20181029 - 1109 Teacher Work Attachment to MOE HQ-ETD - Open Educational Resources / Open Source Physics @ Singapore

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Email

Event:Teacher Work Attachment 2019 ( build simple HTML 5 interactive or games to be used in Student Learning Space, SLS)

Date: 29 Oct to 11 Nov (2 weeks)!

Time: 0800 to 1730

Mentor: Lawrence_wee@moe.gov.sg

for Who: looking for 3 teachers of any subject and teaching level

Topic: Any,

Ideas: need ideas? look for inspiration here

Skills: The more comfortable you are with computers, the easier it will be to mentor you to actualize your good and simple idea.

Pre-TWA online activities:

Submission: Please email CHEONG_Yaun_Marn@moe.gov.sg and Lawrence_wee@moe.gov.sg with the title “ETD attachment to build my own SLS HTML 5 App” and include your name, school, level and subject you are teaching, and a short (less than 150 words) idea and a picture of the HTML 5 app you wish to build. We will subsequently write to your Principal for approval if you are shortlisted.

Result: By the

Subject: Review of OER/OSP@SG Initiative and a Related Simulation

Sources:

"20181029 - 1109 Teacher Work Attachment to MOE HQ-ETD - Open Educational Resources / Open Source Physics @ Singapore | Open Educational Resources / Open Source Physics @ Singapore"
"Production Possibilities Curve" (metadata)

Overview:

This briefing document summarizes the main themes and important information presented in the provided sources. The first source details a Teacher Work Attachment (TWA) program focused on developing interactive HTML5 learning resources for Singapore's Student Learning Space (SLS). It highlights the practical application of Open Educational Resources (OER) and Open Source Physics (OSP) principles within the local educational context. The second source provides metadata for a simulation tool, likely aligning with the broader goals of OER/OSP by offering an openly licensed educational resource.

Source 1: Teacher Work Attachment to MOE HQ-ETD

Main Themes:

Developing Interactive Learning Resources for SLS: The primary focus of the TWA was to equip teachers with the skills to create simple HTML5 interactive elements and games for use within the Student Learning Space (SLS), Singapore's national online learning platform. The email announcing the TWA explicitly stated its goal: "( build simple HTML 5 interactive or games to be used in Student Learning Space, SLS)".
Teacher Professional Development: The TWA served as a professional development opportunity for teachers, enabling them to gain technical skills (especially in HTML5 development) and pedagogical understanding in designing engaging digital learning experiences. The email mentioned, "The more comfortable you are with computers, the easier it will be to mentor you to actualize your good and simple idea."
Open Educational Resources (OER) in Practice: The initiative strongly promotes the creation and sharing of OER. The expectation was that by the end of the two-week attachment, teachers would have "at least 1 SLS lesson with your HTML 5 interactive, which you can share with in the community gallery with all teachers in SLS and assign to your students." This emphasizes the collaborative and sharing nature of OER.
Cross-Subject and Level Applicability: The call for participants was open to "3 teachers of any subject and teaching level," suggesting a broad applicability of interactive HTML5 resources across the curriculum.
Ministry of Education (MOE) Support: The attachment to MOE HQ-ETD (Educational Technology Division, possibly Technology for Learning) demonstrates the Ministry's active involvement and support for developing and integrating digital learning resources within the national education system.
Showcasing Successful Implementations: The document includes "Great news!" updates regarding the outcomes of three participating teachers (Mr. Tek, Ms. Leow DL, and Mr. Leow GS). These sections highlight the specific HTML5 simulations and games they developed during their attachment, demonstrating the practical results of the program.
Emphasis on Both Technical and Pedagogical Design: The descriptions of the teachers' work mention both "technical and pedagogical design" aspects, indicating that the TWA aimed to develop resources that were not only functional but also effective for student learning. For example, the "Resultant Force and Motion under Different Friction Simulator HTML5" by Mr. Tek is described as having "prompts for student input to promote thinking" and adjustable variables "to support inquiry learning."
Leveraging Existing Templates and Tools: The examples of Ms. Leow DL's work in Chinese language games mention "Adapting from a matching game template," suggesting that the TWA also encouraged the efficient use and customization of existing open-source or readily available templates.
Community Sharing and Collaboration: The goal of sharing the created resources in the "community gallery with all teachers in SLS" underscores the collaborative spirit and potential for wider adoption of these OER within the Singaporean teaching community.
Recognition of Teacher Effort: The concluding remarks express thanks for supporting the TWA and acknowledge that the participating teachers "did an amazing job," highlighting the value placed on their contributions.

