AS THE younger generation becomes more technologically savvy, more schools, especially neighbourhood schools, should use more new media tools to aid teaching and learning.

Currently, every teacher has a laptop to work on presentation slides and lesson deliverables. Many schools are wired up in each classroom so that teachers can use the Internet during lessons to enhance students' learning experience. Hence, more than 80 per cent of classroom lessons are IT-based.

However, hands-on IT sessions for students should be enhanced more in normal classrooms.

Below are some of my suggestions:

- Wireless Internet access should be made available to teachers and students. This would reduce the hassle of cable connections and also allow more to use the Internet in normal classrooms.

- More schools should equip students with tablet PCs. The network should be linked to a central system which is controlled by a teacher. This will allow teachers to engage the students better.

- Many teachers have developed new strategies of engaging students, such as creating learning blogs and Facebook accounts. These interfaces use a variety of media such as text, videos and pictures to catalyse lesson discussion.

All this is good. However, teachers must be careful not to overuse such media. There should be a central system to serve as a moderator and help in overseeing the activities with regard to learning and posting information online.

- More schools should tie up with vendors to create a virtual learning environment for students.

The Education Ministry should also provide appropriate funds to schools to help with these projects.

An example of this: Ngee Ann Secondary School has tied up with Second Life to develop a virtual learning platform for students called Ionia.

Students use an avatar to venture into the game and solve problems. It is an innovative way of cultivating both academic skills and character - important components of a future-oriented education.

With the necessary tools available in schools, students will have a better learning environment and teachers can more effectively engage them in normal classroom settings.

Seow Guo Rong

This article was first published in The Straits Times.