Mr Nicholas Wong, lead specialist at the technologies for learning branch at MOE’s educational technology division, said the maths assistant offers hints and suggested marks, guiding students through their answers rather than just checking the final result. It also provides step-by-step feedback.
The English language version corrects grammar, spelling and sentence structure, while the short answer assistant corrects answers across subjects such as geography and science, freeing up teachers to assist with more challenging content.
The adaptive learning system (ALS) – which is currently available for mathematics for upper primary pupils and geography for upper secondary students – provides personalised learning for students based on how they respond to questions and activities as they learn a topic.
All these tools are rolled out through the Singapore Student Learning Space (SLS), an online learning portal that provides resources for both students and teachers.
Why were these tools created?
These tools were created primarily to create a personalised learning experience for each student, said Mr Gerald Ajam, lead specialist at the technologies for learning branch at MOE’s educational technology division.
“We customise the platforms, and enable teachers to be able to customise their instructions so that it is differentiated,” he said. “The way we use technology is always to complement the professionalism of the teacher.
“This is so the teacher continues to be the main designer of learning.”
Another reason is to help teachers with tasks that are time-consuming, said Mr Ajam, giving an example of a teacher having to repeatedly correct a student about similar things.
A better use of the teacher’s time would be to look at the holistic progress of a student, and give them very specific comments about how to improve, Mr Ajam said.
“If we can free up some of the teacher’s time from doing these things, then they can spend more time on the human side of a student’s progression – engaging them, student-teacher relationships, and really delving deep into helping them with their social-emotional states,” he added.
What do teachers think?
Before her lessons, Ms Lilian Teo, the biology subject head at Pasir Ris Crest Secondary School, makes use of the short answer feedback assistant to input questions and answers into online quizzes on SLS.