4.3 M’ chelle Chan Kim Hong
I am thankful to the two course mates who co-ordinated a 2-day attachment at SPED school and later at Kidzania. Interestingly, both organisations are children-centred and emphasised learning as an outcome. There was intentional design in curriculum and activities which resulted from the different profile of children and both have used experiential learning as an approach to achieve its objectives. Paradoxically, I difference stark differences within the similarities.’
Structure: Change that is needed
Assessment at Fernvale Gardens used to be e-assessment, where questions were pre-set. A review of the school curriculum objectives and e- assessment showed misalignment, where students were not assessed based on what was taught. This was because teachers had the flexibility to choose the lesson to teach from the curriculum planning unit( CPU) resource. Some students who had motor skills were also disadvantaged when they had to use computers. This led the school leaders to redesign learning and assessment.
Making reference to the CPU resource, the school started to create their own scheme of work and map learning outcomes at different academic years. Knowledge, skills and attitudes were also clearly stated so that teachers are aware of the expected outcomes and would plan lessons to help them achieve the outcomes. With clearly communicated outcomes, worksheets were designed to assess students of their progress in learning. This progress is then documented for future reference.
When I spoke to some teachers, they shared that most students will forget what was taught the day before due to the intellectual disability and they had to assess them immediately after the lesson. Yet, the assessment can take different forms--verbal, matching or pointing due to the uneven intellectual and motor skills. Each worksheet is differentiated so that they assess what the child can perform. `Understanding by design’ was often quoted by the teachers. It was evident that the teachers were willing to use any method to assess their students as long as they demonstrate learning
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