Briefing Document: Singapore Student Learning Space (SLS) - Functionality Overview

https://www.learning.moe.edu.sg/teacher-user-guide/index/

1. Introduction

This document provides an overview of the key functions available within the Singapore Student Learning Space (SLS) platform, based on the "Explore SLS Functions" document. The SLS is a comprehensive digital learning platform designed to support teaching and learning in Singaporean schools. The document provides a detailed breakdown of the platform's capabilities for educators and administrators.

2. Source Validity and Trust

• The document comes from a Singapore Government Agency Website, identified by the .gov.sg domain. As stated: "Official website links end with .gov.sg"
• The website uses HTTPS protocol, indicating secure communication. As stated: "Secure websites use HTTPS" and "Look for a lock (🔒) or https:// as an added precaution."
• These details confirm that the information is from a trusted and official source.

3. Main Themes & Core Functionalities

The SLS platform is organized around several core themes that represent the major activities within a learning environment. These themes are:

• Organize: This encompasses resource management and planning tools.
• Author: This focuses on the creation of lessons and learning materials.
• Enact: This is centered around the delivery and facilitation of learning activities.
• Assess: This deals with monitoring student progress and providing feedback.
• Administer: This covers management of user access and system resources.

Each of these core themes further breaks down into multiple user flows, designed to provide flexibility in how to use the platform.

4. Detailed Functionalities

Below is a more detailed breakdown of the specific functions within each of the core themes, including examples where provided.

4.1. Organize

• Discover:Searching for teaching and learning resources within the platform. As stated: "Use SLS to search for and find useful T&L resources" 
• Adding existing resources (activities , components, media objects ) into a module
• Searching for resources, and being able to view details.
• Viewing external resources, and embedding whitelisted websites .
• Accessing an App Library, and embedding integrated apps. such as

  Easy JavaScript Simulation (EJSS) App

  These EJSS are a collection of virtual science labs, digital manipulatives, and captivating games designed to enhance learning experiences through learning analytics capabilities. Click here to find out how to add EJSS in the EJSS App into your SLS assignment/module. Click here to find out how to use the EJSS authoring toolkit to add these existing EJSS to have learning analytics capabilities. This EJSS App is funded by the MOE Senior Specialist Research - Development Fund (SSTRF).

• Accessing "My Subjects", following subjects , and making copies of modules.
• Generating a "print-friendly" worksheet, leaving reviews, and tagging resources to the Adaptive Learning System (ALS).
• Notify:Sending announcements to teachers and students, both individually and at the class level. As stated: "Use SLS to notify other teachers and students easily on T&L matters"
• Viewing and managing notifications.
• Plan:Accessing a planner, creating class events, and attaching resources to those events. As stated: "Use SLS to plan personal and class group events."
• Organize:Managing class resources, assignments  , and notifications, including:
• Creating class groups, and adding teachers as students to the group.
• Installing and launching apps, and pinning class groups.
• Archiving class groups, accessing a user's "My Drive" and creating new folders,
• Copying modules, managing folders, and restoring resources from the trash.
• Star resources  for easy access.  
• Customise:Personalizing the user interface including:
• Customising an avatar, changing the display name, setting an alternate email address, and setting email notifications.
• Managing linked accounts, changing the SLS password, and switching to a student account.
• Managing user templates.

4.2. Author

• Author:Creating new modules and using an "Authoring Copilot" to create sections, activities, and quizzes.      • How to use SLS Authoring CoPilot to g...   by phoque6     • Facilitating AfL with ACP   by N Leong As stated: "Use SLS to design module resources aligned to the e-pedagogical principles."
• Adding new components, splitting page media, and uploading QTI (Question and Test Interoperability) files.
• Upload HTML5 
• Creating various question types: multiple choice, fill-in-the-blanks, click and drop , error editing, free response, audio response, multi-part, and more
• Adding rich text, including text formatting and paragraphing.
• Add display  Columns and Accordion
• Inserting various types of content: Chinese/Tamil text, equations, tables, emoticons, drawings, external links, links to sections, tooltips, and embedded HTML5 content. (A3,11) HTML5 Content for Interactive Response 
• Utilizing text-to-speech and speech evaluation capabilities 
• Adding in localisation options and using an e-dictionary.
• Managing modules, editing modules, and creating module plans, copying, or moving.
• Adding tags productively  and media objects, and moving items to the trash.
• Personalise:Setting optional activities and quizzes. As stated: "Use SLS to provide choice for your students in their lessons and activities."
• Recommending content for student use on the Adaptive Learning System (ALS).
• Gamify:Creating a "game layer" in resources, managing gamification settings, managing game stories and collectibles. As stated: "Use SLS to create a game layer in my module resource to motivate my students."
• Adding conditions to game stories and collectibles, creating game teams, and awarding XP manually.
• Displaying leaderboards and rankings.

4.3. Enact

• Assign:Creating assignments, quick assigning activities and quizzes, and assigning modules from the MOE Library or Community Gallery. (inside Community Gallery workings)  As stated: "Use SLS to assign modules to your students for them to complete  within a specific time."
• Managing and scheduling assignments, and copying, moving, and pausing assignments.
• Allowing students to copy and share assignments.
• Highlighting and annotating in the teacher's copy.
• Enact:Using assigned modules in teaching, either in-class or virtually. As stated: "Use to enact assigned SLS modules as part of my synchronous teaching in-class or over Virtual Classrooms."
• Changing access to activities.
• Differentiate:Creating subgroups and setting different access levels to modules and activities for those groups. As stated: "Use SLS to differentiate modules and activities for different groups of students."
• Adding activity, quiz, or section prerequisites , and setting differentiated access.
• Collaborate:Setting up team activities and creating teams. As stated: "Use SLS to set learning activities to be done collaboratively by students."
• Using interactive thinking tools , polls, discussions, and attaching Google files/links.
• Sharing and accessing shared modules.
• Adding Google Meet links.
• About the Forum, including adding topics, polls, and changing forum settings.
• Posting and commenting in the forum.

