development of practical tools like the Timetable to ICS Converter highlight the initiative's dedication to service excellence and its alignment with national educational goals.

MOE Service Excellence Award (MSEA) 2017 Study Guide

Key Concepts

• MOE Service Excellence Award (MSEA): An award that recognizes Ministry of Education (MOE) staff in Singapore for their passion in service delivery, consistent service with C.A.R.E., and their ability to inspire colleagues.
• C.A.R.E.: An acronym representing the core values of service excellence emphasized by MSEA: Courtesy, Accessibility, Responsiveness, and Effectiveness.
• Open Educational Resources (OER): Educational materials and resources offered freely for anyone to use, adapt, and share. The "Open Source Physics @ Singapore" initiative focuses on this.
• Open Source Physics @ Singapore: A project that develops and shares open-source physics and mathematics simulations and resources for educators and students.
• ICT Masterplan 4: Singapore's initiative focused on leveraging Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to enhance teaching and learning, with a goal of "Quality Learning in the Hands of Every Learner - Empowered with Technology."
• Service Improvement Initiative: A project or effort aimed at enhancing the quality or efficiency of services provided, in this context, related to educational resources and support for teachers and students.
• Creative Commons Attribution License: A public copyright license that allows for the free distribution of an otherwise copyrighted work, with the condition that the original author is credited.
• Open Source Codes: Software or program code that is made available with its source code, enabling users to study, change, and distribute the software to anyone and for any purpose.
• PICUP (Partnership for Integration of Computation into Undergraduate Physics): A project that promotes the use of computational modeling and simulations in physics education, with several examples listed on the site.
• Easy JavaScript Simulations (EJS): A free authoring tool used to create interactive science and mathematics simulations, many of which are featured on the "Open Source Physics @ Singapore" website.

Quiz

1. What are the key qualities recognized by the MOE Service Excellence Award (MSEA)?
2. Explain the meaning of the acronym C.A.R.E. in the context of MSEA.
3. What is the primary goal of the "Open Source Physics @ Singapore" initiative?
4. Describe one way in which Lawrence contributed to service excellence, according to the provided text.
5. Name two service excellence-related awards received by "Open Source Physics @ Singapore" between April 2015 and March 2017.
6. What was the aim of the ETD Senior Specialist Track Research Fund mentioned in the text?
7. How did the open-sourced mathematics learning resources developed as part of the ETD project align with the goals of ICT Masterplan 4?
8. Identify and briefly describe one specific example of a service improvement initiative mentioned in the text that occurred between April 2016 and March 2017.
9. What are the key characteristics of the ICT practices promoted by the service improvement initiative described in the text?
10. What is the purpose of the JavaScript HTML5 applet simulation models listed on the website?

Quiz Answer Key

1. The MSEA recognizes MOE staff who demonstrate passion in service delivery, consistently serve customers with Courtesy, Accessibility, Responsiveness, and Effectiveness (C.A.R.E.), and inspire their colleagues to do the same.
2. C.A.R.E. stands for Courtesy (politeness and respect in interactions), Accessibility (making services and resources easily available), Responsiveness (promptly addressing needs and inquiries), and Effectiveness (achieving desired outcomes and providing valuable support).
3. The primary goal of the "Open Source Physics @ Singapore" initiative is to develop and freely share open-source physics and mathematics simulations and educational resources for the benefit of educators and students.
4. Lawrence demonstrated service excellence by sharing detailed workshop materials with a teacher who couldn't attend, fostering a digital open culture of sharing educational technology tips and how-to guides through his blog and digital library, benefiting many teachers.
5. The two service excellence-related awards received were the Innergy Gold: Open Source Physics @ Singapore (awarded by MOE in March 2017) and Open Source Physics @ Singapore (awarded by UNESCO in January 2016).
6. The aim of the ETD Senior Specialist Track Research Fund on “Explore-Useful Learning Math Apps” was to create Primary Math interactive resources to support the ICT Masterplan 4 goal of "Quality Learning in the Hands of Every Learner - Empowered with Technology."
7. The open-sourced mathematics learning resources, being compatible with almost any mobile device, directly supported the ICT Masterplan 4 goal of "Quality Learning in the Hands of Every Learner - Empowered with Technology" by making these resources widely accessible.
8. One service improvement initiative involved LT Anna's Lesson, where students used an app for telling time and then worked in groups to test their understanding using the same app, indicating an effort to integrate technology meaningfully into the learning process.
9. The key characteristics of the ICT practices promoted are that they are accessible (licensed under creative commons attribution), adaptable (open source codes allowing modification), and affordable (free of charge).
10. The JavaScript HTML5 applet simulation models listed on the website are interactive tools designed to help students learn and explore concepts in physics and mathematics through visual representations and dynamic simulations.

Essay Format Questions

1. Analyze how the "Open Source Physics @ Singapore" initiative exemplifies the principles of service excellence embodied by the C.A.R.E. framework. Provide specific examples from the text to support your analysis.
2. Discuss the significance of open educational resources and open-source codes in the context of educational technology and service improvement. How does the "Open Source Physics @ Singapore" project contribute to these areas?
3. Evaluate the impact of the service improvement initiative focused on primary math learning apps in relation to the goals of Singapore's ICT Masterplan 4. What evidence from the text suggests its effectiveness?
4. Based on the provided text, describe the collaborative efforts involved in the success of the "Open Source Physics @ Singapore" initiative and its recognition through the MSEA. How does collaboration contribute to service excellence in this context?
5. Consider the wide range of simulation applets listed on the website. How do these resources potentially benefit students and teachers in learning and teaching physics and mathematics? Discuss the pedagogical value of such interactive tools in education.

Glossary of Key Terms

• Applet: A small application, often written in Java or JavaScript, designed to run within another application, typically a web browser, providing interactive functionality.
• Computational Model: A mathematical representation of a system or process that is implemented on a computer to simulate its behavior.
• Digital Library: An online collection of digital objects, such as documents, simulations, and resources, accessible via the internet.
• EduLab: An initiative or facility focused on educational research and innovation, often involving technology. The specific context in the text refers to a workshop location.
• HTML5: The latest evolution of the standard markup language for creating web pages and web applications, enabling multimedia and interactive content without the need for plugins.
• ICT (Information and Communication Technology): Technologies used to handle communications processes and the transmission, storage, creation, display, sharing and exchange of information.
• Interactive Resources: Learning materials that allow the user to actively engage with the content, often through simulations, games, or other dynamic elements.
• JavaScript: A high-level, often just-in-time compiled programming language that conforms to the ECMAScript specification. It is commonly used in web development to add interactivity to HTML pages.
• MOE (Ministry of Education): The government ministry responsible for education in Singapore.
• Simulation: The imitation of the operation of a real-world process or system over time, often used for educational purposes to allow users to explore and understand complex phenomena.
• UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization): A specialized agency of the United Nations aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, the sciences, culture and communications.