Most Important Ideas and Facts:

Teacher Work Attachment (TWA) 2019: A two-week program (Oct 29 - Nov 11) aimed at training teachers to build simple HTML5 interactives or games for the Student Learning Space (SLS).
Target Audience: 3 teachers of any subject and teaching level.
Focus: Developing interactive resources for SLS, emphasizing HTML5 skills and pedagogical design.
Pre-TWA Activities: Participants were encouraged to explore existing interactive resources as inspiration, with examples provided for Mother Tongue Languages (Chinese), Physics, and Biology.
Submission Requirements: Interested teachers had to email a proposal including their details, a short idea (less than 150 words), and a picture of their envisioned HTML5 app.
Expected Outcome: Each participating teacher was expected to create at least one SLS lesson with their HTML5 interactive, ready for sharing and student use.
Success Stories: The document details the simulations and games created by Mr. Tek (Physics simulations on friction and air drag), Ms. Leow DL (Chinese language games focused on vocabulary and sequencing), and Mr. Leow GS (Prime Numbers and SI Unit shooting games, and an Electrolysis model).
Variety of Simulations: The created resources spanned various subjects (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Chinese Language) and utilized different interactive formats (simulators, games).
Emphasis on Practical Application: The direct links provided to the created HTML5 simulations demonstrate the tangible outcomes of the TWA.
Licensing: The website footer states that "Contents are licensed Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 Singapore License," explicitly confirming the OER nature of the resources shared on the platform.

Quotes:

"Event:Teacher Work Attachment 2019 ( build simple HTML 5 interactive or games to be used in Student Learning Space, SLS)"
"By the end of the 2 weeks, you should have at least 1 SLS lesson with your HTML 5 interactive, which you can share with in the community gallery with all teachers in SLS and assign to your students."
Regarding Mr. Tek's simulation: "The design is a 4 surface type of friction with prompts for student input to promote thinking, several variables such as Fan Force, initial velocity etc are adjustable to support inquiry learning"
Regarding Mr. Leow GS's games: "This is an encouraging sign that suggests it can be repurpose of other topics and subjects."
Regarding Ms. Leow DL's game: "she persisted to make this game by herself where I sat down and mentored her the computational thinking..."
"Thank you for supporting the Teacher Work Attachment to MOE HQ-ETD to network and learn together to create high-quality interactive games/simulations for the benefit of all students in Student Learning Space!"

Source 2: Production Possibilities Curve

Main Themes:

Educational Simulation: The title itself indicates that this is an interactive tool designed to illustrate the economic concept of the Production Possibilities Curve (PPC).
Open Licensing and Attribution: The metadata explicitly states the authors and copyright information under a license. While the specific license type isn't fully detailed in the excerpt ("Released under a license."), the inclusion of author names and copyright year (© 2018) is consistent with open licensing practices requiring attribution.
EJS (Easy JavaScript Simulations) Usage: The note "Compiled with EJS 6.0_beta (180814)" reveals the software used to create this simulation, highlighting the platform's role in developing interactive educational resources. The first source also lists "EasyJavaScriptSimulation7" as a popular tag, indicating its significance within the OER/OSP@SG initiative.
Collaboration and Adaptation: The phrase "based on ideas by Evan Yeo" suggests a collaborative development process, where existing ideas are adapted and built upon.

Most Important Ideas and Facts:

Title: Production Possibilities Curve
Authors: weelookang@gmail.com; Francisco Esquembre; Félix J. García Clemente; based on ideas by Evan Yeo
Copyright Year: 2018
Compilation Tool: EJS 6.0_beta (180814)
Likely Subject Area: Economics

Quotes:

"© 2018, weelookang@gmail.com; Francisco Esquembre; Félix J. García Clemente; based on ideas by Evan Yeo."
"Compiled with EJS 6.0_beta (180814)"
"Released under a license."

Connections Between the Sources:

Both sources are connected by the overarching theme of leveraging technology and open educational resources to enhance teaching and learning in Singapore. The Teacher Work Attachment program (Source 1) actively promotes the creation of interactive tools like simulations and games for the SLS, and the "Production Possibilities Curve" (Source 2) represents a concrete example of such a resource. The mention of "EasyJavaScriptSimulation" in both contexts further strengthens this connection, suggesting that EJS is a key tool used within the OER/OSP@SG initiative to develop these interactive learning materials. The open licensing mentioned in both sources aligns with the principles of OER, making these resources freely available for use and adaptation.

