ICT Environments in Singapore

Abstract

To integrate ICT into schools for effective instruction and learning, ICT infrastructure and resources are the fundamental and essential structural issues that need to be established before higher-level goals such as pedagogical innovation can be achieved. This chapter describes the development of ICT environment in Singapore for the country and more specific programmes and initiatives for the school environments. Led by the IDA, Singapore has been propelled to among the top countries in the world with regard to ICT pervasiveness and usage through more than 30 years of continual and coordinated effort. Unique to education, the three successive ICT Masterplans in education from 1997 to 2014 have continually upgraded the schools' ICT infrastructure that facilitates pedagogical innovations. For example, the student-to-computer ratios have been improving in all schools, from 6.6 students to 1 computer to a flexible environment that includes 1:1 computing. Provision of learning management systems became pervasive in all schools. In terms of resources, the support has evolved from provision of CD-ROMs to development of one-stop Internet portals that consolidate access to all digital resources. Access to the Internet has been upgraded in terms of connection speed and availability of the broadband wireless network. Finally, student's home computing environments are improving through various schemes.