4.4. Assess

• Assess:Creating enhanced quizzes, monitoring student responses, and analyzing responses with the Data Assistant. As stated: "Use SLS to set up, mark and give feedback on student work."
• Adding teacher comments  and annotations to student responses.
• Marking free-response questions and teacher-marked quizzes, releasing marked quizzes, and un-submitting quizzes and questions.
• Printing student responses for scanning and marking.
• Adding Feedback Assistants for mathematics, English language, and short-answer questions.
• Viewing assignments, editing quizzes, adding access codes, and viewing student notes .
• Managing assignments and submitting quizzes.
• Track Progress:Accessing learning progress ,Monitor Students' Learning Progress with SLS! by ETDtogo  viewing by topic, month, and student, and including access to the Error Tracker. As stated: "Use SLS to track and compare student progress within and across modules and assignments."
• Viewing excluded questions and ALS learning progress.

4.5. Administer

• Publish:Submitting modules and adhering to copyright guidelines for submission. As stated: "Use SLS to publish resources to make it available and discoverable to teachers and students."
• Administer:Onboarding new students, resetting student passwords, and generating passcodes. As stated: "Use SLS to manage student usage."

5. Navigation & User Flow

• The platform uses a structured user flow system, with sections labeled with letters (e.g., "A") and sequential steps using numbers (e.g., "1"), and non-sequential steps using roman numbers (e.g., "i").
• The document notes that the arrows in flowcharts indicate recommended steps.
• Branching steps allow users to choose different paths within the platform.

6. Enhanced Features

• Several functions are marked as "Enhanced" or "New," indicating ongoing development and improvements to the platform, including enhanced quizzes, data assistant, feedback assistants, and the authoring copilot.

7. Conclusion

The SLS platform is a robust and feature-rich environment, designed to facilitate effective teaching and learning through digital means. Its functions encompass various stages of lesson creation, delivery, assessment, and management, providing a holistic approach to educational technology. The "Explore SLS Functions" document offers comprehensive guidance for educators using the platform.

FAQ

What is the Singapore Student Learning Space (SLS)?

The Singapore Student Learning Space (SLS) is an online platform designed to support teaching and learning. It provides a wide range of tools and resources for teachers to create engaging lessons, assign and assess student work, and track progress. Students can access learning materials, complete assignments, collaborate with peers, and personalize their learning experience. The SLS aims to support the use of technology in education and align with e-pedagogical principles.

How can teachers use the SLS to create lessons?

Teachers can utilize the 'Author' function within SLS to create modules that include various activities and resources. They can use templates Activity Template Walkthrough by JeanEdTechDemo, add different question types (multiple choice, fill in the blanks, free response etc.), embed media, and use the Rich Text Editor with enhanced features. The Authoring Copilot can assist in creating new sections, activities, and quizzes. They can also add existing materials from the SLS library and utilize tools like text-to-speech, speech evaluation, and language support.

What assessment features does SLS offer?

SLS provides various assessment tools for teachers, including the ability to create enhanced quizzes, monitor student responses, and analyze results with the Data Assistant. Teachers can also add comments and annotations to student responses, mark free-response questions, and use feedback assistants for mathematics, English, and short answer questions. The system allows teachers to release and unsubmit marked quizzes as well as print assignments to scan. Furthermore, SLS has an Error Tracker to see which questions students are struggling with.

How can teachers assign work to students using SLS?

Teachers can 'Assign' modules and activities to students, including MOE Library and Community Gallery modules. They can quickly assign quizzes and activities and also manage, schedule, edit (SLS Tutorial | How To Edit Assignment After Lesson has been Assigned by ABC Useful Tips), pause, and delete assignments. The platform also lets teachers copy, move, and allow students to copy or share assignments. Additionally, teachers can highlight and annotate directly on their copy of the assignment.

How can SLS be used to promote collaboration among students?

The 'Collaborate' function in SLS enables students to work together through forums, where they can add topics, polls, post comments, and change forum settings. Teachers can create team activities and set up learning activities for groups of students. The platform also supports the attachment of Google Files and links to Google Meet for online collaboration. Interactive thinking tools, polls, and discussion features enhance collaborative learning opportunities.

What are some ways that SLS helps personalize learning?

The 'Personalize' function allows teachers to set optional activities and quizzes for students, as well as recommend content based on the Adaptive Learning System (ALS). Students can also customize their avatars and display names. Furthermore, the system allows teachers to create subgroups and set differentiated access to activities, catering to different learning needs.

What gamification features are available in SLS?

SLS includes gamification elements designed to enhance student engagement and motivation. Teachers can manage gamification settings,SLS Gamification XP and Level (Part 1 of 2)  incorporate game stories and collectibles, and award XP and achievements. Leaderboards and rankings can be displayed for students. The platform also allows the creation of game teams to facilitate collaborative gameplay within modules.

How does SLS help track and monitor student progress?

SLS enables teachers to track learning progress through enhanced access to student work, and the Adaptive Learning System (ALS). It allows teachers to view progress by topic, month, or individual student. Additionally, teachers can view excluded questions and access the Error Tracker to pinpoint student challenges. The platform also facilitates comparisons of student progress within and across assignments and modules.