Conclusion:

The provided sources highlight a significant effort within Singapore's education system to empower teachers to create and share interactive digital learning resources through initiatives like the Teacher Work Attachment program. This program, supported by MOE, focuses on developing practical skills in creating HTML5-based tools for the SLS, emphasizing both technical proficiency and pedagogical effectiveness. The inclusion of the "Production Possibilities Curve" metadata underscores the availability of openly licensed educational simulations, likely developed using tools like EJS, that contribute to a broader ecosystem of OER for the benefit of students and educators.

Open Educational Resources / Open Source Physics @ Singapore: A Study Guide

Quiz

Answer the following questions in 2-3 sentences each.

What was the primary goal of the Teacher Work Attachment (TWA) program mentioned in the document?
What specific type of interactive learning resource were the participating teachers expected to create during the TWA?
Name one specific skill mentioned as being beneficial for teachers participating in the TWA program.
Describe the submission process for teachers interested in participating in the 2019 TWA program.
What was the outcome that participating teachers were expected to achieve by the end of the two-week TWA program?
Name two different subject areas for which interactive simulations or games were developed by the teachers highlighted in the document.
Besides creating new resources, what did the work attachment also provide Mr. Tek Yong Shoun and Mr. Leow Guan Sin with?
What computational thinking concepts did Ms. Leow Deng Li learn with the mentorship provided?
What is the Student Learning Space (SLS) mentioned in the context of the teacher-created resources?
According to the "Common to all" section, how many interactive simulations/games were collectively created by the three teachers during their attachment?

Answer Key

The primary goal of the Teacher Work Attachment (TWA) program was to allow teachers to network, learn, and create high-quality interactive games and simulations for use in the Student Learning Space (SLS). This initiative aimed to enhance teaching and learning by providing engaging digital resources for students.
Participating teachers were expected to build simple HTML 5 interactive resources or games. These creations were intended to be integrated into lessons within the Student Learning Space for use by students.
Being comfortable with computers was mentioned as a beneficial skill for teachers participating in the TWA program. This comfort level was expected to make it easier for mentors to guide teachers in actualizing their interactive learning ideas.
Teachers interested in the TWA program needed to email two specified email addresses with the subject line “ETD attachment to build my own SLS HTML 5 App.” The email had to include their name, school, teaching level and subject, a short idea (under 150 words), and a picture of their envisioned HTML 5 app.
By the end of the two weeks, participating teachers were expected to have developed at least one SLS lesson incorporating their HTML 5 interactive resource. This completed lesson was intended to be shared with other teachers in the SLS community gallery and assigned to their own students.
Two different subject areas for which interactive simulations or games were developed include Physics (as seen in the simulations by Mr. Tek, such as "Resultant Force and Motion") and Chinese Language (as seen in the games by Ms. Leow DL, such as "Catch Correct Chinese Phase Game"). Mathematics is also represented by the "Shoot Prime Numbers Game" by Mr. Leow GS.
The work attachment provided Mr. Tek Yong Shoun with a rich array of experiences in both the technical aspects and the pedagogical design of simulations. Similarly, Mr. Leow Guan Sin gained significant experience in the technical and pedagogical design of games.
Ms. Leow Deng Li learned computational thinking concepts such as moving apples down using Arrays, collision detection using Mathematics calculations of a circle, and the use of a Chinese text-to-speech engine, all under the mentorship provided.
The Student Learning Space (SLS) is an online platform intended for use by all students in Singapore. The interactive games and simulations created during the TWA were designed to be integrated into SLS lessons and shared with the wider teaching community through its gallery.
Collectively, the three teachers (Mr. Tek, Ms. Leow DL, and Mr. Leow GS) created a total of eight interactive simulations/games during their Teacher Work Attachment to MOE HQ-ETD.

Essay Format Questions

Discuss the benefits of incorporating teacher-created interactive resources, like those developed during the MOE HQ-ETD work attachment, into the Student Learning Space (SLS). How might these resources enhance student engagement and learning outcomes across different subjects and teaching levels?
Analyze the Teacher Work Attachment program described in the text as a model for professional development for educators. What are the key elements of this program that contribute to teachers' learning and their ability to create innovative educational resources?
Based on the examples provided, explore the potential of HTML 5 and JavaScript in creating engaging and interactive learning experiences for students in various subjects. What are the advantages of using these technologies in the context of open educational resources?
Examine the role of mentorship and collaboration in the success of the Teacher Work Attachment program. How did the mentorship provided contribute to the teachers' ability to translate their ideas into functional interactive resources for the Student Learning Space?
Considering the range of simulations and games developed (from physics concepts to language skills), discuss the versatility of the approach taken in the Teacher Work Attachment program. How can the principles and outcomes of this program be applied and adapted to other educational contexts and subject areas?

Glossary of Key Terms

Open Educational Resources (OER): Teaching, learning, and research materials that are available freely and openly, permitting their re-use, re-purposing, adaptation, and redistribution by others.
Open Source Physics (OSP): A project focused on creating and sharing computational tools and resources for physics education, often involving simulations and interactive models.
Student Learning Space (SLS): Singapore's national online learning platform that provides students with access to a variety of educational resources and tools.
HTML 5: The latest evolution of the standard that defines the structure of content on the Web. It is used here to create interactive elements and games.
JavaScript: A high-level, often just-in-time compiled language that conforms to the ECMAScript specification. Alongside HTML and CSS, it is one of the three core technologies of the World Wide Web, used here to add interactivity to web pages and create simulations.
Interactive Resources: Digital materials that allow users to actively engage with the content, often through manipulation, exploration, or responding to prompts.
Simulations: Computer programs that model real-world systems or processes, allowing users to observe and interact with them in a controlled environment for learning purposes.
Games (in an educational context): Activities designed with specific learning objectives in mind, often incorporating elements of play, competition, and rewards to enhance engagement.
Teacher Work Attachment (TWA): A professional development program where teachers are temporarily attached to a different department or organization to gain new skills and experiences.
MOE HQ-ETD (Ministry of Education Headquarters - Educational Technology Division): The division within Singapore's Ministry of Education focused on educational technology and its integration into teaching and learning.

end of the 2 weeks, you should have at least 1 SLS lesson with your HTML 5 interactive, which you can share with in the community gallery with all teachers in SLS and assign to your students.

To: P/Punggol Secondary

Dear Mr. Keh,

Great news! The attachment of Mr. Tek Yong Shoun to ETD (TfL) 29 Oct to 9 Nov has resulted in a rich array of experiences (technical and pedagogical design of simulations) for Mr. Tek.

Below are Mr. Tek's simulations as performance tasks of the rich experiences he has acquired.

Resultant Force and Motion under Different Friction Simulator HTML5(Direct Link)
The design is a 4 surface type of friction with prompts for student input to promote thinking, several variables such as Fan Force, initial velocity etc are adjustable to support inquiry learning

Air Drag Under a Push Simulator HTML5 (Direct Link)

The design is a point mass experiencing a Push force, F moving under the influence of air resistance Drag that always opposes the direction of the velocity of the point mass. The lower panel shows the graph of velocity versus time, gives students a time-based appreciation of the physics of air drag with respect to time

To: P/Hua Yi Secondary

Dear Ms. Gwee,

Great news! The attachment of Mr. Leow Guan Sin to ETD (TfL) 29 Oct to 9 Nov has resulted in a rich array of experiences (technical and pedagogical design of games) for him.

Below are his simulations.

Shoot Prime Numbers Game Simulator HTML5 (Di rect Link)

A game of shooting the correct answer (Prime Numbers) for plus 2 points and incorrect result in minus 1 points. Keyboard LEFT ARROW < and Right ARROW > and F are also usable for the game.

Shoot SI Unit Game Simulator HTML5 (Direct Link)

A similar game as above, repurpose for SI Units. This is an encouraging sign that suggests it can be repurpose of other topics and subjects.

Electrolysis Model Simulator HTML5 (Di rect Link)

A simulator that allows students to visualize the meaning of the use of a direct electric current (DC) to drive an otherwise non-spontaneous chemical reaction, that produces gaseous products bubble from the electrolyte that is collected in the test tubes. Overall reaction: 2 H₂O(l) → 2 H₂(g) + O₂(g). The bubbles generated uses the Poisson distribution Math equation to model bubbles, giving it a more realistic appearance.

To: P/Compassvale Secondary

Dear Mr. Chia, Great news! The attachment of Ms. Leow Deng Li to ETD (TfL) 29 Oct to 9 Nov has resulted in a rich array of experiences (technical and pedagogical design of games) for her.

Below are her simulations.

Catch Correct Chinese Phase Game HTML5 (Direct Link )

A game that was conceptualized by Deng Li and she persisted to make this game by herself where I sat down and mentored her the computational thinking (moving apples down using Arrays, collision detection using Mathematics calculations of a circle and use of Chinese text to speech engine etc)

Vocabulary Matching Chinese Word Game HTML5 (direct link)

Adapting from a matching game template, she was able to conceptualize how to customized to the Chinese language for vocabulary exercises.

Sequencing Chinese Word Game HTML5 (direct link)

Adapting from a sequencing game template, she was able to conceptualize how to customized to the Chinese language for sequencing sentence exercises.

Common to all

Collectively, the 3 (Mr. Tek from Punggol Sec, Ms. Leow DL from Compassvale Sec and Mr. Leow GS from Hua Yi Sec) did an amazing job and created the following 8 simulations/games.

Thank you for supporting the Teacher Work Attachment to MOE HQ-ETD to network and learn together to create high-quality interactive games/simulations for the benefit of all students in Student Learning Space!

We look forward to future opportunities to serve your school(s) better.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Teacher Work Attachment and Open Educational Resources

What was the primary goal of the 2019 Teacher Work Attachment (TWA) to MOE HQ-ETD? The main objective of the TWA was to equip teachers with the skills to create their own simple HTML 5 interactive resources or games for use within the Student Learning Space (SLS). This two-week program aimed to empower teachers to develop engaging digital content aligned with their specific subject areas and teaching levels.
Who was eligible to participate in the TWA, and what kind of projects were they expected to develop? The TWA was open to three teachers of any subject and teaching level. Participants were encouraged to develop HTML 5 applications based on any topic relevant to their teaching. The provided resources suggest a focus on interactive simulations and games that could enhance student learning and engagement within the SLS environment.
What kind of support and resources were provided to the teachers during the TWA? Teachers participating in the TWA were assigned a mentor and had access to various online resources, including game templates and existing interactive simulations in different subjects like Mother Tongue Languages, Physics, and Biology. The emphasis on being "comfortable with computers" suggests that technical guidance and support were provided to help teachers actualize their ideas.
What was the expected outcome of the Teacher Work Attachment for the participating teachers? By the end of the two-week attachment, each teacher was expected to have developed at least one functional HTML 5 interactive resource or game that could be integrated into an SLS lesson. This interactive was also intended to be shared with the wider community of teachers on the SLS and assigned to their own students.
Can you provide examples of the types of interactive resources or games that were created by teachers during this TWA? The document highlights several successful projects from a previous TWA. These include:
Physics simulations like "Resultant Force and Motion under Different Friction Simulator" and "Air Drag Under a Push Simulator."
Mathematics games such as "Shoot Prime Numbers Game Simulator" and "Shoot SI Unit Game Simulator."
A Chemistry simulation titled "Electrolysis Model Simulator."
Chinese language games like "Catch Correct Chinese Phase Game," "Vocabulary Matching Chinese Word Game," and "Sequencing Chinese Word Game."
What is the Student Learning Space (SLS) mentioned in the context of this Teacher Work Attachment? The SLS is likely a national online learning platform in Singapore where teachers can access and share educational resources, create lessons, and engage with students. The TWA aimed to populate this platform with more teacher-created interactive content to enhance the learning experience for students across various subjects.
What does the inclusion of the "Production Possibilities Curve" excerpt signify in relation to the other source? The inclusion of the "Production Possibilities Curve" excerpt, along with the email addresses and mention of "weelookang@gmail.com," suggests a connection to a community or platform focused on creating and sharing educational simulations and resources, possibly under an open educational resource framework. The reference to Francisco Esquembre and Félix J. García Clemente, along with Easy JavaScript Simulations (EJS), further indicates the use of specific tools and potentially collaborative efforts in developing these resources. Wee Loo Kang seems to be a key contributor or organizer within this context.
What is the broader significance of initiatives like the Teacher Work Attachment and the development of open educational resources in Singapore? These initiatives highlight a push towards empowering educators to become creators of digital learning content, fostering a more dynamic and relevant educational experience for students. By focusing on open educational resources and providing teachers with the skills to develop interactive materials for platforms like the SLS, Singapore aims to build a collaborative ecosystem where high-quality, engaging learning tools are readily available to all students and teachers. The wide array of simulations and games listed further underscores the commitment to leveraging technology to enhance learning across diverse subjects.